Larry Hogan, the Republican Senate candidate for Maryland and the state’s former governor, may have ended his political aspirations with one X post.
Hogan urged all Americans to “respect the verdict and the legal process.”
“Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders—regardless of party—must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law,” Hogan said.
Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders—regardless of party—must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation…
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 30, 2024
Hogan faced extreme criticism for his comment:
This ain't it, chief
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) May 30, 2024
I don't "respect the verdict".
The only proper American response is absolute disrespect and contempt for the judge and the court and the NY legal system that made this possible.
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) May 30, 2024
You are going to lose your Senate race.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 30, 2024
Would Dems respect a verdict like this? The answer is NO. Quit being a feckless coward and fight back.
— Lady Lisa ♥️🇺🇸♥️ (@SumSol44) May 30, 2024
Not one republican should vote for Larry Hogan. Let his political career die. He's not our friend.
— Paul (@WomanDefiner) May 30, 2024
Your career is over in one tweet
— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) May 30, 2024
“On February 9, 2024, Hogan filed and launched a campaign for U.S. Senate in Maryland, seeking to succeed retiring incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Ben Cardin. He won the Republican primary election on May 14, 2024, and will face Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in the general election,” Wikipedia states.
According to Axios, a top Trump advisor warned Hogan’s Senate campaign is over following his “respect the verdict” comment.
You just ended your campaign https://t.co/LJDuQ4oj0A
— Chris LaCivita (@LaCivitaC) May 30, 2024
Per Axios:
Former President Trump initially planned to refrain from attacking Hogan, despite their strained past, but Hogan’s comments Thursday indicate he might have calculated that going up against Trump would serve him well in deep blue Maryland.
Hogan’s call to respect the rule of law seems to have incensed at least one top Trump advisor.
“You just ended your campaign,” said Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump advisor, on X in response to Hogan’s comments.
Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts in his New York criminal trial Thursday, making him the first-ever former U.S. president to be a convicted felon.
Hogan was one of the loudest anti-Trump voices in the party during his time as Maryland governor. While he has largely steered clear of talking about Trump during his Senate bid, the Trump conviction has resurfaced the feud.
Hogan said earlier this year that he wouldn’t vote for Trump.
“Look, I’m like 70% of the rest of the people in America who do not want Joe Biden or Donald Trump to be president, and I’m hoping that they’re potentially is another alternative,” Hogan said.
WATCH:
US Senate candidate @GovLarryHogan tells Axios’ @SophiaCai99 that he “won’t be” voting for Trump in November:
“Look, I'm like 70% of the rest of the people in America who do not want Joe Biden or Donald Trump to be president, and I'm hoping that they're potentially is another… pic.twitter.com/wF5qGJR1x1
— Axios (@axios) March 12, 2024
Axios reported:
Hogan and Trump have a long, bitter history. He had endorsed former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley for president.
Haley dropped her bid Wednesday after struggling to dent Trump’s massive lead.
Hogan was formerly the chairman of No Labels, but he said he brushed off the group’s appeals to get him to run for president.
“I just didn’t want to be a spoiler and I didn’t know if you could really get to 270,” Hogan said.
Axios reported last month that Trump does not plan to attack Hogan in his Senate bid, despite the bad blood between them.
Hogan said he hadn’t spoken to Trump, but that he would not be shy about criticizing the GOP frontrunner on the campaign trail.