A top Republican Senate candidate vowed in an ad to not always vote with his GOP colleagues should he be elected, which could rankle his party's leadership.
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan - who was widely popular during his two terms in the now solidly blue state - claimed in a TV ad that 'In the Senate, Republicans can't count on my vote, but then again, neither can Democrats.'
'If they want my vote, they will have to do what is right for Maryland, not one political party. That's exactly what I did as your governor, and it's exactly the kind of Senator I'll be,' Hogan said.
The blatant declaration that he would be thinking for himself and his constituents over the wishes of the Senate GOP could set up a showdown with the Republican leadership team if he wins.
But for now, leadership is backing his bid as they work to capture the majority back - including his promise to be a 'different' kind of politician.
Former Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan vowed he would not always vote with Republicans if he is elected to the Senate in a recent TV ad
'Governor Hogan is a different kind of politician, and his independent brand is what earned him historic job approvals among Marylanders,' National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesperson Tate Mitchell told DailyMail.com.
'He has made clear he will do what he thinks is right to serve the people of Maryland.'
Hogan's team also believes they are singing the right tune to court Maryland voters.
'The message in this ad shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone,' campaign spokesperson Blake Kernen told DailyMail.com.
'For eight years, Governor Hogan put Maryland first and prioritized the issues that are important to Maryland over party politics or partisan talking points.'
'He will be the same independent leader in the United States Senate.'
In the ad, the Marylander appears to be taking a page out of outgoing West Virginia Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin's playbook by separating himself from the GOP establishment.
The West Virginian repeatedly split with his Democratic party during his tenure in the upper chamber, siding with Republicans on expanding U.S. energy production and lessening environmental protections, which are popular positions in his state.
Though despite the tough words against Hogan, the conference still sees him as one of the best ways to regain control of the Senate chamber, where the GOP needs to add at least two seats to take power.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., (center) flanked by fellow GOP leadership (from left to right) Sens. Steve Daines, R-Mont., John Thune, R-N.D., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., have repeatedly claimed they are working to secure a Republican Senate majority come November
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., split with his liberal colleagues frequently to support the interests of West Virginians, something Hogan is promising to do for Maryland voters
Currently, there are more Republicans in the chamber than Democrats - 49 to 48 - but there are three independent lawmakers that nearly always side with the liberals.
And the GOP hopes to shepherd Hogan in to bolster their desired 'red-wave' in November as the former governor is still massively popular in Maryland.
Hogan first won his seat as Maryland's governor in 2014, running as a moderate.
He was the first GOP governor of the state in decades and left office with a staggering 77 percent approval rating, according to local polls.
After being termed out, Democrat Wes Moore won the governorship.
Now, Hogan is facing a tough fight against Democrat Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks, an influential Prince George's County executive, who has become a mainstay in the liberal county bordering Washington, D.C.
That showdown could wash away Republican's hopes to regain control of the Senate as recent polls indicate Alsobrooks holds a commanding lead in the polls six months out from the November election.
A May 9 poll from The Hill/Emersonfound that Alsobrooks is leading Hogan by 10 points, 48 to 38.
Former President Donald Trump has not minced his words when attacking Hogan. The two have had a public feud since Trump was last in office
Further complicating the matter, Hogan proudly proclaimed in 2020 that he did not vote for former President Donald Trump and instead wrote in a vote for former president Ronald Reagan.
Hogan's moderate approach earned him the scorn of the former president, who has called the moderate a RINO - Republican in name only - which has soured some of conservative Maryland voters on the Senate candidate.
Additionally, Hogan has claimed he would again avoid voting for Trump in 2024, furthering his feud with the GOP's top dog.
But this will be the first time that Hogan and Trump are on the same ballot - and how that will complicate the popular former governor's Senate bid remains to be seen.
