Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has taken the political world by surprise with his last-minute announcement to run for an open U.S. Senate seat in Maryland. Hogan, who enjoyed two successful terms as the leader of the deeply Democratic state, had previously dismissed the idea of running for Senate in 2022 in pursuit of a potential presidential bid. However, he has now shifted his focus to the 2024 Senate race.

In a video statement unveiling his candidacy, Hogan highlighted the dysfunction in Washington, describing it as "completely broken." He emphasized the need for politicians to prioritize the country over party and positioned himself as being in tune with the majority of Marylanders who are fed up with partisan politics. Hogan stated, "For eight years, we proved that the toxic politics dividing our nation need not divide our state."

As the only well-known and high-profile Republican in the race, Hogan's entry into the Senate race has sparked interest. On the Democratic side, the primary has become a fight between Representative David Trone and Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.

This is not the first time Hogan has been courted by national Republicans to challenge Democratic Senate incumbents. Two years ago, he declined the opportunity to challenge Senator Chris Van Hollen. However, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed confidence in Hogan's popularity and the potential to make Maryland, a blue state, competitive for Republicans.

Hogan's decision now presents a test for his enduring popularity and the willingness of Maryland's Democratic voters to support a pragmatic Republican candidate. His previous electoral success in a state dominated by Democrats was attributed to his ability to build a coalition of party faithful, independents, and some Democrats willing to cross party lines.

However, Hogan's own party has undergone a shift since his tenure, with many pro-Hogan leaders replaced by supporters of former President Donald Trump. His handpicked successor for the governorship, Kelly M. Schulz, was defeated in the 2022 primary by far-right candidate Dan Cox, who aligns closely with Trump. This raises questions about Hogan's ability to maintain his broad appeal in a Republican Party that has become more aligned with Trump's ideology.

Democrats wasted no time in criticizing Hogan's candidacy as an opportunity for Republicans to gain more power in Washington. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee expressed concerns over the potential for Republican control in the Senate and the implications it could have for issues such as abortion.

Hogan's tenure as governor was marked by his focus on pragmatic policies rather than divisive social issues. However, critics argue that his tenure included partisan attacks and policy failures, particularly in relation to the city of Baltimore.

Since leaving office, Hogan has been involved with the centrist group No Labels, which seeks to provide an alternative to both President Biden and Trump. However, he resigned from his leadership position within the organization in December.

Hogan's surprise bid for the U.S. Senate seat in Maryland adds a new dynamic to the upcoming elections and will undoubtedly shape the political landscape in the state. Maryland voters will now have to decide whether they are willing to support a pragmatic Republican candidate and potentially shift the balance of power in the Senate.