In a surprising turn of events, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, is poised to potentially upset the political landscape in the state's 2024 Senate election.
A recent poll suggests that Hogan is neck and neck with Democratic nominee Angela Alsobrooks, the current executive of Prince Georges County. Both candidates have garnered 46% support from likely voters, as per an AARP poll conducted by bipartisan polling team Impact Research and Fabrizio Ward. This is a significant development, considering that Maryland has not elected a Republican senator in nearly four decades, and President Joe Biden won the state by a substantial margin in the 2020 election.
As reported by Politico, Hogan acknowledged the uphill battle he faces in a press release shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation. "Ive been clear from the start that we are the underdogs in this race. People have always counted us outand in this deep blue state, during this unprecedented and chaotic time in American politics, this uphill battle is a daunting climb," Hogan stated. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic, attributing his campaign's momentum to the "palpable enthusiasm of Maryland voters for independent leadership."
The poll also reveals Hogan's significant lead over former President Donald Trump, who trails Vice President Kamala Harris by a 64% to 32% margin in the state. The Senate race has a higher percentage of undecided voters at 7%, compared to 5% for the presidential ballot.
Hogan's campaign has attracted considerable financial backing, with approximately $7 million raised and about $4.3 million spent as of June 30, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) campaign finance data. Marylands Future, a super PAC supporting Hogan, has nearly $15.5 million in cash on hand and has already spent around half a million promoting his candidacy.
Hogan, a moderate Republican, has positioned himself as an independent, promising to vote to codify Roe v. Wade and oppose policies outlined in the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 transition plan. However, his maverick approach has drawn criticism from some within the Republican Party, including Republican National Committee (RNC) co-chair Lara Trump, who took issue with Hogan's call for Americans to respect the verdict of Trumps criminal trial before it was announced.
A victory for Hogan could tip the balance of the Senate in favor of Republicans, as current projections suggest that the chamber's control may come down to a single seat.
The poll, conducted by Impact Research and Fabrizio Ward, reached 600 likely voters between August 14 and August 20, with a 4-point margin of error. Other polls, such as those from Goucher College and the University of Maryland, have shown Hogan ahead, while some, like those from Public Policy Polling, have shown Alsobrooks in the lead.
The Alsobrooks campaign has yet to respond to the Daily Caller News Foundations request for comment. Despite the silence from the Democratic camp, the race continues to heat up, with Hogan's potential victory promising a seismic shift in Maryland's political landscape.
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