Former Republican Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan has announced his support for codifying into federal law precedents set in Roe v. Wade, guaranteeing a national right to abortion. Hogan, who is running for a Senate seat in Maryland, pledged to back codification if it came up in the upper chamber. He stated that he will protect the rights of Maryland women to make their own reproductive health decisions and restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land. Hogan has taken a pro-choice stance, emphasizing that no one should come between a woman and her doctor.
During his time as governor of Maryland, Hogan maintained a middle-ground position on abortion, personally opposing it but not attempting to upend state laws on the issue. In 2022, he vetoed legislation to expand abortion in Maryland by nixing a rule that only physicians can perform the procedure and forcing most insurance plans to cover it. After the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision was announced, Hogan vowed to safeguard access to abortion in Maryland, making him one of four Republican governors to do so.
If Hogan wins Maryland’s open Senate seat, he will be one of at least three Republicans in the upper chamber who openly describe themselves as pro-choice. Historically, Maryland’s Senate seats have been solidly Democratic, but Hogan aims to break that trend. He just secured the GOP nomination in the primary election and will face Democratic county executive Angela Alsobrooks in the general election. Democrats have begun attacking Hogan on abortion, attempting to portray him as a hardline conservative and capitalizing on what they see as a political weakness.
Throughout his time as governor, Hogan positioned himself as a moderate and frequently criticized former President Donald Trump. He was one of the most popular governors in the country and has built a reputation for bipartisanship. Hogan’s campaign has rolled out ads touting support from Democrats as he aims to win the Senate seat in Maryland. Democrats are facing a tough Senate map in the 2024 election, needing to defend 23 seats, while Republicans only need to protect 11. With the Senate split 51-49, Republicans only need to flip two seats to regain control.
Hogan’s shift towards a pro-choice stance on abortion mirrors a broader trend within the Republican Party as some members grapple with negative polling on the issue. Even former President Trump recently came out against federal legislation to restrict abortion, advocating for leaving the issue to the states. Hogan’s move to support codification of Roe v. Wade shows his willingness to take a progressive stance on a traditionally divisive issue within the Republican Party. His campaign will face challenges in a deeply blue state like Maryland, but he hopes to appeal to a broad coalition of voters with his moderate and bipartisan approach.
