Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said he would support codifying Roe v. Wade abortion protections and called himself “pro-choice” in a new interview as he seeks Democratic support in his matchup with Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. D).
His comments to the The New York Times comes just two days after he secured the Republican nomination for Maryland's open Senate seat.
“I support reinstating Roe as the law of the land,” Hogan said in an interview published Thursday. “I will continue to protect women's rights to make their own reproductive choices, just as I did for eight years as governor.”
When asked about the issue in March, the country's former two-term governor declined to commit to supporting legislation enshrining the right to abortion into law. He said he would not sign a federal abortion ban, but would not elaborate on how he would vote on legislation to codify Roe v. Wade, as specified in the 1973 Supreme Court decision.
But he said in the latest interview that voters could trust him to protect abortion rights as a senator — a position that would put him at odds with most members of his party.
“I think Marylanders know and trust that if I give them my word, I will keep it, and I have protected these rights before,” he said. “And I will do it again in the Senate by supporting a bipartisan compromise to make Roe the law of the land again.”
Hogan was asked if he would consider himself “pro-life” or “pro-choice.”
“Given the definition of what I support — women's right to make their own decisions — I would say this is pro-choice,” Hogan told The Times.
The moderate Republican immediately began to gain Democratic support after his first victory. President Biden carried Maryland by more than 30 points in the last presidential election, and he is seeking to replace Sen. Ben Cardin, a Democrat who joined the Senate in 2007.
Alsobrooks defeated Democrat David Trone (Md.) in the state's controversial Democratic primary on Tuesday. Alsobrooks, who is seeking to become the first Black woman to represent the Old Line State in the House, won support from a bevy of Democrats on Capitol Hill en route to winning the party's race.
Hogan has touted compliments from several Democrats this week. In a video released Wednesday, his campaign showed past praise from prominent Democrats, some of whom have endorsed Alsobrooks ahead of November.
