Hogan not running for Senate, Open to 2024 Presidential

[Anonymous]

https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-hogan-2024-story.html

Interesting choice.

“I’m not going to say I won’t run in the future,” Hogan said of a presidential run in an interview. ”A lot of people are talking to me about 2024 being a possibility. We won one of the biggest victories in very tough state in a very tough year. People are keeping an eye on what we’re doing here. Are we going to be a bigger tent party or a smaller tent party? That could involve a future run but maybe it won’t.”

Instead of launching a 2020 campaign, Hogan said, he will start a national advocacy organization called “An America United.”

He said the group would be modeled off his Change Maryland organization, which railed on social media against high taxes and helped launch his successful run for governor.

“An America United” would focus on ending partisan division, Hogan said. He said he also saw it as carrying a bipartisan, centrist message that could help open up the GOP to more diverse supporters.

I'd say it's a smart decision for Hogan but I wouldn't be too optimistic about his political future. I would agree that Maryland is a centrist to center-left state, which explains how we're at where we're at right now (Moderate Republican governor, Democratic legislature). Some think his popularity would give him a fair shot at the Senate, but I think he reads Maryland voters correctly that we are disinclined to enable the present day GOP to maintain control at the federal level. A 2024 Presidential bid makes sense, as he'd present a moderate Republican option following either a Democratic presidential term or a somehow held-onto but very disastrous second Trump term. I still think that it's rather optimistic that GOP primary voters would turn back to the center and nominate someone like Hogan.

[Anonymous]

He has no chance on the national stage, unless the current crop of GOP leaders are indicted en mass.

He could be seen as a pair of "clean hands" if the sh#t truly hits the fan in the GOP.

[Anonymous]

He knows he would get chewed up by the Trump machine.
2024 is a very far away.

[Anonymous]

If he had run in 2020, I would have respected the hell out of him and probably voted for him. The Republican party does not have to support Trump as their nominee. I would have so much respect for any Republican who would stand up and say, "It's time to put a good representative of our party in the White House."

-Long-time Democrat who usually votes blue but did vote for Hogan recently

[Anonymous]

Logan 2024 makes a lot of sense

[Anonymous]

So he definitely ruled out a 2020 challenge to Trump? I thought he was thinking about it, but I guess he lacks the guts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So he definitely ruled out a 2020 challenge to Trump? I thought he was thinking about it, but I guess he lacks the guts.

He's been through a lot in his life. I'm sure he looked at the numbers and knew he had no chance in 2020. It made is easy to skip the utter destruction of his personal/professional life by the Trump machine.
Trump WILL be the nominee for the Republican party in 2020 and has a pretty good chance of winning.

Not clear where Hogan goes after being Governor.

[Anonymous]

I'd love for Hogan to continue working for MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he had run in 2020, I would have respected the hell out of him and probably voted for him. The Republican party does not have to support Trump as their nominee. I would have so much respect for any Republican who would stand up and say, "It's time to put a good representative of our party in the White House."

-Long-time Democrat who usually votes blue but did vote for Hogan recently

The reason why he's not running in 2020 is probably because he can't beat Trump who won the MD primary by 54%. Trump is popular with the Rs in MD. I tried to do my part by switching back to R in the primary and voting for someone other than Trump.

-signed a former R

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he had run in 2020, I would have respected the hell out of him and probably voted for him. The Republican party does not have to support Trump as their nominee. I would have so much respect for any Republican who would stand up and say, "It's time to put a good representative of our party in the White House."

-Long-time Democrat who usually votes blue but did vote for Hogan recently

I, for one, am glad he didn't allow the advice to run of people who never would have voted for him in the general and would only use him as a political weapon.

It would be an honor if he and his wife would consider running in 2024.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he had run in 2020, I would have respected the hell out of him and probably voted for him. The Republican party does not have to support Trump as their nominee. I would have so much respect for any Republican who would stand up and say, "It's time to put a good representative of our party in the White House."

-Long-time Democrat who usually votes blue but did vote for Hogan recently

They don't have to, but unfortunately they will. A 2020 run for Hogan would not have been successful for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he had run in 2020, I would have respected the hell out of him and probably voted for him. The Republican party does not have to support Trump as their nominee. I would have so much respect for any Republican who would stand up and say, "It's time to put a good representative of our party in the White House."

-Long-time Democrat who usually votes blue but did vote for Hogan recently

They don't have to, but unfortunately they will. A 2020 run for Hogan would not have been successful for him.

It would have built his name recognition for 2024. If DJT loses in 2020, Republicans need to prepare for a worst case scenario: a lot of national level GOP leaders will end up in jail.

By running in 2020, Hogan can be seen as taking a principled stand as a "clean" Republican not tainted by the current Administration. Regardless if Trump wins or loses in 2020, the 2024 GOP primary is going to be crowded. It will be hard for Hogan to stand out.

[Anonymous]

2024 is a wise move. My prediction (err...hope?) is that Trump loses in 2020 and the GOP has a come-to-Jesus moment and embraces centrist policies. Hogan would fit into that well, and if the Democrats lean too far left and become too progressive (already risking this in 2020 with some of the candidates), then Hogan will stand a very good chance of winning.

My feeling is the silent majority of Americans are moderate centrists, and that's the kind of leader we need. Both parties are going too far in their respective directions.

Or maybe I'm just disillusioned...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So he definitely ruled out a 2020 challenge to Trump? I thought he was thinking about it, but I guess he lacks the guts.

He's been through a lot in his life. I'm sure he looked at the numbers and knew he had no chance in 2020. It made is easy to skip the utter destruction of his personal/professional life by the Trump machine.
Trump WILL be the nominee for the Republican party in 2020 and has a pretty good chance of winning.

Not clear where Hogan goes after being Governor.

Why would he have no chance? Because he decided that running against a senile morally and financially bankrupt reality tv star is too difficult? If hogan can’t defeat trump, he can’t defeat anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2024 is a wise move. My prediction (err...hope?) is that Trump loses in 2020 and the GOP has a come-to-Jesus moment and embraces centrist policies. Hogan would fit into that well, and if the Democrats lean too far left and become too progressive (already risking this in 2020 with some of the candidates), then Hogan will stand a very good chance of winning.

My feeling is the silent majority of Americans are moderate centrists, and that's the kind of leader we need. Both parties are going too far in their respective directions.

Or maybe I'm just disillusioned...

Sigh.

And here was me thinking those were the right-thinking candidates...