After considerable speculation on whether he would throw his hat in the ring one more time, former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced Tuesday, via an op-ed in The Baltimore Sun, that he will not challenge Gov. Wes Moore (D) for the governor’s mansion this fall.
In fact, Hogan declared he has “no intention of running for office again,” meaning his stunning political ascent, as a twice-elected Republican in a deep blue state, may be coming to an end.
In the piece, Hogan said he’s been “humbled” by calls from Marylanders urging him to run for governor a third time.
“Our eight years proved that Maryland is best served by leaders who understand that no one has a monopoly on good ideas,” Hogan wrote. “To my fellow Republicans: It is time to invest in a new generation of candidates who are ready to step up.”
A number of Republicans have already filed for the governor’s race, with others either running campaigns already or considering a bid. But none of them have the high profile of Hogan.
Moore’s campaign declined to comment on the development Tuesday, but it’s likely they are “breathing a sigh of relief,” said Todd Eberly, political science professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
“It’s hard to imagine any Republican candidate being able to raise the amount of money that Hogan could,” Eberly said.
Additionally, few, if any, Maryland Republicans who could run for the seat enjoy the kind of statewide name recognition that Hogan possesses, Eberly said. Maybe former Gov. Bob Ehrlich, who served from 2003 to 2007? Hardly any other names come to mind, Eberly said.
Meanwhile, the candidate filing deadline, on Feb. 24, is fast approaching.
“If you do not have the name recognition of a Larry Hogan, you’ve got to get into this now — sooner rather than later,” Eberly said.
That list includes Senate Majority Leader Steve Hershey (R- Upper Shore), who has explored running, but isn’t as well known as the two former Republican governors, Eberly said.
Hershey said Tuesday that he is “still thoughtfully considering what role I can play to help move our state in the right direction.”
“Maryland is facing serious budget and energy challenges that cannot be ignored, and it is clear we need fiscally responsible leadership to restore affordability, stability, and accountability,” Hershey said. “Any decision I make will be guided by what I believe is best for Maryland’s future.”
For the field of lesser-known hopefuls already in the race, Hogan’s announcement was welcome.
“This moment marks another important step on my journey toward the governorship,” wrote Ed Hale, a Baltimore businessman and owner of the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team, who switched his affiliation from Democrat to Republican to run against Moore.
“I believe Maryland deserves steady leadership, fiscal responsibility, and a government that puts taxpayers first. I am committed to doing my very best for the people of this great state. Help is on the Way!” Hale wrote.
John Myrick, a Republican candidate for governor, wrote that he agrees with Hogan’s comments that “Maryland needs to look to the future, not the past.”
“New leadership is needed. Our next Lt. Governor, Dr. Brenda J. Thiam, and I look forward to restoring prosperity to Maryland once elected in November 2026,” Myrick wrote. “We thank Governor Hogan for leaving Maryland in a strong fiscal position — an advantage squandered by the current Governor.”
But the race will be exceedingly difficult for Republicans, who must surmount President Donald Trump’s (R) low approval ratings in the state, Eberly said.
Democrats’ insistence that they will not raise taxes during the current General Assembly session may make the road even more challenging for the GOP, he said.
“It increasingly allows this to be a referendum on Donald Trump and his leadership of the country, nationalizing what otherwise would be a Maryland race,” Eberly said.