BALTIMORE — Former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says he will not seek a return to the governor’s office this year, ending speculation that Democratic Gov. Wes Moore could face a challenge.
Hogan made the announcement in a guest op-ed published by The Baltimore Sun, writing that he would not be running despite continued interest from supporters and political observers.
“I care deeply about Maryland and I still care about the political direction of our country, but I have no intention of running for office again,” he wrote.
Although Hogan has never officially announced his candidacy, recent polls suggest Moore will enter the race with an edge. A hypothetical matchup conducted by Gonzalez Research and Media Services showed Moore leading Hogan 52 percent to 38 percent, with 10 percent of respondents undecided.
Hogan, meanwhile, continues to be highly regarded by many Marylanders during his tenure. A May survey by Ragnar Research Associates found that 76% of respondents said they “fully approve” of Hogan’s job as governor.
Hogan leaves office in 2023, becoming the first Republican in more than 60 years to be elected to two terms as Maryland governor. He is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term, but he went on to run in Maryland’s open 2024 U.S. Senate race, losing to Democrat Angela Alsobrooks. While Hogan performed better than other Republican candidates nationally, Alsobrooks won by 12 points in a state dominated by Democratic voters.
Moore, who has maintained generally positive approval ratings and has become a rising figure in national Democratic politics, has said he plans to seek re-election in 2026.
Hogan and Moore have clashed publicly in recent years over state budget issues and during Senate campaigns. Speaking on national politics, Hogan said he both agrees and disagrees with certain aspects of former President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, something Hogan has previously opposed.
Hogan said he supported Trump’s decision in June to order a strike against Iran’s nuclear capabilities and agreed with what he called the “premise” of eliminating inefficiencies and waste in government spending. However, he criticized the scope of federal budget cuts and layoffs tied to efforts by Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk to reduce the size of the federal workforce.
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