According to the Washington Examiner, Maryland’s Republican Senate nominee, Larry Hogan, reaffirms his refusal to support either of the major party's presidential candidates, taking issue with Vice President Kamala Harris’s policy stances.
Hogan positions himself as a centrist, setting the stage for a challenging Senate race against Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, a close ally of Harris.
Hogan, former two-term governor of Maryland, has consistently criticized both ends of the political spectrum. His stance aligns him against Harris, who recently replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee, labeling her policies too extreme.
Hogan's political approach remains firmly rooted in the center, a stance that he believes sets him apart in the upcoming Senate race. "I don't plan to vote for either of the two major party candidates, and that hasn't changed at all," Hogan asserted, calling Harris's policies "disastrous, far-left policies." This perspective originates from his tenure as a centrist governor determined to distance Maryland from any semblance of "the California of the East."
Angela Alsobrooks, Hogan’s Democratic opponent, has been a significant figure in Maryland politics, closely aligning with Harris. Alsobrooks’s policies, according to Hogan, lean decidedly far-left – a stance he plans to challenge in the election for retiring Senator Ben Cardin’s seat.
Harris's record, particularly her time as San Francisco's district attorney, provides Hogan with ample material for criticism. He is a counterweight to these policies, emphasizing, "I still don't want to follow San Francisco policies, and I think that some of the policies are wrong for America."
Interestingly, Hogan had words of praise for Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, whom he described as a centrist much like himself. Shapiro, a potential vice-presidential candidate alongside Harris, received acknowledgment from Hogan for his moderate political stance and governance style.
"Gov. Shapiro happens to have a lot of politics a lot like me," Hogan remarked. "He's a moderate who tries to govern from the middle." This perspective stands in stark contrast to his view of Harris and Alsobrooks, whom he considers far-left.
Despite his critique of Alsobrooks’s policies, Hogan reiterated his personal respect for her, acknowledging, "I like and respect Alsobrooks, but there's no question that her policies are far-left." He expressed concerns that Alsobrooks' policies, akin to those of Harris, do not represent the average Marylander.
Hogan's campaign faces robust attacks from Democrats, who seek to portray him as a potential enabler of Trumpism in the Senate. These allegations, however, do not align with Hogan's clear disdain for former President Donald Trump, a stance he has made no effort to conceal.
Voicing his intention to act as a “maverick” in Washington, Hogan vowed to stand up to both parties. "I think [Alsobrooks] wants the race to be about red vs. blue and just Democrat vs. Republican," he stated. "I think it's about issues that people care about, and I think it's about our records and what we say we're going to do when we get to Washington."
Amidst this partisan clamoring, Democrats have experienced a surge of excitement following Biden's exit, a period Hogan downplays as a temporary "sugar high" or "honeymoon period." He believes voter focus will sharpen after Labor Day, expressing confidence that his campaign will not waver.
Larry Hogan remains steadfast in his refusal to support major party candidates, focusing his critique on Vice President Kamala Harris’s policies. He identifies Angela Alsobrooks as a significant opponent, criticizing her alignment with Harris while operating from a self-described centrist position. Hogan’s campaign emphasizes independence and moderate politics, positioning himself as a maverick willing to challenge both political parties in Washington.
