Larry Hogan, the former two-term Republican governor of Maryland, recently won his party’s nomination for the state’s open Senate seat. In a surprising turn of events, he expressed his support for legislation that would codify abortion rights in federal law and described himself as “pro-choice.” This marks a significant shift from his previous stance just two years ago when he vetoed a state law to expand abortion access in Maryland. Hogan also announced that he would vote to enshrine abortion rights in the state’s Constitution, a move that will be up for a vote in November.
Hogan’s decision to embrace pro-choice positions comes as he gears up for a fiercely competitive general election campaign in Democratic-leaning Maryland. Democrats have made it clear that they plan to make abortion rights a central issue in their campaign for control of Congress. Hogan’s past vetoes of bills to expand abortion access in the state have already drawn criticism from Democratic opponents who are framing him as an opponent of reproductive rights.
Despite his newfound pro-choice stance, Hogan maintains that he would not support a national abortion ban and would not use a judge’s views on abortion as a “litmus test” for confirming nominees. He aims to strike a bipartisan compromise to protect abortion rights before fetal viability, similar to legislation proposed by Senator Susan Collins of Maine. Hogan believes that compromise is key to passing meaningful legislation on abortion rights in the Senate and is committed to working with centrist Republicans to achieve this goal.
In response to Hogan’s shift on abortion, his Democratic opponent, Angela Alsobrooks, has criticized his record on reproductive rights. She aims to sponsor the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill that would safeguard abortion access nationwide by outlawing various restrictions. Hogan, however, has expressed reservations about the bill, preferring to focus on a compromise approach that would protect the right to abortion before viability. He views a proposal by Senator Collins as a reasonable starting point for legislative discussions on the issue.
Hogan’s decision to align himself with pro-choice positions in the Senate race reflects a strategic move to attract crossover voters from the Democratic camp. As a center-right Republican who has won elections in a solidly Democratic state, Hogan recognizes the importance of appealing to a broad base of voters. Despite facing criticism from Democrats over his past record on abortion, Hogan remains committed to finding common ground on the issue and working towards bipartisan solutions in the Senate.
Overall, Larry Hogan’s pivot to a pro-choice stance on abortion marks a significant departure from his previous positions and highlights the complexities of navigating reproductive rights in a highly polarized political environment. By embracing a more moderate approach to abortion legislation, Hogan aims to position himself as a pragmatic and inclusive leader who can bridge the partisan divide on this contentious issue. His willingness to engage in bipartisan discussions and seek compromise reflects his commitment to finding practical solutions to protect women’s reproductive rights.
