Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan isn't ruling out a primary challenge to Trump

[brooklynite]

CBS News

Larry Hogan isn't ruling out a primary challenge to President Trump in 2020. The Maryland governor known for his straight-talking style was re-elected in November by double digits in a blue state with one of the largest minority populations in the country.

In recent months, the 62-year-old has renewed his concerns about President Trump and earlier this week his state became the only one led by a Republican governor to sue the Trump administration over the national emergency over border security.

"You know, I think the president made some real mistakes here and I don't think declaring this, using the declaration of emergency powers is the right thing to do and I think it should be challenged," Hogan told CBS News correspondent Ed O'Keefe. "We've exaggerated what's going on at the border … but we do have some issues down there."

Hogan is being encouraged by some anti-Trump conservatives to mount a Republican primary challenge against the president – encouragements he's hearing out.

[Best_man23]

1. Given the current state of the Red Cult

Along with intentional rigging of the Russpublican primary process by the RNC, I think Hogan stands a snowball's chance in Hades of unseating Individual-1.

My concern is that Hogan would stay in the race through the General election, and takes some moderate R and D voters who would likely vote for any warm body before voting for Individual-1, thereby giving Individual-1 a path to reselection.

The only other semi-plausible explanation is there is something behind the scenes driving this beyond anti-Individual-1 cons, perhaps a view that make Hogan a more viable R candidate than, say, Mike Pence.

[Garrett78]

4. Trump will crush anyone who primaries him.

And that could potentially make him stronger. On the other hand, it could weaken him and distract him from attacking Democrats. Hard to say.

[NCjack]

2. Trump: "I'm declaring a national emergency. The work I and my people -- the very best

people in America -- is so excellent and important that it must continue uninterrupted for a second term. Therefore, I'm cancelling the 2020 election. But, don't blame me or the DEMs. The cause is stupid Gov. Hogan challenging me in the GOP primary. That could discourage enough of the independents from voting for me to give the election to the DEMs. No choice. Hogan is responsible."

[honest.abe]

3. This is one of the reasons why this guy won so easily in Maryland, a strong blue state.

He is clearly anti-Trump.

[DFW]

5. This is not good

A likeable, (sorta) reasonable Republican running for the Republican nomination? Hogan isn't yesterday's news like Bill Weld. He's current events. What if the Republicans wake up and like him (well, it COULD happen)? Then we'd have to run against a REAL candidate.