New Poll: Maryland Voters Hate Trump, Love Hogan

ANNAPOLIS, MD — He’s beaten non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, ordered school to start after Labor Day and categorically refuses to endorse Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Gov. Larry Hogan is a rarity in Maryland: a Republican that people from both political parties support, and a new poll shows the love affair with voters is going strong.

Hogan’s 71 percent approval rating continues to soar, according to a new poll, and is 10 points from a year ago. He draws support from Marylanders in both parties and independents.

Residents praise his work ethic and a whopping 75 percent of those surveyed approve of his decision to reject Trump. Hogan campaigned for his friend, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who dropped out of the race after disappointing finishes in early primaries.

The new Washington Post-University of Maryland poll results released Thursday shows 43 percent of the state’s Republicans agree with Hogan’s disavowal of Trump, while 47 percent disapprove. Not surprisingly, 91 percent of Democrats agree with his distancing from the brash businessman.

Hogan campaigned as an outsider who would cut waste and fix problems created by years of Democratic governors and state legislatures.

So political experts says that it’s not surprising that Hogan is popular even as the heavily blue state is more disenchanted with the GOP than ever. The poll shows 63 percent of Marylanders have an unfavorable impression of the Republican Party, up from 51 percent last fall. Democrats are seen favorable statewide, with 51 percent of residents supporting the party.

A Goucher Poll done three weeks ago showed similar enthusiasm for Hogan. Seventy percent of that poll’s participants approved of the job he is doing as governor, 12 percent disapproved, and 17 percent didn’t know.

Hogan said this spring that Trump shouldn’t be the Republican nominee, and skipped the national convention this summer.

When reporters asked the governor in June if he would throw his support behind Trump his answer was a firm “No.” And he won’t support Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, either.

“No, I don’t plan to,” Hogan told The Washington Post. “I guess when I get behind the curtain I’ll have to figure it out. Maybe write someone in. I’m not sure.”

The Post poll gives Clinton a 63 to 27 percent lead over Trump in Maryland

Hogan’s popularity hasn’t translated to the state’s U.S. Senate race, where the candidate he endorsed — Del. Kathy Szeliga (R-Baltimore County), the state House minority whip — trails Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen 58 to 29 percent.