Maryland Governor Writes In Unique Choice For President: Report

ANNAPOLIS, MD — In a time of polarized politics and partisan antics, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) decided he cannot support either presidential candidate. That's why Hogan is voting for former President Ronald Reagan (R), The Washington Post says.

This is the second straight election that Hogan wrote in his own pick for president, WTOP reports. In 2016, he wrote in his father, former Rep. Lawrence Hogan.

The late Republican served in Congress from 1969 to 1975. He also led Prince George's as county executive between 1978 and 1982.

Hogan's communication team did not reply to Patch's request for comment. Without confirming his vote, Hogan showed his support for Reagan on Twitter Friday morning.

The governor retweeted a video, applauding Reagan. The clip comes from Hogan's Sept. 17 interview with C-SPAN 2.

"He was somebody that I greatly admired," Hogan said in the segment posted to his personal Twitter account. "He had a positive vision for America, but he also really believed in bipartisanship."

(Story continues after Tweet)

Reagan was president from 1981 to 1989. A constitutional amendment blocks Reagan from serving a third term, but that doesn't seem to bother Hogan. The governor would rather break tradition than automatically support his party's nominee, who he doesn't always agree with.

President Donald Trump (R) and Hogan have traded jabs throughout their terms. Hogan most notably penned an Op-Ed in The Washington Post, bashing Trump's coronavirus response. The piece debuted in July, a few months after Trump scoffed at Hogan's purchase of Korean coronavirus test kits.

Hogan again strayed from party lines after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Republicans are rushing to replace the liberal Supreme Court justice before the Nov. 3 election. Hogan, however, warned the U.S. Senate against a hurried, partisan confirmation process.

The Senate is on pace to vote on Trump's nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, in the week of Oct. 26. Republicans hold a majority in the chamber, so Senate leaders expect to confirm Barrett a week before the election.

Hogan also condemned the suggestion that Democrats add more justices if former Vice President Joe Biden (D) wins the presidency. This process, called court packing, is legal, but it would require a bill to pass Congress and be signed into law. There have been nine justices on the bench since 1869.

Biden has avoided addressing whether he would pack the courts until recently. In a Tuesday interview with a Cincinnati radio station, Biden said he is "not a fan" of court packing. Biden hedged on that reply at his Thursday town hall, saying he is "open to considering what happens" if the Senate confirms Barrett.

"It's critically important that we … do something about the divisive and angry politics that we see today," Hogan said. "Most people are somewhat frustrated by the kind of divisiveness and the gridlock in Washington."

Hogan's supporters cheer his ability to work across the aisle and hold both parties accountable. The governor's bipartisan support has earned him an approval rating of 71 percent (+/- 3.1 percent), according to a Goucher College poll.

Such strong support of a Republican politician is unusual in Maryland, where less than 30 percent of voters are Republicans. Hogan is one of two GOP governors to win a second term in the deep blue state. Now, some fans urge him to run for president in 2024.

"We've been able to find ways to come together," Hogan said. "It's something we desperately need in America today."

RELATED:

• Most MD Residents Support Police Reform, Gov. Hogan: Goucher Poll
• Hogan Warns Against Rushed, Partisan Vote On Ginsburg's Successor
• Hogan Bashes Trump Coronavirus Response In Washington Post Op-Ed
• Hogan To Publish Book, Supporters Push For 2024 Presidential Run
• Trump Chides Hogan For Korean Coronavirus Test Kits Deal

Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.