Former MD Gov. Larry Hogan Hints At Another Political Run

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, teased a possible political comeback on social media on Thursday, months after Democrat Angela Alsobrooks defeated him in the state's race for U.S. Senate.

In a post on Facebook and Instagram, Hogan shared two photos of a recreational vehicle, one with and one without the vinyl wrapping that showcased his campaign logo and a stylized Maryland flag.

"Slightly used 2024 RV, only 15,000 miles all in Maryland. Never slept in. Could make a good deal. Or …. I guess we could always rewrap it and get back out on the road again?"

Hogan, a Republican, used the RV during his time on the campaign trail for U.S. Senate.

Russ Schriefer, former senior advisor for Hogan, stuck with Hogan's theme during a phone call with Spotlight on Maryland about the social media post.

"The governor has this RV," Schriefer said. "It’s sitting in his backyard. He needs to do something with it."

Hogan spent eight years as governor of Maryland, winning the office in 2014 in an upset after he used public campaign financing against a better-funded candidate. Running on fiscal concerns as a moderate Republican businessman, Hogan tapped into voter frustration over a series of tax and fee increases to defeat then-Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown.

Hogan, who had never held elected office before, focused on pocketbook issues from the outset. He lowered tolls, an action he could take without approval from the General Assembly, long controlled by Democrats. But he also faced challenges, including unrest in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody in 2015. Hogan sent the National Guard to help restore order.

In June of that year, Hogan was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma but continued working while receiving treatment. He has been in remission since November 2015.

Hogan left the governor's office in 2023 because of term limits, though poll numbers showed he remained one of the nation's most popular governors. Hogan also received generally positive remarks for his leadership during the coronavirus pandemic and his push to get Marylanders vaccinated and cut taxes.

Hogan has also been a consistent critic of President Donald Trump, noting publicly that he did not vote for Trump in 2016 or 2020.

• RELATED: Hogan To Take A Break After Office; Jabs At Trump, DeSantis On CNN

"As I leave office, I’ve never been more concerned that our divisions are weakening America," Hogan wrote in The Wall Street Journal in 2022. "But I’ve never been more confident in our capacity to overcome them. My experience in Maryland proves that there is more that unites us than divides us. But toxic performative politics won’t restore America. Only real leadership with a record of results will do that."

When announcing his bid for U.S. Senate in February 2024, Hogan said he ran to "stand up to both parties, fight for Maryland, and fix our nation's broken politics."

"The willingness to put country over party is far too rare," Hogan said. "We need leaders willing to stand up to both parties."

The Senate race became a high-profile contest, as Democrats fought to maintain their Senate majority and Republicans battled to flip the nation's top legislative chamber. The GOP eventually gained control of the Senate, even with the loss in Maryland.

With Alsobrooks' victory, Maryland continues its long stretch of having two Democratic senators. Chris Van Hollen of Montgomery County is the state's senior senator.

• RELATED: Alsobrooks Defeats Hogan, Becomes MD's 1st Black Senator: AP

"We ran the kind of campaign that represents what politics can be and what it should be. We left it all out on the field, and I'm so damn proud of the effort," Hogan said on X.

While it's unclear if he plans to run for governor again, current Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, told Spotlight On Maryland that while he doesn't pay attention to Hogan's social media posts, he's ready for the challenge.

“Anybody who wants to try (to challenge me): Come on,” Moore said.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.