Former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said he will not seek a return to the Government House this year, ending speculation about a potential challenge to Democratic Gov. Wes Moore.
Hogan made the announcement in a guest commentary published by The Baltimore Sun, writing that he would not enter the race despite continued interest from supporters and political observers.
“I care deeply about the state of Maryland, and I remain concerned about the direction of our nation’s politics, but I have no intention of running for office again,” he wrote.
Although Hogan never formally declared his candidacy, recent polling suggested Moore would have entered the contest with an advantage. A hypothetical matchup conducted by Gonzales Research and Media Services showed Moore leading Hogan 52% to 38%, with 10% of respondents undecided.
At the same time, Hogan continues to draw strong marks from many Marylanders for his time in office. A May survey by Ragnar Research Associates found that 76% of respondents said they “totally approved” of the job Hogan did as governor.
Hogan left office in 2023 after becoming the first Republican elected to two terms as Maryland governor in more than 60 years. Constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term, he went on to run in Maryland’s open U.S. Senate race in 2024, where he lost to Democrat Angela Alsobrooks. Although Hogan outperformed other Republican candidates nationally, Alsobrooks won by 12 points in a state dominated by Democratic voters.
Moore, who has maintained generally positive approval ratings and has emerged as a rising figure in national Democratic politics, has said he plans to seek a second term in 2026.
Hogan and Moore have clashed publicly in recent years over state budget issues and during the Senate race. Hogan has addressed national politics, saying he both agreed and disagreed with aspects of former President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, which Hogan has previously opposed.
Hogan said he supported Trump’s decision to order strikes against Iran’s nuclear capabilities in June and agreed with what he described as the “premise” of rooting out inefficiencies and waste in government spending. He criticized, however, the scope of federal budget cuts and layoffs tied to efforts by Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk to reduce the size of the federal workforce.
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