National eyes on Republican primary for Maryland governor

Maryland Republicans are preparing for a close primary race for the governor’s seat. Early voting wraps up Thursday, with Election Day on Tuesday. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, has backed Kelly Schulz for governor, while former President Donald Trump has backed Dan Cox. Schulz served as labor and commerce secretary under Hogan, and Cox is a former state legislator. A poll last month showed Cox with a thin statistical lead, less than the margin of error, with many undecided voters at that time.

Why does this matter? Hogan and Trump are both possible contenders for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024. Hogan said to NBC’s Meet the Press that he believes voters across the nation want to see more bipartisan cooperation. He has encouraged many in the GOP to abandon Trump’s style of politics. Trump has deemed Hogan and Schulz “RINOs” — Republicans In Name Only.

Dig deeper: Read Collin Garbarino’s WORLD magazine review of Matthew Continetti’s book The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism.