Former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) meets with longshoremen on a picket line outside the Dundalk Marine Terminal during a brief strike in October. Hogan’s campaign Thursday tried to put the best face on his Senate loss. Photo by Danielle Brown.
Even as late returns show Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) widening her margin over former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in the Maryland Senate election, Hogan’s campaign on Thursday put out an analysis arguing that, all things considered, the former governor didn’t do that badly — and seemed designed to try to keep Hogan viable ahead of the 2026 elections and beyond.
Alsobrooks’ margin of victory over Hogan was just over 10 points — 53.73% to 43.72% — according to the Maryland State Board of Elections tally posted Friday morning, up from her 6-point lead on election night, when the race was called in her favor.
But in a memo Thursday to “supporters and interested parties,” Russ Schriefer, a top Republican strategist and longtime Hogan confidante, asserted that the ex-governor’s showing defied political gravity in a state where Vice President Kamala Harris bested former President Donald Trump by more than 26 points.
“From the moment he entered the race for U.S. Senate, Governor Hogan publicly stated that he was an underdog,” Schriefer wrote. “After Vermont, Maryland was the worst state for President Trump this year. Despite previously winning two gubernatorial races, Governor Hogan knew winning crossover votes in a federal election in a presidential year would be far more challenging. This environment became even more difficult in July when President Biden dropped out of the race, creating a surge of Democratic fundraising and enthusiasm that benefited the Alsobrooks campaign.
“Despite coming up short, Governor Hogan won unprecedented numbers of split ticket voters and consolidated Republican support in Maryland — even in the most difficult environment.”
Schriefer then breaks his argument into five parts. He argues that Hogan “outperformed the top of the ticket by more than any other statewide candidate, Republican or Democrat,” in America.
Schriefer goes on to point out that Hogan did better than any other Republican Senate candidate in Maryland since 1980 and that he came out of the election with his long-held popularity pretty much intact, despite the election loss. He also says that Hogan “successfully grew the fundraising pie, attracting thousands of politically diverse donors who were uniquely attracted to his message and unlikely to give to other races.” In contrast, he writes, Alsobrooks “largely sucked up resources from other races without attracting new donors.”
Schriefer also attributes Hogan’s loss to “national factors and a false narrative driven by media coverage” — specifically the sense among voters that a Hogan victory could lead to a Republican takeover of the Senate, even though “Republicans were always nearly guaranteed to control the Senate without Maryland.”
Hogan wasted no time this week weighing in on Maryland’s perilous fiscal situation. And while he didn’t give any hint that he’s thinking about challenging Gov. Wes Moore (D) in 2026, his statement implied that he will continue to keep a public profile and opine on Maryland matters, painting himself in the best possible light.
“The legislature might feel like the best way out of this structural deficit is to raise taxes or raid the Rainy Day fund, but those aren’t real solutions,” Hogan wrote on Facebook. “We erased an inherited $5.1 billion deficit in our first year and left office with a $5.5 billion surplus without raising taxes by a single penny. We cut taxes by $4.7 billion for eight years in a row, while providing record funding to education, transit, and transportation infrastructure. I urge leaders in Annapolis to look to that proven approach.”
Elfreth looking for freshman leadership post
Just seconds after landing on Capitol Hill this week for her dayslong congressional orientation, U.S. Rep.-elect Sarah K. Elfreth (D-3rd) threw her hat in the ring for another office — to be the freshman representative to leadership of the Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives.
Punchbowl News released a copy Thursday of Elfreth’s letter to her fellow Democratic freshmen, in which she argued that the lessons she learned winning and representing a purple state Senate district in Anne Arundel County for six years would make her an attractive candidate for the post, especially as House Democrats find themselves narrowly in the minority.
“Being an effective representative will require forging meaningful relationships with every member of the freshman class to ensure that everyone truly feels represented and that we, collectively, have the ability to communicate what is most important to your district and state,” she wrote.
Elfreth also touted her experience chairing budget subcommittees and the regional Chesapeake Bay Commission, a panel of lawmakers who represent Chesapeake Bay states.
“I believe I have the skillset and collaborative nature to be an effective Representative,” she wrote.
Senate GOP re-ups leaders
The state Senate Republican Caucus on Thursday reelected its top leaders for the upcoming General Assembly session: Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (Upper Shore) and Minority Whip Justin Ready (Carroll and Frederick).
In statements, both promised to be vigilant and work to hold the Moore administration and Democratic lawmakers accountable.
“This year will be a challenging one in Maryland,” Hershey said. “Our economy is stagnant, the cost of living has skyrocketed, and the Democrats appear prepared to once again raise fees and taxes.
“Our caucus members will continue to hold this Administration and the Democrat Supermajority accountable for their reckless spending, unfunded mandates and economy-crushing policies,” his statement said. “We remain steadfast in upholding our Republican values, opposing tax increases and overregulation, and fighting for everyday Marylanders who continue to struggle.”
Ready said Senate Republicans, who are outnumbered 34-13 in the chamber, “will present a clear alternative to the Democratic supermajority.”
“Single party rule does Marylanders no favors,” he said.