Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Wednesday announced he is launching a “Democrats for Hogan” initiative after winning the GOP nomination for his state’s hotly contested open Senate seat Tuesday night.
“I am excited to launch Democrats for Hogan and have my good friend and former Democratic State Senator Bobby Zirkin on our team,” Hogan wrote in a post on X, attaching a video of Zirkin expressing his support for Hogan and calling on Democrats to do the same.
“To my Democratic and Independent friends,” Hogan continued, “you know me and you know my proven track record of reaching across the aisle to find common ground for the common good. You know that I have the courage to put people over politics and to put country over party. I will continue to be the same strong independent leader for Maryland that I always have been.”
“If you are completely fed up with the divisiveness and dysfunction and want a strong, independent leader who will fight to clean up the mess in Washington — then join us,” Hogan added in the statement.
Hogan, a popular former GOP governor in the state, is vying to succeed retiring three-term Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.). Hogan will face off in November against Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who secured the Democratic nomination Tuesday night.
In Hogan’s new video, Zirkin, the co-chair of Democrats for Hogan, says Hogan “is exactly the leader we need” and asks his fellow Democrats to review Hogan’s record on issues including fracking, criminal justice reform, cyberbullying and “the way that he was able to hold the line on taxes and still invest in things that are important like education and the Chesapeake Bay.”
Hogan’s surprise entry into the race earlier this year fueled Republican hopes of a strong showing in the blue-leaning state, as well as winning back the Senate.
With the party primary now behind him, Hogan is shifting his focus to messaging himself as a trusted, independent-minded leader.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters Tuesday night, Hogan made a similar pitch, saying Americans “desperately need leaders to step up and put the country first.”
“I’m willing to stand up and fight for the things that really matter, but not for status quo politics as usual, and not to perpetuate polarization and paralysis,” Hogan said Tuesday. “I think you know, I don’t come from the performative-art school of politics. I come from the get-to-work-and-get-things-done schools, and I’ll work with anyone who wants to do the people’s business.”
The Hill has reached out to Alsobrooks’ campaign for comment.