Should Gov. Larry Hogan Run For President In 2020: MD Weighs In

ANNAPOLIS, MD — While moderate Republican Gov. Larry Hogan consistently has the support of two-thirds of Maryland voters — Democrats, independents and GOP members — his ongoing consideration of whether to mount a primary challenge against President Donald Trump in 2020 has his home state voters split.

Deni Stanley of Arnold told Patch: "I will register as a Republican for the primaries and vote for him. I am a Maryland resident and voted for him as governor, he's a good man. That being said, I will vote for whoever the Democrat nominee is in the 2020 election, but wouldn't be upset if Hogan won the presidency."

Hogan told a New Hampshire political breakfast in late April that he is "listening" to people encouraging him to mount a presidential bid against President Donald Trump. But Hogan said he was not going to launch a "suicide mission" unless he thought there was a path to victory. While he considers a campaign, the governor said he is going to visit 16 more states.

The second-term governor said he does not want to run unless he believes he has a chance at victory. "I have a real day job that's important to me and (to) the people of Maryland," he said.

Goucher Poll findings released Feb. 19 showed that 69 percent of Marylanders approve of the job Larry Hogan is doing as governor, 14 percent disapproved, and 14 percent said they don't know.

But a May 9 poll by Gonzales Research & Media Services said Hogan would be trounced by the president in his home state, the Baltimore Sun reports. Poll results showed Hogan would win 24 percent of the vote in the Maryland GOP primary, while Trump would land 68 percent of Maryland's Republican voters.

Richard Harrington of Annapolis commented that Hogan would be an excellent president, but he should wait to run in 2024. "I had business interactions with the governor when he was in business and I can say firsthand he is one of the most ethical and honest individuals I have had pleasure to know."

And while Meg Trager of Annapolis praised Hogan's work as governor, she asked, "Why would he even consider running for president? Republicans need to stick together, not try to compete with one another."

Other Patch readers said Maryland needs Hogan more than the country does right now.

"I would so hate to lose him as my governor," said Kimberleigh Hayes. "Running the country is a much worse job than trying to clean up Martin O’Malley’s mess!! PLEASE GOVERNOR HOGAN STAY WITH US!!!"

And Debbie Miller commented, "Governor Hogan is the best governor we have ever had, please don’t leave us!"

Tell us what you think Hogan should do in our comments section.