Former President Donald Trump blasted Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), and his preferred candidate to replace him, on the eve of Maryland’s gubernatorial primary.
The former president, using invective he has frequently directed at Hogan, called the Maryland governor a “RINO,” or Republican in name only, on Monday and blasted him for implementing statewide lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump also took a swipe at Hogan-endorsed gubernatorial candidate Kelly Schulz, calling the former secretary of Maryland’s Department of Commerce a “RINO” as well.
“Maryland, tomorrow is a big day. Get out and vote for Dan Cox for Governor,” Trump said in a statement. “Get rid of Shutdown RINO Larry Hogan who is trying to get another RINO into office, Kelly Schulz.”
“Dan Cox will be a great Governor,” Trump concluded. “Tomorrow is the day. Get out and vote!”
DEMOCRATS THROW NEARLY $1 MILLION BEHIND TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE IN MARYLAND
Hogan, a two-term governor, is term-limited and cannot seek reelection. He endorsed Schulz’s candidacy in March, while Trump announced that he was supporting Cox, a state delegate, back in November 2021.
A June Goucher College poll found nearly half of Republican primary voters in the state undecided in their choice for governor (44%, with 47% saying they could change their mind). Cox led Schulz in the June poll 25% to 22%. The poll had about a 5 percentage point margin of error.
Hogan, who hasn’t ruled out a 2024 presidential run and publicly stated that he did not vote for Trump in the 2020 general election, has been a frequent target of the former president.
In April 2021, Trump denounced Hogan as “a total loser” and said the governor had “less than a zero percent chance” of winning the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Earlier this month, Trump again referred to Hogan as a “RINO,” calling him and Schulz “fellow ‘Never Trumper[s]'” who Democrats are hoping to face in November.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
In his July 1 statement, Trump pushed back on claims that Democrats in Maryland have thrown their support behind Trump-backed Cox in the primary, hoping to set up a general election matchup against someone who party officials believe is a weaker candidate.
The Democratic Governors Association, the top organization that assists Democratic candidates in gubernatorial elections, has reportedly spent nearly $1 million to run advertisements boosting Cox ahead of the primary.
The winner of Tuesday’s Republican gubernatorial primary will likely square off in November against either Tom Perez, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Wes Moore, a bestselling author, TV host, and nonprofit executive, or Peter Franchot, Maryland’s state comptroller.
