The next is a transcript of an interview with Larry Hogan, former Maryland governor, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Sept. 29, 2024.
ROBERT COSTA: We flip now to the previous Republican governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan. Governor Hogan, thanks for being right here–
FORMER GOVERNOR LARRY HOGAN: Thanks for having me
ROBERT COSTA: In one of many key Senate races within the nation. You aren’t operating alongside former President Donald Trump in your race, however he is entrance and heart. How can you distance your self, if in any respect, in such a contested, heated political setting?
HOGAN: Properly you realize, I feel I have been one of many main, type of, voices of opposition in my get together for fairly a while, and I am persevering with to try this. We’re really operating 20 or 30 factors forward of Donald Trump in our state. And, you realize, I feel I’ve a totally separate id after, you realize, being Governor for 2 phrases within the bluest state or one of many bluest states in America. You understand, we now have a separate, you realize, id. We- I stand as much as him in all probability extra than simply about anybody, and I am going to proceed to.
ROBERT COSTA: He is endorsed you, however it’s not such as you’ve welcomed that endorsement. However whenever you go into that voting sales space, I do know it is personal, however who’re you going to vote for?
HOGAN: Properly, look, I’ve stated neither one of many two candidates has earned my vote, and the voters within the nation are going to have the ability to make that call. I-
ROBERT COSTA: So there is no probability you vote for Trump?
HOGAN: I am not going to. I did not vote for him in 2016 or 2020 and I’ve made that fairly clear. However look, I am not operating only for the Republican Celebration, or they might- you realize, it isn’t nearly crimson versus blue, which is what my opponent needs it to be about. I am involved in regards to the crimson, white and blue, and I am, I am keen to place nation over get together. And I am hoping that the voters shall be keen to do the identical factor.
ROBERT COSTA: I requested retired Basic McChrystal this about former President Donald Trump, who, in current days on the marketing campaign path, has attacked vice chairman Harris. He is stated she has psychological points. He has stated factor after factor, questioning her intelligence, her skill. Do you consider former President Donald Trump is match for workplace or not?
HOGAN: Properly I feel all of that’s is outrageous and unacceptable. And I’ve already referred to as him out when he had the one interview the place he was questioning her racial id, and now he is questioning her psychological competence. And I feel that is insulting not solely to, the to the Vice President, however to individuals that really do have psychological disabilities. And, you realize, I’ve stated for years that Trump’s divisive rhetoric is one thing that we may do with out. I feel he is his personal worst enemy. And I feel, you realize, I am very involved in regards to the poisonous and divisive politics that appears to proceed actually forwards and backwards. It is what persons are so fed up with. It is why they need to change Washington, and it is why I am operating.
ROBERT COSTA: Whenever you have been governor, you might have typically stated you didn’t attempt to go towards abortion rights in any vital manner. However the US Senate’s a completely totally different place than being governor. As you realize, sure, in case you’re elected to america Senate this November, would you help eliminating the filibuster to safe abortion rights?
HOGAN: Properly, I will, on day one, help the compromise invoice to safe Roe and shield abortion rights all throughout the nation, in order that no, nobody ever comes between a girl and her physician. I am not I do not agree with each my opponent and Donald Trump about making an attempt to dispose of the filibuster–
ROBERT COSTA: Why not?
HOGAN: So we are able to jam issues via on a partisan foundation, on one vote, so we are able to have the pendulum swing forwards and backwards and create extra divisiveness. I feel we have to discover purchase in and and bipartisan cooperation, simply as I did and in a state that has a 70% Democratic legislature, however we did issues like reduce taxes and decrease the price of healthcare and to move a legal justice reform act. We’ve to discover a approach to get individuals in Washington to cease simply identify calling, cease making an attempt to jam issues via on the left or the appropriate. And the filibuster permits, it requires- bipartisan cooperation and consensus, and that is precisely what I feel we desperately want in Washington.
ROBERT COSTA: However what do you say to that blue, that democratic voter in Maryland, who says I preferred you as two phrases as governor, I am a Democrat, however I voted for you, however I would like you to go additional on abortion rights than saying I am not going to the touch the filibuster?They need you to interrupt the filibuster.
HOGAN: Properly, I am unsure there are too lots of these. Look, I am very supportive of girls’s proper to make these choices. To not come between a girl or physician. I will sponsor a invoice on defending Roe. I will sponsor a invoice on IVF. I ran for governor promising that I might not change that I might, wouldn’t do something to restrict entry to abortion. I saved that promise for eight years, and I am now promising them once more that I will combat for that once I’m in america Senate.
ROBERT COSTA: In case you are in america Senate, what sort of Republican Celebration would you be a part of? You at all times have forged your self in our conversations over time as a conventional Republican. You’ve got praised former President Ronald Reagan. It is Trump’s get together.
HOGAN: Properly, you realize, that is one of many the explanation why I am operating. You understand, I feel we have to get- get the nation again on monitor. I am standing up- I am going to stand as much as the present president, the previous president or the following president once I suppose they’re incorrect. I am going to work with them once I suppose they’re proper. I am going to stand as much as the Democratic Celebration and the Republican Celebration. It is what I’ve achieved my total profession. I have been a number one voice in America to attempt to do one thing about this, you realize, very divided nation the place all we do is combat with each other and nothing ever will get achieved. I am a man that likes to get issues achieved. I like- you realize, I am going to work throughout the aisle in a bipartisan manner, as I did for the previous eight years and I feel that’s- that is what we actually want in Washington. I feel it is what most individuals need.
ROBERT COSTA: However is it doable? And taking a look at your personal document, you- you considered, flirted with a doable No Labels or Unbiased run for president over the previous 12 months or so and former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, for instance, from Wyoming, a Republican, she’s damaged with Trump. She just lately steered, as I am certain you have heard, that there- it is likely to be time for a brand new get together. Do you consider that is proper? Is it possibly time for the standard Republicans, the non-Trump Republicans to say ‘Sufficient. Time for one thing new’?
HOGAN: Properly, I am not keen to surrender. You understand, I actually consider {that a} wholesome and aggressive two get together system is necessary for- for our nation. I am very involved that I consider my- each events are manner off monitor from what they- their- their- their type of base core values was once. I feel the Democratic Celebration is transferring too far to the left. I feel the Republican Celebration has, as you stated, grow to be extra of a Trump get together, however I am not keen to surrender. It is why I am operating. It is also why I stepped up. You understand, I acquired on this race when the bipartisan deal fell aside to safe the border, provide help and funding for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, and other people voted towards it as a result of they did not need to give a bipartisan win. My entire emphasis has been about how we discover consensus, how we discover widespread floor for the widespread good. And that is- that is what I primarily based my entire profession on. And so I am hoping that the voters will really need that type of management in Washington. In the event that they resolve simply one other partisan, you realize, rubber stamp politician, and so they simply need to vote primarily based on crimson or blue. I am not going to be within the Senate, but when they need to change Washington, I feel I am precisely the type of particular person that may make a distinction.
ROBERT COSTA: If former President Donald Trump calls you up on the cellphone within the subsequent few weeks and says, ‘Larry, I would wish to go to an Orioles sport with you, then possibly have a marketing campaign rally.’ Would you seem with Trump in- in Maryland?
HOGAN: No, I do not suppose I’ll. I do not suppose he will spend a lot time in Maryland, as a result of he’s- he is down, you realize, by about 30 factors. And you realize, he is not going to essentially be campaigning in Maryland, however he ought to, you realize, he ought to go watch a sport someday. Yeah, certain.
ROBERT COSTA: There isn’t any, you haven’t any curiosity in showing with him in any respect?
HOGAN: No.
ROBERT COSTA: And you have served with- lastly, right here, we’re all wanting ahead to seeing Margaret do the vice presidential debate with Norah on Tuesday evening on CBS. You understand Governor Tim Walz. You have been governors collectively.
HOGAN: Yeah
ROBERT COSTA: Is he a robust debater? Are you wanting ahead to seeing what he does? And do you want him?
HOGAN: You understand, I’ve never- I’ve by no means seen him debate, however look, I feel it is everyone’s going to have an interest to tune in. I am simply hopeful that on this debate we are able to have an actual wholesome debate on the problems that individuals care about. You understand, persons are involved in regards to the financial system and inflation, affordability. They’re involved about crime and the border. Hopefully these candidates will discuss it, as a substitute of simply typical politics.
ROBERT COSTA: Governor Larry Hogan, thanks for being right here, operating for Senate in Maryland. We’ll be proper again. Thanks.
