The following is a transcript of an interview with Larry Hogan, former governor of Maryland, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on September 29, 2024.
ROBERT COSTA: Now we come back to the former Republican governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan. Governor Hogan, thank you for being here –
FORMER GOVERNOR LARRY HOGAN: Thanks for having me
ROBERT COSTA: In one of the key Senate races in the country. You’re not running with former President Donald Trump in your race, but he’s front and center. How do you distance yourself, if at all, in such a heated political environment?
HOGAN: You know, I’ve been one of the leaders of the opposition in my party for a long time, and I continue to do so. We’re actually running 20 or 30 points ahead of Donald Trump in our state. And, you know, I have a separate identity after, you know, being Governor for two terms in the bluest state or one of the bluest states in America. You know, we have separate, you know, identities. We- I stand up to him probably more than just about anyone, and I will continue.
ROBERT COSTA: They’ve endorsed you, but it’s not like you’ve accepted the endorsement. But when you go into the voting booth, I know it’s personal, but who are you going to vote for?
HOGAN: Look, I’ve said that neither of the two candidates will get the vote, and the voters of the state will be able to make that decision. i-
ROBERT COSTA: So there’s no chance of you voting for Trump?
HOGAN: I’m not going to. I am not voting for him in 2016 or 2020 and I have made that very clear. But look, I’m not running just for the Republican Party, or maybe – you know, it’s not just about red versus blue, which my opponents want. I am concerned about the red, white and blue, and I, I am willing to put the country through the party. And I hope that voters are willing to do the same.
ROBERT COSTA: I asked retired General McChrystal about former President Donald Trump, who, in recent days on the campaign trail, had attacked vice president Harris. He says he has mental issues. He has said thing after thing, questioning her intelligence, her ability. Do you believe former President Donald Trump is fit for office or not?
HOGAN: Well, I think the whole thing is outrageous and unacceptable. And I’ve called her out on an interview where she’s asked about her racial identity, and now she’s asking about her mental competence. And I think that’s insulting not only to, the Vice President, but to people who actually have mental disabilities. And, you know, I’ve been saying for years that Trump’s divisive rhetoric is something we can do without. I am my own worst enemy. And I think, you know, I’m very concerned about the toxic and divisive politics that seem to go on and on. This is what people are so tired of. That’s why they want to change Washington, and that’s why I’m running.
ROBERT COSTA: When you were governor, you often said that you didn’t try to fight abortion rights in any significant way. But the US Senate is a very different place than being a governor. As you know, yes, if you were elected to the United States Senate this November, would you support eliminating the filibuster to secure abortion rights?
HOGAN: Well, on day one, I’m going to support a compromise bill to protect Roe and protect abortion rights across the country, so that no one has to see a woman and a doctor. I don’t, I don’t agree with the opponent and Donald Trump about trying to eliminate the filibuster–
ROBERT COSTA: Why not?
HOGAN: So we can get stuck on a partisan basis, on one vote, so we can have the pendulum swing back and forth and create more divisiveness. I think we need to find bipartisan buy-in and cooperation, as I do and in a state with a 70% Democratic legislature, but we’re doing things like cutting taxes and reducing health care costs and implementing criminal justice reform. . We have to find a way to get people in Washington to stop just name calling, stop trying to stick it through on the left or the right. And the filibuster allows, it requires- bipartisan cooperation and consensus, and that’s exactly what I think we desperately need in Washington.
ROBERT COSTA: But what do you say to the voters who are blue, who are democrats in Maryland, who say I like you as a two-term governor, I’m a Democrat, but I voted for you, but I need you to go further on abortion. right from saying I’m not going to touch the filibuster? They want you to break the filibuster.
HOGAN: Well, I’m not sure it’s too many. Look, I support a woman’s right to make that decision. It does not come between a woman or a doctor. I will sponsor a bill to protect Roe. I will sponsor a bill on IVF. I ran for governor promising that I would not change myself, would not do anything to limit access to abortion. I kept that promise for eight years, and now I promise again that I will fight it if I am in the United States Senate.
ROBERT COSTA: If you were in the United States Senate, what kind of Republican Party would you be a part of? You have certainly shaped our conversation over the years as a traditional Republican. You have praised former President Ronald Reagan. It’s Trump’s party.
HOGAN: You know, that’s one of the reasons I ran. You know, we need to get the country back on track. I stand up- I will stand up for the current president, the former president or the next president if I am wrong. I will work with them if I feel it is right. I will fight the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. That’s what I’ve done my entire career. I’ve been the main voice in America to try to do something about this, you know, very divided country, which is just fighting with each other and nothing is getting done. I am a person who likes to get things done. I’d love to – you know, I’ll work across the aisle in a bipartisan way, as I’ve done for the last eight years and I think – this is what we need in Washington. I think this is what most people want.
ROBERT COSTA: But is it possible? And looking at your own record, you- you thought about, flirted with a possible No Label or Independent run for president over the past year or so and former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, for example, from Wyoming, a Republican, she has broken with Trump. He recently suggested, as I’m sure you’ve heard, that it’s time for a new wedding. Do you believe it is true? Maybe it’s time for traditional Republicans, non-Trump Republicans to say ‘Enough. Time for something new’?
HOGAN: Well, I don’t want to give up. You know, I really believe that a healthy and competitive two party system is important for- for our country. I’m very concerned I believe my- both parties are way off track from what they- their own- kind of basic core values used to. I think the Democratic Party is moving too far to the left. I think the Republican Party has, as they say, become more than Trump’s party, but I refuse to give up. That’s why I ran. That’s how I grew. You know, I entered this race when a bipartisan deal fell apart to secure the border, provide support and funding to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, and people didn’t vote because they didn’t want to give a bipartisan victory. My whole emphasis is on how to find consensus, how to find common ground for the common good. And that’s- that’s what I based my whole career on. So I hope the voters really want that kind of leadership in Washington. If they decide it’s just another partisan, you know, rubber stamp politician, and they just want to vote based on red or blue. I don’t want to be in the Senate, but if they want to change Washington, I’m exactly the kind of person who can make a difference.
ROBERT COSTA: If former President Donald Trump calls you in the next few weeks and says, ‘Larry, I’d like to go to an Orioles game with you, then we can have a campaign rally.’ Will you be seen with Trump in Maryland?
HOGAN: No, I don’t think it will. I don’t think he’ll spend much time in Maryland, because it’s- he’s down, you know, by about 30 points. And you know, they’re not going to campaign in Maryland, but they should, you know, they should be watching games. Yes, of course.
ROBERT COSTA: No, you have no interest in performing with him?
HOGAN: Nope.
ROBERT COSTA: And you’ve served with- finally, here, we’re all looking forward to seeing Margaret do the vice presidential debate with Norah on Tuesday night on CBS. You know Governor Tim Walz. You were governors together.
HOGAN: Yes
ROBERT COSTA: Is he a strong debater? Are you looking forward to seeing what they do? And you like him?
HOGAN: You know, I’ve never- I’ve never seen him debate, but apparently, I think everybody would be interested to hear it. issues that people care about. You know, people are concerned about the economy and inflation, affordability. He is concerned about crime and the border. I wish the candidates would talk about that, instead of just typical politics.
ROBERT COSTA: Governor Larry Hogan, thank you for being here, running for Senate in Maryland. We will be right back. thanks.
