Published on June 15, 2024, 1:14 am

In a turn of events that has attracted considerable attention in political circles, former President Donald Trump has expressed his support for Maryland’s ex-Governor Larry Hogan’s bid for a Senate seat. This comes despite the tense history between them, making it an intriguing twist in the political scenario. Serving Maryland as governor from 2015 until 2023, Hogan is widely recognized as a Republican stalwart and his campaign is closely watched.

Larry Hogan, once one of Donald Trump’s most vocal critics within the GOP, earned the former president’s endorsement recently during an interview on Fox News. Displaying confidence in Hogan’s prowess and possibilities of winning, Trump stated that it was crucial for Republicans to regain control over Senate for reviving the country.

This unexpected endorsement by Trump seems to be part of a calculated strategy. The move might appear strange especially considering Hogan’s critical stance towards Trump during various legal issues that the latter faced. Hogan had even agitated Trump’s camp previously with statements urging respect for legal verdicts when the former president was convicted by a Manhattan jury related to hush money payments.

However, this does not seem to deter Trump from advocating a win for Hogan now. Larry Hogan’s decision not to attend multiple Republican National Conventions did not undercut his appeal as he positioned himself as a moderate willing to challenge party norms However, this moderate image won him two terms as governor in Maryland — one of America’s most Democrat-centric states. If he plans on clinching this Senate seat seriously enough, he would need to walk down similar corridors of moderation.

Trump likely understands that achieving longstanding legislative goals will require full control over Congress — House and Senate both which could be achieved if influential figures like him back deserving candidates like Hogan regardless of their past collisions. Hence, endorsing Larry Hogan makes strategic sense at present.

The ultimate goal here is winning— winning for every seat possible — thereby steering power back into GOP hands. For this cause & for the future of a conservative-oriented America, Trump’s support towards Hogan is warranted considering he potentially can turn Maryland into another Republican victory.

Hailing from Alaska’s Susitna Valley, Ward Clark is well-known across multiple fronts as an author, entrepreneur, connoisseur of wilderness and a strong advocate for libertarian beliefs. He has served in the U.S. Army, including crucial stints during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Joint Endeavor. Clark’s writings can be found on Rumble and his tweets under @TheGreatLander project his perspectives.