Governor Hogan Discusses His 2020 Prospects

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Maryland governor Larry Hogan stands in the national spotlight as a possible challenger to Donald Trump in the 2020 Republican presidential primary.

Wednesday on CBS This Morning, Hogan talked about Trump and his chances for re-election.

"I've been pretty clear that I don't like the tone the president uses," said Hogan. "I think there are times when he acts irrationally.

The same purple wave that the Maryland Republican rode into a second term as governor of a blue state had him smack in the midst of the 2020 presidential buzz.

He had distanced himself from President Trump during his first 4 years in office and told CBS' Ed O'Keefe that he's been approached about running against Trump in the Republican primary.

The Maryland governor said that right now, it's unlikely anyone could beat him.

"I would say today, it's unlikely when you look at the numbers," Hogan said. "Some 70, 80 percent of Republicans say they support the president."

Hogan Says He's 'Focused On Maryland' But To 'Never Say Never' To 2020 Presidential Run

But Hogan, who did not vote for Trump in 2016, said that he's no more supportive of Trump now than he was then.

"I don't see how my position would change much from before," Hogan said. "I haven't become more supportive than I was 4 years ago."

Goucher Poll Shows How Marylanders Feel About Governor Larry Hogan

A new Goucher poll shows that 66 percent of Marylanders polled disapprove of Trump's performance in office.

Not only is Hogan's approval in the high 60s, 79 percent said that he works well with both Republicans and Democrats.

That bipartisan appeal, an indication that he could be a fitting lifeline should the party decide it's too risky for Trump to run for re-election.

"I would say the election is nearly two years away," Hogan said. "I don't know who the nominees in either party are going to be."

But he left the door open.

"I was just sworn in a month ago for my second term," said Hogan. "I've got a lot of work to do here in Maryland, I would say I'm being approached by a lot of different people and I guess the best way to put it is, I haven't thrown them out of my office."

The future for the red governor in this blue state remains a mystery.

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