Is Hogan Planning to Challenge Moore for Governor in 2026?

Does Larry Hogan want to become Governor again?

He released a statement on Facebook comparing his fiscal surplus of $5.5 billion compared to Moore’s deficit of $3 billion.

“When we left office two years ago, Maryland was in the strongest fiscal position in its history, with $5.5 billion in financial reserves. As Governor Moore himself said at the time, he inherited a ‘fortunate financial position.’

“Despite our warnings to protect the surplus, this progress has been squandered, and we are being told that tax hikes are on the way again. This is the wrong path for Maryland. We know where it leads–to more people and more jobs being driven out of the state.

“Maryland doesn’t need tax hikes to balance its budget. We proved that. In our first budget, we closed a record $5.1 billion structural deficit and put our state back on strong financial footing, helping us to weather the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.

“We cut taxes every year by $4.7 billion. Marylanders deserve leaders who will prioritize fiscal responsibility and economic growth—not a return to the failed tax-and-spend policies of the past.”

Could that statement by the beginning of a campaign for Hogan?

Unlike the U.S. Presidency, where a president can’t serve more than two terms (eight years overall) a Maryland governor is limited to two consecutive terms but can try to return for a third term four years later.

Just because Hogan is eligible to run again doesn’t mean it’s a great idea. The sequel is isually not good as the first.

Former Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich won elected to the highest office in Maryland in 2022.

He lost his re-election bid to Martin O’Malley in 2006 and was easily defeated in O’Malley’s re-election bid in 2010. Ehrlich’s numbers went down during each election cycle.

Larry Hogan became the first two-term GOP governor in decades but has his political aura worn off with last November’s Senate race lost to Democrat Angela Alsobrooks?

But Hogan might not be as weak as Democrats hope.

There were many Democratic voters who  voted twice for Hogan as governor but voted against him in 2024 because they didn’t want Donald Trump to pick up a senate seat in Maryland.

Now that state is a mess and Hogan is longer a threat to help Trump in the legislature, would people welcome Hogan back?

He could run a similar campaign to Trump with a simple message of “I told you so and I will fix it” campaign.

What is motivating Hogan to run? He has had good relationships with Democrats such as Alsobrooks, John Olszewski, Adrienne Jones and Bill Ferguson but has been known to be very vengeful with enemies. He has fought with Republicans such as Trump and Dan Cox but has had public battles with Democrats he didn’t like personally.

He didn’t have good relationship with late Kevin Kamenetz, former Baltimore County and it was a contentious relationship.

Has Wes Moore gotten on Hogan’s bad side? Hogan helped Moore inadvertently (some say on it was on purpose) become Governor by not helping GOP nominaee Cox.

So what changed? Is Hogan really upset that Moore turned his surplus into a deficit? He probably relishes Moore’s failure.

What probably fires Hogan up is that Moore want over the top to campaign and helped Alsobrooks win. Most Democrats supported Alsobrooks but many didn’t dare go on the campaign trial with her.

Those Democrats didn’t want to upset the moderate voters in the district. Moore didnt care and jumped into that race and to help Alsobrooks after Hogan didn’t go after Moore in 2022. Moore took alot of political shots at the former governor.

Could Hogan be looking for pay back and a chance to unseat Moore?

A Hogan vs. Moore match up would be fun to watch in 2026, if it happens.