Maryland Senate debate turns into battle over Hogan’s independent credentials

Former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan vowed Thursday in his first Maryland Senate debate with Democrat Angela Alsobrooks to be an independent voice in an increasingly polarized Washington and to support federal legislation affirming a right to abortion.

Ms. Alsobrooks, Prince George’s County executive, pushed back.

She said Mr. Hogan’s pledge is refuted by his actions as governor and his victory likely handing Senate control to Republicans and what she described a right-wing agenda that is out of step with Maryland voters on abortion and other issues.

“Voters of Maryland know me, and they know my proven track record of standing up to Donald Trump, to Mitch McConnell, and to the Republican Party,” Mr. Hogan said. “I probably stood up more than anyone in America.”

That includes the issue of abortion.

He said he supported abortion protections as governor and pledged to co-sponsor legislation codifying the abortion protections that existed before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Mr. Hogan also called out Ms. Alsobrooks for watching over a “sanctuary city” that limits cooperation with deportation officers at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying he has been much tougher on crime.

A popular former two-term governor, Mr. Hogan said his track record shows he is not a MAGA Republican and that he has worked across party lines to get things done on issues that benefit voters in both parties.

In that vein, he cited tax cuts he passed as governor and to efforts to improve transportation, curb gun violence and treat cancer.

“What we see today is nothing but divisiveness and dysfunction in Washington, where nothing ever seems to get done,” Mr. Hogan said.

“Our country is being torn apart by the extreme voices on both sides.”

He said the nation doesn’t need someone who is a “rubber stamp” for one party but does need “mavericks” in Washington who will challenge party leaders.

Ms. Alsobrooks said she supports the Democratic agenda to revive abortion protections under federal law, ban assault weapons, and cut taxes for the middle class.

“So I support the Democratic agenda,” she said.

She also said she supports raising taxes on corporations, arguing they should pay their “fair share,” and is open to raising taxes on Americans making more than $400,000.

Ms. Alsobrooks said Mr. Hogan, as governor, “vetoed important abortion care” legislation and opposed efforts to establish waiting periods for gun purchases.

“The Republican Party has declared war on women’s reproductive freedoms,” she said. “We recognize that this party of chaos and division that is led by Donald Trump is one that cannot lead our country and also has severe consequences for Marylanders.”

On abortion, she said, “The fact of the matter is when the former governor had an opportunity to stand up for the women of Maryland, he didn’t.”

The debate was moderated by NBC’s chief political analyst, Chuck Todd, at Maryland Public Television.

Ms. Alsobrooks defended her record on immigration, rejecting the claim that Prince George’s County is a sanctuary for illegal immigrants.

She said she established a new policy requiring the county to notify the federal government when it releases immigrants from prison “accused of gang activity or violence.”

Mr. Hogan said she was lying.

“It is not true,” Mr. Hogan said. “You are the largest jurisdiction in Maryland that refuses to work with federal law enforcement.”

“When ICE requests a detainer for a violent rapist, or murder or gang member, you do not cooperate,” Mr. Hogan said.

On Israel’s military response against Hamas and other enemies in their neighborhood, Ms. Alsobrooks said the nation is obligated to help Israel get the hostages out, push a cease fire, and move toward a two-state solution.

Mr. Hogan was more direct.

“I am going to be a strong supporter of Israel as I always have been,” he said, vowing not to “equivocate” or play both sides of the issue.

Both voiced support for U.S. assistance for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Mr. Hogan said he supports Ukraine joining NATO, and Ms. Alsobrooks said she wants to “explore” the issue.

Ms. Alsobrooks said she agrees with expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court, which “no longer represents the will of the people.”

Mr. Hogan said he opposed packing the high court, saying the third branch of government should not be “politicized.”

Ms. Alsobrooks also said she supports abolishing the filibuster, effectively removing the 60-vote threshold needed to pass legislation in the Senate.

Her Republican opponent disagreed, saying the filibuster requires lawmakers to work across party lines and forge consensus approaches.

Democrats hold a 51-49 Senate advantage, including independent senators who caucus with Democrats.

However, Democrats must defend 23 of the 33 Senate seats on the ballot this November, and none of the Republican incumbents are considered by political handicappers to be terribly vulnerable.

With West Virginia’s going from Democrat to Republican considered almost certain, the GOP needs to flip only one other seat to control the Senate regardless of who wins the White House.

While a Republican has not won a Maryland U.S. Senate race in over 40 years, Mr. Hogan is a top party recruit and may give the party its best chance in decades.

At the very least, a competitive race would force Democrats to burn through resources they would rather spend defending seats in more traditionally red or purple states as Montana, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Tens of millions of dollars have flooded the race, a large chunk of which the campaign and outside groups have spent blanketing the airwaves in television ads.

Still, Ms. Alsobrooks is well positioned to win, according to a University of Maryland at Baltimore County’s Institute of Politics that showed her with a 48% to 39% lead over Mr. Hogan.

It showed that 6% of respondents supported another candidate, 5% were undecided.

But 20% said they could still change their minds.

The survey also found that by a 69% to 21% margin, voters support an amendment enshrining the right to abortion access in the state constitution.

Ms. Alsobrooks and Mr. Hogan are running to replace retiring Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, a Democrat who is stepping aside after three terms.

Mr. Hogan has been trying to thread the political needle and sought to diffuse the abortion issue after he won the GOP primary in May. He declared himself “pro-choice” and said he supports reviving the constitutional right to abortion that was protected under Roe.

Nonetheless, Mr. Hogan has made it part of his vow to be a much-needed bipartisan voice and consensus builder in an increasingly polarized Washington, distancing himself from Mr. Trump numerous times.

In the debate, Mr. Hogan expressed concern about “out of control” inflation and said both parties are to blame for raising the national debt.

Ms. Alsobrooks has maintained Mr. Hogan has changed his stance on abortion for political gain and said in the debate Thursday that it doesn’t matter if he is being genuine.

“The fact is I believe the governor when he said that he would like to vote with Roe,” Ms. Alsobrooks said. “But you know what the fact is? If the Republicans have a majority in the Senate, there will be no vote on Roe.”

Ms. Alsobrooks also said Mr. Hogan’s decision to write in Ronald Reagan for the 2020 election showed that his post-partisan message rings hollow.

“For a person who says he could see a bipartisan way forward, but was unable to do the most bipartisan thing ever in an election where he says he despises [Trump], but cannot bring himself to even vote for Vice President Harris … will have forfeited the chance to vote in three different elections rather than stand up, do the right thing, choose a tough vote and vote for a Democrat.”

Mr. Hogan said he “never voted for someone I didn’t believe in.”

“You’re going to hear nothing but red vs. blue,” Mr. Hogan said early in the debate. “I care more — a lot more — about the red, white and blue.”