Ohio Republican Senate nominee Bernie Moreno credits former President Donald Trump’s endorsement for his victory in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary. This win has raised questions about whether Republicans could potentially regain the Senate majority in the upcoming elections. A recent poll conducted by The Washington Post/University of Maryland suggests that former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland holds a significant lead over his potential Democratic rivals in the state’s Senate race.
The survey indicates that Hogan would defeat Democratic Rep. David Trone by a margin of 49% to 37% if the general election were held today. Additionally, Hogan leads Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks by a margin of 50% to 36%. However, despite Hogan’s strong performance in the poll, Maryland voters still prefer that the Democrats retain control of the Senate by a 20-point margin.
In the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, the poll shows that Trone currently leads Alsobrooks in their party’s primary, with 34% support compared to Alsobrooks’ 27%. However, nearly 40% of Democratic voters remain undecided. Trone, who co-founded the successful alcohol retailer Total Wine & More, has significantly outspent Alsobrooks in the Democratic Senate primary.
Hogan, known for his criticism of former President Donald Trump, has had success in Maryland despite the state’s Democratic majority. He won both the 2014 and 2018 gubernatorial elections. Hogan, who considered running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, ultimately decided against it. Republican leaders had also encouraged Hogan to run for the Senate in 2022, but he declined, stating that he did not aspire to be a United States senator.
However, Hogan has now decided to run for the open Senate seat in Maryland, where it has been almost four decades since a Republican served in the Senate. As a popular figure who governed in a bipartisan manner, Hogan left office with high approval and favorable ratings. The recent poll indicates that he maintains a 64% favorable rating among Maryland voters.
The survey also reveals that Trone and Alsobrooks are not well-known among many Maryland voters. Democrats currently hold a slim majority in the U.S. Senate, with 51 seats compared to Republicans’ 49. However, Republicans are optimistic about the upcoming elections, as Democrats are defending 23 seats compared to Republicans’ 11. Furthermore, three of the seats being defended by Democrats are in red states that Trump won in 2020.
In conclusion, Bernie Moreno’s victory in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary, boosted by Trump’s endorsement, has raised hopes among Republicans for regaining the Senate majority. Larry Hogan’s strong performance in the poll suggests that he could potentially win the Senate seat in Maryland, a traditionally Democratic stronghold. However, despite Hogan’s popularity, Maryland voters still lean towards Democrats maintaining control of the Senate. Republicans are optimistic about their chances in the upcoming elections, as Democrats have a larger number of seats to defend, including in red states won by Trump.
