2024 Presidential Race Starts – Baltimore?

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan speaks at a news conference
in Annapolis, MD, July 15, 2020 | Brian Witte/AP

In a Baltimore Sun article, Jeff Barker described Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s publication of a new book showing him as a tough-minded law and order politician, although better known around the country as a Republican moderate. The book titled, “Still Standing: Surviving Cancer, Riots, a Global Pandemic, and the Toxic Politics that Divide America,” is not likely to be a bestseller.

Local observers believe the term-limited governor is positioning early for a national race focused on appealing to the Republican base. Hogan, basically a pragmatist, built a strong reputation as a moderate on racial issues and addressed the pandemic early with closing schools and businesses. He also criticized Trump at various points, including considering running in a primary against him in 2020.

I offered that although he is not known in Colorado and the western states, if Trump loses, the Republican Party will be immediately looking for new direction and leadership. A host of exploratory committees are going to be started by aspiring candidates. The challenge for Hogan-type candidates is to hold some elements of the base, while reinvigorating the more pragmatic wing of the party.

My quote was:

“He is not well-known. He is not known,” said Floyd Ciruli, a Colorado-based independent pollster.

But Ciruli said there could be an opening for a new generation of Republican contenders after this November’s election.

“The minute this is over with, pretty much everybody will start an exploratory committee,” Ciruli said. “There will be a lot of centrists and moderates who are appreciative of some of the [Trump] policies but recognize he is a very flawed personality.”