WASHINGTON 鈥� The latest poll in for governor shows that while Democrats believe getting President Trump out of office is a 鈥減riority,鈥� it鈥檚 not hurting Republican Gov. Larry Hogan鈥檚 favorability ratings.
According to the Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies poll released Tuesday morning, Hogan鈥檚 approval rating stands at 64 percent. When those surveyed were asked if they approve of the job that Hogan is doing, that support jumps to 75 percent.
That comes as no surprise to Doug Duncan, the president of Leadership Greater Washington.
鈥淗ogan鈥檚 done a very good job of distancing himself from Donald Trump,鈥� said Duncan, a former Montgomery County executive who also ran for governor but dropped out of the Democratic primary in 2006.
Hogan鈥檚 also done a good job of reaching across the aisle to pass initiatives that matter most to residents, such as transportation, Duncan said.
He attributes part of Hogan鈥檚 wide appeal to his push on transportation issues.
鈥淚 will say for transportation in the Washington region, he has been the best governor we have had since Donald Schaefer. His support for Metro, for the Purple Line, for road improvements has been extraordinary,鈥� Duncan said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 why he鈥檚 polling so well down here.鈥�
In possible matchups against Democrats in November, Hogan wins each contest with a double-digit lead, according to the Gonzales survey. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a tough race鈥� for the Democratic challengers, said Duncan. 鈥淚 think they knew that when they all entered the race.鈥�
Among Democratic primary voters, Prince George鈥檚 County Executive Rushern Baker leads with 25 percent, and former NAACP President Ben Jealous is close behind with 23 percent. Maryland State Senator Rich Madaleno has 9 percent, and former Montgomery County Council member Valerie Ervin has 7 percent, although Ervin said Tuesday night that she will drop out of the race聽and throw her support behind Baker.
Attorney Jim Shea polled at 6 percent, while former Michelle Obama aide Krish Vignarajah has 5 percent, and tech entrepreneur Alec Ross came up with just 2 percent support in the Gonzales poll. Candidates Ralph Jaffe and James Hugh Jones registered less than 1 percent each in the poll.
Noting that Baker is seen in a neck-and-neck primary contest with Jealous, Duncan said he was surprised that Baker 鈥渉asn鈥檛 put it away by now.鈥�
In Duncan鈥檚 eyes, Democrats who are emphasizing education may be making a mistake 鈥� although the Gonzales poll shows that education remains a top concern, with 26 percent saying public education is a priority.
While Democrats have been looking for a 鈥渂lue wave鈥� nationally, Duncan said that in Maryland, that may be more like a 鈥渂lue ripple鈥� of Democratic strength.
鈥淣ow it looks like the wave may not be that strong, and Hogan has done an amazing job of positioning himself more as an independent politician than as a Republican,鈥� he said.
