In less than one month, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan will leave the only elected office he鈥檚 ever held, and the Republican will do it with an approval rating that continues to hover near 70%.
Hogan spoke with 草莓传媒 about his time in office and what the future holds.
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State of the GOP
On a day when the Jan. 6 committee on Capitol Hill voted to recommend that former President Donald Trump be charged with four crimes tied to the insurrection, Hogan said the Republican Party has “veered off track鈥� in its current state.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been the worst six years in Republican Party history,” he said. “We lost almost everything.”
Hogan refers to himself as a 鈥渃ommon-sense conservative鈥� and cites his own father, Lawrence Hogan Sr, as a model for integrity and public service. The elder Hogan, who served in Congress from 1969 to 1975, was the only Republican on the House Judiciary Committee to vote for all three articles of impeachment against former President Richard Nixon.
While other Republicans have been reluctant to criticize Trump, Hogan hasn鈥檛 shied away from discussing his own concerns about the impact that the former president has had on the country and the party.
鈥淚 think that Donald Trump and 鈥楾rumpism鈥� peaked in November of 鈥�20. I said at some point it would begin to diminish, it has,鈥� said Hogan, citing that while Trump鈥檚 appeal among Republican primary voters remains in fairly strong, 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a majority anymore.鈥�
Hogan said he鈥檚 confident that the GOP will come back around to the kind of vision he has for Republican leadership for the country.
鈥淚 want to see a more hopeful, positive vision for America,” he said. “I believe in a bigger tent that appeals to more people.鈥�
The First Inauguration
When he ran for governor in 2014, Hogan had never before held elected office. 鈥淚 remember it like it was yesterday鈥� the day he took office.
During the inauguration outside the Maryland State House in Annapolis, it began to snow. He called the moment 鈥渕agical.鈥�
鈥淚t was almost like a movie where they said 鈥榗ue the snowflakes,鈥欌�� Hogan said jokingly, stating that it had been said that it would be a cold day in Hell before Maryland would elect a Republican governor in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly two to one.
鈥淚t was a proud moment,鈥� said Hogan, 鈥淚 was so happy that I had my dad there with me. I鈥檓 proud of my dad. I learned a lot about public service and integrity from him.鈥�
Hogan鈥檚 been positioning himself for a possible White House bid, he鈥檚 also focused on more immediate matters once his successor, Democrat Gov.-elect Wes Moore takes office. On that day, Hogan said, 鈥淚鈥檒l get in the car and pull away, and I鈥檓 looking forward to just, you know, pulling up to my home鈥� and letting some of the burdens of eight years in office roll off his shoulders.
鈥淚 have a sense of accomplishment, I feel like we got a lot done, and that the state鈥檚 in better shape,” Hogan said. “But I鈥檓 also looking forward to taking a breather.鈥�
The outgoing governor said he鈥檚 looking forward to 鈥淛ust go back and kind of, be normal. 鈥� 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to just maybe walking in the woods or something, or you know, sitting in the recliner.鈥�
Maryland, My Maryland
During his two terms, Hogan鈥檚 crisscrossed the state, spending time in all 23 counties and Baltimore City.
Hogan, who was raised in Prince George鈥檚 County, said there wasn鈥檛 a place in the state that he could say was a favorite.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like picking your favorite children,鈥� he explained.
But he did admit to finding new places that he wants to visit once out of office.
鈥淚 discovered lots of really cool spots that I had never been to,鈥� he said.
鈥淚鈥檝e talked to my wife about when it is a little slower. I鈥檇 like to just get around and spend a little time in some of the small towns on the Eastern Shore, in Western Maryland or Southern Maryland,鈥� and spend time relaxing rather than campaigning or on official visits.
Dog Days at the State House
Like your neighbors who can remember the names of all the dogs in the neighborhood, but draw a blank when asked who their owners are, Hogan admits that on the campaign trail, he did have the habit of focusing on the canines in crowd.
At parades, he said, 鈥淚鈥檇 stop and talk to the dogs rather than the people鈥� he said with a smile.
鈥淚 just love dogs鈥� Hogan said, explaining that he鈥檇 had dogs in his life ever since he was a small boy. And when he鈥檚 at events where dogs are in attendance, they will get his attention.
鈥淚 think dogs know that I鈥檓 a dog lover,鈥� Hogan said.
One of Hogan鈥檚 fondest memories is the day when at a bill-signing ceremony celebrating four animal-friendly pieces of legislation, advocates from shelters and animal organizations showed up with dogs of all shapes and sizes.
鈥淭hat was probably one of the best days of being governor. I had puppies licking my face, and dogs running around, and I was like, ‘This is great!’鈥� said Hogan.
After that, Hogan and his wife, first lady Yumi Hogan, decided they would adopt a puppy from a litter at the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) in Baltimore.
鈥淲e wanted one puppy to replace a dog who had died,鈥� said Hogan. There were four puppies in that litter, and Hogan, deciding that he would get one for his granddaughter, one for press secretary Shareese Churchill and one for Churchill鈥檚 parents.
鈥淪o we adopted all the puppies,鈥� said Hogan.
But one thing ate at him. The shelter had taken in the puppies along with their mother. Hogan said he turned to his wife, Yumi, and said, 鈥淭he poor mom. No one鈥檚 going to adopt the mom. So we took the mom too, we adopted the whole family.鈥�
Hogan said he was happy to learn that Moore plans on getting a dog for his two children when they come to live at Government House, the official residence of the governor. Hogan, who had given a tour of the residents to Moore, his wife and children said he introduced Moore鈥檚 son and daughter to his dogs.
鈥淚 could tell the kids are pretty excited about getting a dog,” he said with a laugh. “I think they鈥檙e going to keep putting pressure on mom and dad.鈥�
