BETHESDA, Md. 鈥斅� Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican running for re-election, said he鈥檚 focused on winning a second term, but when asked if he aspires to higher office he added, 鈥淚 mean, you never say never鈥�.
Hogan sat down for a question-and-answer session with David Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group at the Economic Club of Washington鈥檚 luncheon in Bethesda on Thursday.
Hogan maintains high approval ratings, despite being a Republican in a state where Democrats continue to outnumber Republicans 2 to 1.
Hogan joked with Rubenstein, saying the question was whether he had considered running after serving a second term. Hogan said, 鈥淵ou didn鈥檛 say anything about 2020鈥� adding quickly, 鈥淛ust kidding.鈥�
On the likelihood of getting Amazon to move to Montgomery County, Hogan said, 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a really good chance it鈥檚 going to happen.鈥�
Maryland offered a multibillion dollar incentive package to draw Amazon鈥檚 鈥淗Q2鈥� to the state. A decision is expected by the end of the year, Hogan said.
Hogan pointed out that Amazon鈥檚 CEO Jeff Bezos was scheduled as a guest of the Economic Club in September. He told Rubenstein, 鈥淚 think you should close the deal right here!鈥� The crowd burst into applause as Rubenstein replied, 鈥淥K, we鈥檒l try!鈥�
Rubenstein asked Hogan about life in the Governor鈥檚 Mansion in Annapolis. Hogan said that while it was 鈥渁 real honor鈥� to live in the Governor鈥檚 Mansion, it鈥檚 not the most comfortable setting. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like living in a museum.鈥�
The governor told a story that he said his communications team would not want him to share, but he said it shows how residents of the Governor鈥檚 Mansion have little to no privacy.
He explained that there鈥檚 a staircase that goes up three flights. In one of the first weeks in office, he woke one morning to start his day.
鈥淚鈥檓 walking from my bedroom to an office that鈥檚 on the second floor thinking no one鈥檚 there, and I look over the rail and there鈥檚 people having a tour. I鈥檓 in my boxers, with a cup of coffee in my hand! So quickly I learned, there鈥檚 no privacy in the Governor鈥檚 Mansion.鈥�
