2024 voter guide: Larry Hogan, candidate for U.S. Senate in Maryland

Larry Hogan

Candidate in Nov. 5 general election
Republican
Davidsonville, Anne Arundel County

Why are you running for office?

I’m running for Senate because I have never been more concerned about the future of this country. Washington is completely dysfunctional and our political system is fundamentally broken. Another party-line vote won’t change anything, but an independent swing vote would put Maryland at the center of every critical decision and deliver common sense solutions on the top issues Marylanders care about–affordability, crime, and fixing the broken immigration system. My time as governor showed what we can achieve when we reach across the aisle to find common ground for the common good. I will always put people over politics and country over party, and I will continue to be the same strong, independent leader for Maryland I always have been.

Do you believe, as President Joe Biden has said, that “democracy is on the ballot” and, if so, in what way?

On January 6th, I took action to defend democracy, sending in the Maryland National Guard to protect the U.S. Capitol. Polarization has become an existential threat to our democracy. I’m running for the Senate to fix the broken politics. As governor, I took on Maryland’s worst-in-the-nation gerrymandering scheme and worked to restore fairness in the state’s electoral system. In the Senate, I will push for common-sense reforms like open primaries, ending partisan gerrymandering, and term limits to make sure that the exhausted majority are finally heard. I will continue to lead by example, setting a tone of civility, trust, and cooperation, and working to find common ground for the common good.

Will you accept the presidential election result once the totals have been certified by the states and any legal challenges adjudicated?

The most important thing–for the good of the country and sake of our democracy–is that we respect the democratic process and ensure a peaceful transition of power. In 2020, I was one of the first Republicans in the country to recognize Joe Biden as the president-elect. On January 6th, I was the first governor to order the National Guard to protect the Capitol in response to the attack on our democracy. I will continue to be a voice for honoring the Constitution and respecting the outcome of the election.

Do you support additional assistance for Ukraine’s military forces two years into Russia’s invasion?

The world is a dangerous place, and the best way to secure peace is through American strength. As governor, I spoke out forcefully in solidarity with Ukraine and our Ukrainian community, and we were proud to send life-saving medical supplies to the front lines. In the Senate, I will work to ensure America continues to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, and makes critical investments in a strong military and cyberdefenses.

Should the United States be speaking out more clearly, as Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen has suggested, about civilian casualties in Gaza?

The position shared by Sen. Van Hollen and my opponent of withdrawing aid for Israel is untenable, and goes against decades of bipartisan foreign policy. We all want the violence to end, but the way to do so is to force Hamas terrorists to release every hostage, to surrender and to be held accountable for their crimes. As governor, I faithfully stood with Israel, including by signing an executive order prohibiting agencies and departments from entering into contracts with any business that boycotts Israel, and I will build on Sen. Ben Cardin’s legacy as a pro-Israel champion in the Senate.

Should Congress act to protect abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision?

Yes. I support a woman’s right to choose and would never interfere with a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. I have been on the record against a national abortion ban for over 30 years, and under my leadership, Maryland women never had to question whether their reproductive rights were in jeopardy–I protected choice in Maryland for eight years, funding access to abortion in the budget every year, and making Maryland the first state in America to provide over-the-counter birth control covered by insurance. In the Senate, I will sponsor legislation to codify Roe v. Wade as the law of the land and protect access to IVF. I will work across the aisle to protect reproductive rights and women’s health.

Should the Senate repeal or modify the filibuster rule under which 41 or more senators can block legislation?

One thing Donald Trump and the far-left agree on is abolishing the filibuster. In the Senate, I will oppose any efforts by Republicans or Democrats who try to abolish the filibuster. The answer to addressing the dysfunction in Washington is more bipartisan cooperation, not less. As governor, I worked to get things done working across party lines with a Democratic supermajority. Instead of jamming through one party’s agenda, Congress should follow that proven model with bipartisan common sense solutions.

Should the Maryland congressional delegation try to revive federal funding for the Red Line transit project?

The congressional delegation’s top infrastructure priorities should be the rebuilding of the Key Bridge, the completion of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel, as well as the Traffic Relief Plan to address the gridlock on the Capital Beltway that hurts economic development and quality of life. The traffic in the region continues to rank among the worst in the country because of the failure to address this problem.

What action, if any, would you favor to curb unlawful crossings at the United States’ southern border?

For far too long, Washington politicians have cared more about keeping the broken immigration system as a campaign issue than finding actual solutions. As a result, the humanitarian crisis at the border has continued to worsen, becoming a perfect storm of chaos for criminal cartels that are profiting from a surge in human trafficking and the smuggling of fentanyl and other illicit drugs. Meanwhile, immigrants who attempt to enter the country through legal channels are unfairly punished. I will work to advance solutions to secure the border and pass meaningful immigration reform that encourages more legal immigration. This means fixing the asylum process, sending more resources to law enforcement on the border with more Customs and Border Protection agents, increasing the number of immigration judges, and dismantling the criminal cartel networks.

Editor’s note: Baltimore Sun Media received this candidate’s responses on Sept. 5.

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