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Republican Senate candidate Larry Hogan has criticized JD Vance for refusing to accept Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, calling it “crazy” and warning that it could harm Republican candidates running for Congress.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Hogan, who is vying for a Senate seat in Maryland, expressed concern about Trump questioning the results of the upcoming presidential election.
“It’s crazy, Trump clearly lost the [2020] election,” Hogan stated. “I was the first Republican to congratulate Biden and urge Trump to concede. I also deployed state troopers and the National Guard to the Capitol on January 6 [2021].”
During a recent vice-presidential debate, Vance, Trump’s running mate, avoided directly acknowledging Trump’s loss in 2020 and instead focused on future issues and alleged censorship during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hogan, known as a moderate Republican, has been vocal in his criticism of Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. He is running in a closely watched Senate race in Maryland that could impact the balance of power in Congress.
Unlike other Republican candidates, Hogan has distanced himself from Trump’s Maga movement and stated that he will not vote for the former president in the upcoming election, despite Trump’s endorsement of his Senate candidacy.
“My message to Trump is to focus on the issues and refrain from divisive rhetoric,” Hogan told the FT.
He has also diverged from Trump’s protectionist economic policies, particularly on tariffs, which he believes are detrimental to the economy.
A recent poll by the Washington Post and the University of Maryland showed Hogan trailing his Democratic opponent Angela Alsobrooks by 11 points. However, the Senate race appears to be much closer than the presidential race in the state.
Hogan expressed concern that Trump’s polarizing rhetoric could jeopardize down-ballot Republican candidates and potentially cost the GOP control of the House of Representatives.
“Having people like me in the Senate is crucial to prevent potential losses in Congress,” Hogan emphasized.
As a former governor with high approval ratings, Hogan has positioned himself as a moderate candidate who supports abortion rights. However, his opponent Alsobrooks has warned that a vote for Hogan could aid Senate Republicans in securing a majority and influencing the outcome of a second Trump presidency or a Harris White House.
In order to win over Maga-aligned Republicans who disagree with his anti-Trump stance, Hogan is working to convince them of his qualifications and previous support from voters.