Larry Hogan

Lawrence Joseph Hogan Jr., born on May 25, 1956, is a prominent American politician and businessperson who made history as the 62nd governor of Maryland, serving from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Hogan is the son of Lawrence Hogan, a three-term U.S. representative. His political journey includes a notable tenure as co-chair of the centrist organization No Labels from 2020 to 2023, marking him as a significant figure in Maryland's political landscape.

Hogan's early political aspirations included two unsuccessful campaigns for Maryland's 5th congressional district in 1981 and 1992, the latter being a closely contested race against incumbent Steny Hoyer. His career took a pivotal turn when he served as Maryland Secretary of Appointments in the cabinet of Governor Bob Ehrlich from 2003 to 2007. In 2011, he founded Change Maryland, an organization that played a crucial role in his successful gubernatorial campaign in 2014, where he emerged victorious against Democrat Anthony Brown in a surprising upset.

Reelected in 2018, Hogan became the first Republican governor of Maryland to serve two terms since Theodore McKeldin in 1954. His tenure was marked by high popularity, and he left office in 2023 after being term-limited, having chosen not to endorse Republican candidate Dan Cox. Hogan was succeeded by Democrat Wes Moore, but his legacy as a moderate Republican remains significant.

Post-governorship, Hogan was initially viewed as a potential candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election. However, he opted not to run and instead endorsed Nikki Haley. On February 9, 2024, he announced his candidacy for the United States Senate election in Maryland, aiming to succeed retiring Democratic Senator Ben Cardin. He won the Republican primary on May 14, 2024, but faced defeat in the general election against Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks on November 5, 2024.