Trump muddies Senate race by saying he wishes for a Hogan win: Maryland

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Former President Trump has endorsed Republican Larry Hogan in Maryland’s Senate race, despite Hogan inciting anger among Trump allies by urging voters to respect the verdict in Trump’s New York hush money trial.

“Yeah, I’d like to see him win. I think he has a good chance to win,” Trump said when asked whether he was going to support Hogan to win the race, per a clip shared on Fox Business.

"We gotta take the majority. We have to straighten out our country. So I’d like to see him win. He’s somebody that can win … I know other people made some strong statements, but I can just say from my standpoint, I’m about the party and I’m about the country," Trump told reporter Aishah Hasnie.

Despite the endorsement, Hogan’s campaign quickly emphasized the ongoing differences between the two Republicans. Hogan, a frequent critic of Trump during his time in office, even contemplated running against Trump in the 2020 presidential race before ultimately deciding against it.

Republican strategists believe Trump’s endorsement doesn’t erase the history of feuding between the two. During Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, Hogan publicly refused to vote for him, opting instead to write in the name of his father, former Rep. Larry Hogan Sr., who famously voted to impeach President Richard Nixon in 1974. In the 2020 election, Hogan wrote in Ronald Reagan’s name on his ballot rather than supporting Trump.

Democrats have attempted to link Hogan and Trump, but the Hogan campaign insists that significant differences remain. Trump's recent endorsement highlights the complexities within the Republican Party as it navigates its future direction and leadership.