GOOD NEWS FOR DEMOCRATS: Hogan Takes Himself Out Of the Running for Senate In Maryland
Republican's decision helps Democrats in midterm elections
In what should be good news for Democrats looking to hold their extremely thin Senate majority this year, Maryland's popular two-term Republican governor won't for US Senate this year.
That leaves Democratic Sen Chris Van Hollen facing no big-name Republican opponent in November as he seeks a second term in the November midterm elections.
Republicans in the nation’s capital had been trying to coax Gov Larry Hogan — who has become well-known as an outspoken opponent of Donald Trump's — to make the race against Van Hollen.
Van Hollen is now almost assured victory in overwhelmingly Democratic Maryland, given that he will face one of the second-tier Republicans vying for the Senate nomination.
Van Hollen is generally seen as the more-progressive of Maryland's two senators, compared to the more-moderate Democratic Sen Ben Cardin.
Hogan became the rare Republican to do well in the state, becoming the first GOP governor to be reelected in Maryland since the 1950s.
In the end, Hogan said that he is declining to run because he prefers to remain governor for the year left in his second term before he is term-limited and must leave office.
“I want to let you know I will not be a candidate for the U.S. Senate. When I pledged to the people of Maryland that I was going to give this job everything I’ve got every single day that I’m given, I meant it—that commitment is more important to me than any political campaign,” Hogan said.
Although midterm elections typically favor the political party out of power — in this case, the Republicans — Democrats this year are facing a more favorable Senate map consisting of 14 Democrats and 20 Republicans.
Five Republican senators, Richard Shelby (Ala.), Roy Blunt (Mo), Richard Burr (NC), Rob Portman (Ohio), Pat Toomey (Pa) and just one Democratic senator, Patrick Leahy (Vt), have announced that they are not seeking re-election.
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