Gov. Hogan's Popularity Soars With Maryland Voters: Poll

ANNAPOLIS, MD — While the bitter political bickering between President Donald Trump and Democrats has some pundits saying the mid-term elections will produce big gains for Trump opponents, Marylanders still overwhelmingly approve of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, according to the latest poll. The quarterly Morning Consult poll released Feb. 1 shows Hogan holding a 66 percent job approval rating among Maryland voters, retaining his rank as the second most popular governor in the country for the fourth straight quarter.

“It is a testament to his independent, bipartisan style and the progress Maryland is making under his leadership that voters of all political stripes continue to give Gov. Hogan such high job approval marks,” said Hogan campaign manager Jim Barnett. “The politicians in Washington would do themselves a favor by watching how Gov. Hogan is successfully showing the way to functional, productive, competent governance that is worthy of the people he represents.”

While Democrats hold most elected statewide and national offices in Maryland, Hogan's centrist positions helped him win voters from both parties four years ago, and make him a tough candidate to defeat in his re-election bid in November. Hogan has never been a fan of President Trump's, denouncing some of then-candidate Trump's comments and positions before the presidential election, and writing in his father's name for president.

The latest quarterly Morning Consult poll says Hogan has ranked No. 2 among the most popular governors nationwide for five out of the last six Morning Consult polls. It is the seventh straight Consult poll during his term where Hogan has occupied a spot in the top three.

GOP control of Congress and governor's mansions nationwide could be at stake in the November 2018 mid-term elections — and Maryland's gubernatorial race is one of the top 10 seats in play, according to The Washington Post. The newspaper named Republican Gov. Larry Hogan's bid for a second term as the No. 10 gubernatorial race nationwide among governor posts most likely to flip parties.

A January 2018 survey by Gonzales Media and Research Services showed Hogan’s approval rating at about 71 percent among likely voters in 2018, which is among the highest of Hogan’s term in office, says The Washington Post. Hogan has double-digit leads in the Gonzales poll compared with the top three potential Democratic challengers: Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and former NAACP president Ben Jealous.

The businessman turned governor remains widely popular in Maryland, with the most recent Goucher Poll done in September 2017 keeping his 60 percent approval rating. Hogan's standing with Marylanders remained unchanged since a February 2017 Goucher Poll. Sixty-two percent of Marylanders approved of the job Hogan is doing as governor, 16 percent disapproved, and 20 percent said they don't know.

His highest approval rating measured by the Goucher Poll — 70 percent — was registered September 2016. The high poll numbers came despite attempts by opponents to tie him to the unpopular policies of President Trump — Hogan didn't support Trump and refused to vote for him in November.

"This is one of several blue states that Republicans now control, and it won't necessarily be easy for Democrats to wrestle it back," according to the Post. "Polls show that two-thirds of the state approve of Gov. Larry Hogan (R), and Democrats are mired in a crowded and messy primary to unseat him. But anti-Trump sentiment in this liberal state may be too strong for even a politically skilled governor like Hogan to overcome. Democrats, meanwhile, hold a near-record low. Which means in 2018, the only place to go may be up for Democrats."

The 2018 governor's race has Hogan facing a large field of Democrats, including Baker, Kamenetz, Jealous, state Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr., attorney James Shea, tech entrepreneur Alec Ross, and former Michelle Obama aide Krishanti Vignarajah. Baker and Jealous are seeking to become the state's first African-American governor.

Photo: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, courtesy of the governor's office