Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, has pledged to only vote for Supreme Court nominees who receive bipartisan support if elected, regardless of who the next president is. Facing off against Democrat Angela Alsobrooks for the seat held by Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, Hogan seeks to become the state’s first Republican senator since 1987. Hogan has highlighted his bipartisan leadership, noting that all six of his Supreme Court appointments in Maryland received unanimous confirmation, emphasizing the need to depoliticize such important appointments.
In a recent interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, Hogan reiterated his commitment to bipartisanship by stating that he would not support a Supreme Court or Cabinet nominee that lacks bipartisan support. Drawing on his successful bipartisan record in appointing judges while in office, Hogan emphasized the importance of looking at nominees on their merits rather than along party lines. Hogan’s stance is in contrast to the highly partisan votes that confirmed former President Donald Trump’s three Supreme Court nominees, which were largely split along party lines.
Hogan also addressed his decision not to support Trump in the upcoming election, stating that neither Trump nor his opponent had earned his vote. Despite being endorsed by Trump, Hogan has made it clear that he did not vote for him in the past two elections. With the upcoming election determining the presidential seat and control of Congress, the Senate majority is up for grabs with slim margins. Democrats currently hold a narrow majority of 51 seats, including four independents who caucus with them, while Republicans hold 49 seats.
Despite trailing in state aggregate polls against Alsobrooks, Hogan continues to campaign on his platform of bipartisanship and a commitment to appointing qualified individuals based on merit rather than party affiliation. Hogan’s stance on Supreme Court and Cabinet appointments reflects his belief in the need for consensus and bipartisan support in the nomination process. As the election draws near, Hogan faces a challenging race to win the Senate seat in Maryland, but he remains focused on his message of unity and cooperation in a highly polarized political climate.
