Former Maryland governor Larry Hogan (R.) will run for the Senate in his state in hopes of replacing retiring Sen. Ben Cardin (D.).
"This is not just about the differences between the Right and the Left," Hogan said Friday in a video posted to X. "This is about the difference between right and wrong, and this isn't just your typical fight between Democrats and Republicans. It's more important than that. This is a fight for Maryland and America's future, and that is a fight worth fighting. And that is why I have made the decision to run for the United States Senate—not to serve one party, but to try to be part of the solution to fix our nation's broken politics and fight for Maryland."
The moderate Republican, who has been critical of former president and frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination Donald Trump, highlighted his bipartisan bonafides in the announcement.
"Look, I don't come from the performative arts school of politics," Hogan said. "I come from the 'get to work and get things done' school, and I'll work with anyone who wants to do the people's business. Over eight years, just down the road from Washington, we have already shown a better path forward, and let's face it: One party alone can't fix it."
Hogan, who first won election as governor in 2014 and was reelected in 2018, is popular in Maryland. His entrance into the contest expands the number of Senate races in which Republicans could be competitive this November.
A poll from when Hogan left office in January 2023 placed his approval rating at 77 percent, with majorities of both Democratic and GOP voters approving of the job he did. His approval among Democrats was 13 points higher than among Republicans.
National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman Sen. Steve Daines (Mont.) praised Hogan's governorship in a press release that noted his popularity in Maryland. Daines added that the committee looked "forward to welcoming him to the United States Senate."
The news throws water on speculation that Hogan would run on a third-party, unity ticket for the presidency with centrist group No Labels. Some believed he might do so when news broke last month that he resigned from the group's leadership in December.