Republican Governor Who Is Critical Of Trump Says He Is Considering Running For President In 2024

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican and frequent critic of the Trump administration, said Tuesday that he is considering a bid for the White House in 2024, claiming his leadership experience during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic makes him well-prepared for the job.

“After this November election is over, regardless of who wins, there are a large majority of Americans who are completely convinced our political system is fundamentally broken, and they’re going to be looking for something different,” Hogan told the New York Times. “We have an election coming up — we’ll see what happens there — but I’ve been leading the nation’s governors through one of the biggest crises in our lifetime.”

He also announced a virtual book tour from July 29 to Aug. 11 to promote his new memoir: “Still Standing: Surviving Cancer, Riots, a Global Pandemic, and the Toxic Politics that Divide America.” The book criticizes President Trump’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, and references his personal battle with cancer.

“It’s mixed messages — bouncing from one message to the other,” Hogan said of the federal government's response to the pandemic. “[Trump’s] entire administration is telling everyone to take it seriously while he tells everybody to not take it seriously.”

In April, Hogan managed to procure 500,000 COVID-19 testing kits for his state from South Korea. His South Korean-born wife, Yumi Hogan, helped negotiate the deal. Trump was angered that Hogan turned to a foreign source for the kits instead of the federal government.

Hogan, 64, is the head of the National Governors Association and has served as Maryland’s governor since 2015. A moderate Republican, his favorability has surged during the coronavirus outbreak, with a Gonzales poll in May showing his approval standing at 78%. Hogan has bipartisan appeal, with 82% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans approving of his job performance.

During his gubernatorial career, Hogan has focused on growing Maryland’s economy. He has supported environmental protection legislation and signed a bill expanding scholarships for low-income students in the state.

Hogan told the Times he would not launch a Senate bid for Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s seat in 2022. An October survey indicated that Hogan might be favored to defeat Van Hollen.