Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, told The Washington Post that his party has failed to return to what he calls “sanity” following President Trump’s 2024 reelection. In a candid interview, Hogan expressed deep frustration with the GOP’s direction, saying the party has not recovered from its embrace of Trumpism.
Hogan, who lost his Senate bid to Democrat Angela Alsobrooks in 2024 and vowed not to seek office again, described himself as “jaded” by the current political climate within the Republican Party. He said he had hoped that after Trump’s victory, the GOP would moderate its stance, but instead, “we haven’t.”
The former governor now pins his hopes on the upcoming November midterm elections, believing that electoral losses could finally force Republicans to abandon their fear of primary challenges and social media backlash. “There are some people that have been afraid of speaking out or standing up because they were afraid of being primaried or attacked on social media,” Hogan said. “But when they start losing seats, I’m hoping that maybe there’ll be some more political courage that pops up.”
Hogan also reflected on his own near-miss Senate campaign, saying he would have been “very miserable” if elected, given the partisan gridlock he anticipated. His comments come amid a wave of Republican departures from Congress. Multiple GOP lawmakers, including Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, and former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, have either retired or resigned recently. In total, 74 congressional lawmakers and one House delegate are not seeking reelection in November.
This exodus, coupled with Hogan’s critique, underscores the internal turmoil within the GOP as it grapples with its identity post-Trump. Some analysts have warned that the party’s shift away from traditional conservatism, which critics have labeled Trump's 'Republican Socialism', is alienating moderates and could cost the party in future elections.
Hogan’s remarks also highlight the broader debate over the party’s future. While some Republicans, like South Carolina Senate Republicans who rejected Trump's push for redistricting, have shown independence, others remain firmly aligned with the former president. The midterms will be a key test of whether voters reward or punish the party for its current trajectory.
As the GOP faces a critical juncture, Hogan’s voice adds to a growing chorus of former officials urging the party to recalibrate. Whether the midterms will indeed spark a shift remains uncertain, but Hogan’s warning is clear: without change, the party risks further decline.
