Anti-Trump Republican Larry Hogan navigates dangerous political terrain in pivotal Senate contest

— Andy DePaola welcomed Larry Hogan to his family’s restaurant with a big smile and a handshake. “I think Larry would be better off if he kept how he felt about Trump under his breath.” The brief exchange during a weeks-long bus tour illustrates a stark political reality for the popular Republican former governor, who has single-handedly transformed Maryland’s sleepy Senate race into a top-tier contest in the national fight for the Senate majority. “I’m a real Republican,” Hogan told The Associated Press, noting that he does not identify with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. “A Republican-dominated Senate would pursue a drastically different agenda, one that could unwind years of progressive achievements and reshape Maryland’s policy landscape in ways that could take generations to reverse.” Meanwhile, Hogan is trying to avoid divisive political disputes as he reintroduces himself to Maryland voters during a low-profile “Back to Work” bus tour across the state. “I’m far from a Trump supporter, but I go into the grocery store today and I cry.” Caroline County Sheriff Donald Baker, who welcomed Hogan on a tour through his office, said he also appreciates the former governor’s strong support for law enforcement, noting that the sheriff’s office didn’t get a single applicant for a recent job posting.