By Christine Dolan

Former Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced Friday that he is running for U.S. Senate. 

Hogan said in a video posted on X that he is running for U.S. Senate “not to serve one party, but to try to be part of the solution: to fix our nation’s broken politics and fight for Maryland.”

He reminded his audience that his father who was a US Congressman was the first to support impeaching the late President Richard Nixon. Perhaps, that is to signal a vote to impeach Donald Trump if he is re-elected down the road.

“My fellow Marylanders: you know me,” Hogan begins in the video released by his Senate campaign. “For eight years, we proved that the toxic politics that divide our nation need not divide our state.”

Maryland has not had a Republican Senator in 37 years since the late Republican liberal Charles Mathias served. 

Hogan was a two-term Governor in Maryland and was one of the Republicans who criticized former President Donald Trump during his time in office.

When he was Governor, Hogan participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He is seen as sympathetic to the globalists’ agenda, and has supported Maryland becoming a smart-state although some in the Republican Party call him a “moderate,” while others call him a “RINO.”

Hogan’s name was floated as a possibility on the short list for No Labels 2024 presidential ticket, if the third-party moves ahead to putting together a ticket after spending tens of millions of dollars getting their party ticket on state ballots. 

Hogan used to be in the No Labels leadership but stepped down last month. 

The former governor will be competing for the open senate seat due to Democratic Senator Ben Cardin's decision to retire this year.  Hogan announced his Senate campaign just hours before Maryland’s filing deadline.

Hogan has endorsed former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley for the 2024 Republican nomination for president.

Hogan’s announcement adds to list of those vying for the open Maryland Senate seat. 

The other Democrats running include: U.S. Congressman David Trone and Angela Alsobrooks, the county executive of Prince George’s County just outside of the nation's capitol. Trone is a wealthy founder of a liquor store chain called Total Wine & More. He has invested  $23 million personal funds into his campaign.

Seven Republicans have filed to enter the GOP primary, but none is as well known as the former governor. Hogan was only the second Republican governor to ever win reelection in Maryland, a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1.