Larry Hogan, the former Republican governor of Maryland, has announced his run for the United States Senate with the message of advocating for bipartisanship and standing up to both political parties. Hogan, who left a leadership role in the No Labels third-party movement last month, plans to serve Maryland and the nation as a whole by challenging the status quo in politics. After winning two terms as Maryland’s governor, Mr. Hogan stands as the sole well-known Republican entering the Senate race, vying for the seat held by Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, who is retiring.
Hogan seeks to represent a state widely known for favoring Democratic leadership, making him an outstanding contender in the Senate race. With high approval ratings during his time as governor of Maryland, Hogan proved himself as a moderate within the Republican party. His announcement to run for Senator comes at a time when the Republican party is gearing up for the 2024 elections, where they need to flip two seats in the Senate to gain control if President Biden wins re-election, or only one seat if the Republican party retakes the White House. With Hogan as their sole contender so far, Republicans are gearing up for a primary battle for this critical race.
On the other side, Montana Republicans are preparing to unseat a Democratic Senator, Jon Tester, by supporting state representative Matt Rosendale in his Senate bid. This move sets the stage for a tough battle in the Republican party to ensure victory in this critical race, with Rosendale and former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy being primary contenders. Thus, both the Maryland and Montana races for the Senate will play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape ahead.