CHARLOTTE, N.C (TNS) — Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan hasn’t completely ruled out running for president with an independent party if former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden are front-runners as Republican and Democratic nominees early next year, he said on CBS News on Sunday.
Robert Costa of “Face the Nation” asked whether Hogan is open to running as a candidate with No Labels, the party he co-chairs. Hogan said he isn’t pursuing that, and Costa asked whether running is still an open door. “I’m hoping we don’t get to that point. I have not closed the door to that. If I believe that we can actually win the race,” Hogan replied.
Hogan, who left office Jan. 18, has long hinted at a presidential run but said in March that he would keep himself out of the race to avoid helping Trump’s chances.
Hogan told Costa there is a real concern of having too many candidates, currently 12, running to oppose Trump in this election, which is why he opted out of seeking the Republican presidential nomination.
“I didn’t want to see a repeat of 2016,” Hogan said. “I didn’t want to see this multicar pileup where the 50% of the Republican primary voters that don’t want Donald Trump are divided among the 11 [Republican candidates]. And that’s exactly what I was afraid of is what’s happening. I think it’s a real problem. And I think we’ve got to start thinking about trying to show some leadership and taking some action to change that.”
Hogan has been gathering with other Republican leaders for discussions with the candidates to hash out the issue while giving “private advice to many of the people running,” he told Costa.
“I think other leaders are going to come together, and we’re going to have to figure out how can we convince people to put aside their own egos and their own goals to just make sure we do the right thing for the country in the party,” Hogan said.
Hogan explained how independent parties such as No Labels can take some of the vote, but they don’t stand a strong enough chance to actually win. However, in the event that there is a Trump-versus-Biden rematch, No Labels should put together a strong ticket with a good Republican nominee, he said.
“I think we should only put together a ticket in the event that it’s Trump and Biden,” Hogan said. “And I’m still, again, still trying to work to make sure we can get a good Republican nominee.“
If not himself as a candidate, Hogan said the nominee would have to be “truly bipartisan,” so they could go across party lines to get things done. When asked the chances of a No Labels ticket, Hogan said there’s a good likelihood the organization creates a ticket despite Hogan’s reluctance to pursue a presidential nomination.
“There’s a lot of things that have to happen,” Hogan said. “Again, I’m still hopeful that I don’t.”
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan speaks to guests at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting on Nov. 18, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Scott Olson/Getty Images/TNS)
