The following is a transcript of an interview with Larry Hogan, former governor of Maryland, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” which aired September 29, 2024.
ROBERT COSTA: We turn now to former Maryland Republican Governor Larry Hogan. Governor Hogan, thank you for being here…
FORMER GOVERNOR LARRY HOGAN: Thanks for inviting me
ROBERT COSTA: In one of the nation’s key Senate races. You’re not running alongside former President Donald Trump in your race, but he’s front and center. How can you distance yourself, if at all, in such a contested and heated political environment?
HOGAN: Well, you know, I think I’ve been one of the leading voices of opposition in my party for quite some time, and I continue to do so. We’re actually 20 or 30 points ahead of Donald Trump in our state. And, you know, I think I have a completely distinct identity after, you know, being a two-term governor in the bluest state or one of the bluest states in America. You know, we have a distinct identity, you know. We… I probably stand up to him more than anyone, and I will continue to do so.
ROBERT COSTA: He endorsed you, but it’s not like you welcomed that endorsement. But when you walk into that voting booth, I know it’s private, but who are you going to vote for?
HOGAN: Well, look, I said neither candidate deserved my vote, and the voters of the country are going to get to make that decision. I-
ROBERT COSTA: So there’s no chance you’ll vote for Trump?
HOGAN: I won’t. I didn’t vote for him in 2016 or 2020 and I’ve made that pretty clear. But look, I’m not just running for the Republican Party, or they might… you know, it’s not just about red versus blue, which is what my opponent wants it to be. I’m concerned about red, white and blue, and I’m ready to put country before party. And I hope voters will be willing to do the same.
ROBERT COSTA: I asked retired Gen. McChrystal this question about former President Donald Trump, who in recent days on the campaign trail attacked Vice President Harris. He said she had mental problems. He said thing after thing, questioning her intelligence, her abilities. Do you think former President Donald Trump is fit for office or not?
HOGAN: Well, I think this is all outrageous and unacceptable. And I already called him out in the one interview where he questioned his racial identity, and now he’s questioning his mental skills. And I think it’s insulting not only to the vice president, but also to people who have mental disabilities. And, you know, I’ve been saying for years that Trump’s divisive rhetoric is something we could do without. I think he’s his own worst enemy. And I think, you know, I’m very concerned about the toxic, divisive politics that seem to continue in both directions. This is what people are so sick 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 go against abortion rights in any significant way. But the U.S. Senate is a totally different place than the governor’s office. As you know, yes, if elected to the United States Senate this November, would you support eliminating the filibuster aimed at securing the right to abortion?
HOGAN: Well, I will, on day one, support the compromise bill to secure Roe and protect abortion rights across the country, so that no, no one ever comes between a woman and her doctor. I disagree with my opponent and with Donald Trump on the attempt to end the filibuster…
ROBERT COSTA: Why not?
HOGAN: So we can move things forward on a partisan basis, on a single vote, so we can swing the pendulum and create more division. I think we need to find bipartisan buy-in and cooperation, just like I did and in a state that has a 70% Democratic legislature, but we’ve done things like cutting taxes and the cost of health care. health and pass criminal justice reform legislation. . We have to find a way to get people in Washington to stop settling for insults, to stop trying to muddy the waters left or right. And the filibuster allows for that, it requires cooperation and bipartisan consensus, and that’s exactly what we desperately need in Washington, I think.
ROBERT COSTA: But what do you say to this blue, this Democratic voter in Maryland, who says I loved you for two terms as governor, I’m a Democrat, but I voted for you, but I need that you went further on abortion. rights than to say I’m not going to touch the filibuster? They want you to break the filibuster.
HOGAN: Well, I’m not sure there are too many. Look, I fully support women’s right to make these decisions. Do not come between a woman or a doctor. I will sponsor a Roe protection bill. I will sponsor an IVF bill. I ran for governor promising that I would not change, that I would do nothing to limit access to abortion. I’ve kept that promise for eight years, and I promise them again that I will fight for it when I’m in the United States Senate.
ROBERT COSTA: If you were in the United States Senate, what type of Republican Party would you be a part of? Over the years, you have always presented yourself in our conversations as a traditional Republican. You praised former President Ronald Reagan. This is Trump’s party.
HOGAN: Well, you know, that’s one of the reasons I’m running. You know, I think we need to get the country back on track. I get up. I will stand up to the current president, the former president, or the next president if I think they are wrong. I will work with them when I think they are right. I will stand up to the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. That’s what I’ve done my whole career. I’ve been a leading voice in America for trying to do something about this very divided country, you know, where all we do is fight each other and nothing is ever do. I’m a guy who likes to get things done. I like – you know, I’m going to work across the aisle in a bipartisan way, as I have for the last eight years and I think that’s – that’s what we have really needed in Washington. I think that’s what most people want.
ROBERT COSTA: But is it possible? And looking at your own record, you’ve considered, flirted with a possible non-label or independent campaign for president over the past year and former Rep. Liz Cheney, for example, of Wyoming, a Republican, broke with Trump . She recently suggested, as I’m sure you’ve heard, that it might be time to throw another party. Do you believe this is true? Maybe it’s time for mainstream Republicans, non-Trump Republicans to say “Enough.” Is it time to move on to something new?
HOGAN: Well, I’m not ready to give up. You know, I truly believe that a healthy, competitive two-party system is important to our country. I am very concerned to believe that both my parties are very far from what their basic core values were. I think the Democratic Party is moving too far left. I think the Republican Party has, as you said, become more of a Trump party, but I’m not ready to give up. This is why I run. This is also why I intervened. You know, I was in this race when the bipartisan deal to secure the border, provide support and funding to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan collapsed, and people voted against it because that they didn’t want to give a bipartisan victory. I focused only on how we reach consensus, how we find common ground for the common good. And that’s what I’ve based my entire career on. So I hope voters actually want that kind of leadership in Washington. If they just choose another partisan, you know, rubber stamp politician, and they just want to vote based on red or blue. I won’t be in the Senate, but if they want to change Washington, I think I’m exactly the kind of person who can make a difference.
ROBERT COSTA: If former President Donald Trump calls you on the phone in the next few weeks and says, “Larry, I’d like to go to an Orioles game with you, then maybe have a campaign rally.” Would you be willing to appear with Trump in Maryland?
HOGAN: No, I don’t think I will. I don’t think he’s going to spend a lot of time in Maryland, because he’s down, you know, about 30 points. And you know, he’s not really going to campaign in Maryland, but he should, you know, he should go see a game sometime. Yeah, sure.
ROBERT COSTA: No, you have no interest in appearing with him?
HOGAN: No.
ROBERT COSTA: And you served with…well, here we all look forward to seeing Margaret participate in the vice presidential debate with Norah Tuesday night on CBS. You know Governor Tim Walz. You were governors together.
HOGAN: Yeah.
ROBERT COSTA: Is he a strong debater? Are you excited to see what he does? And you like him?
HOGAN: You know, I’ve never seen him debate, but look, I think everyone will be interested in listening to him. I just hope that in this debate we can have a really healthy debate about the issues that people care about. You know, people are worried about the economy, inflation and affordability. They worry about crime and the border. Hopefully these candidates will talk about it, instead of just talking about typical politics.
ROBERT COSTA: Governor Larry Hogan, thank you for being here, Maryland Senate candidate. We’ll be back right away. THANKS.
