Outgoing Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan dropped some huge hints about his political future, at the same time as he instructed a room of about 1,700 supporters and donors there'd be no huge announcement Wednesday night time.
"I perceive there was some hypothesis about my future," he joked with the gang in Hanover, Maryland throughout an occasion to have a good time his time as governor. Adopting a extra critical tone, he did inform the viewers he'd be speaking to household and associates subsequent yr to "decide how I can greatest serve our nice nation."
"I believe you all know that I do you care very deeply about this nation," he stated. "And I've by no means been extra involved in regards to the route of our nation. What I can let you know tonight, is that I'm not about to surrender on the Republican Occasion or on America."
Requested by CBS Information about former President Donald Trump's dinner final week with white supremacist Nick Fuentes, Hogan referred to as it "disgraceful and unconscionable" however stated he wasn't stunned. Days after Trump introduced his third bid for the presidency, he dined at his residence in Mar-a-Lago with Fuentes and Kanye West, who has come underneath heavy criticism for antisemitic remarks he made on social media. Later, Trump claimed he didn't know who Fuentes was.
Hogan, on the query of whether or not his occasion is responding forcefully sufficient to Trump's dinner with Fuentes and West, stated, "on the one hand, it is so disgraceful and extra folks needs to be talking up."
And but, "however, we have to cease speaking about Donald Trump," Hogan stated. He added, "The occasion and the nation want to maneuver on from him."
Bookending his remarks have been extremely produced movies by Hogan's political group, "An America United," which highlighted the Hogan administration's purported successes, and his response to the pandemic and the Freddie Grey riots. Each movies ended with phrases alluding to the longer term: "Keep tuned" and "That is just the start."
Hogan held a fundraiser for his new federal PAC, "A Higher Path Ahead," upstairs from his primary occasion. He additionally held a summit in Annapolis, Maryland, Wednesday the place he hosted notable Republicans, together with former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Division of Housing and City Improvement Secretary Ben Carson, and former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.
Whereas speaking to reporters, Hogan alluded to $1.2 million being raised at Wednesday night time's occasion.
"Tonight, 1,700 folks gave us 1.2 million the reason why we must always contemplate staying in politics," he stated.