EXCLUSIVERepublican Larry Hogan reveals former colleague Tim Walz's unexpected quirk that may win over voters as he brushes off GOP firestorm for praising him
- Hogan made waves by congratulating Dems' new VP pick on social media
- LIVE BLOG: Shock national poll shows candidate taking the lead
As most Republicans readied their attack lines about Kamala Harris' 'extreme progressive' pick for a running mate in Minnesota Gov Tim Walz, Republican ex-Gov. Larry Hogan offered genuine praise.
In the eyes of some irate conservatives, he has some explaining to do. But the former governor is not letting it bother him.
'I think [Walz] is a nice guy. I always got along well with him, and I think he was a good pick,' the Maryland Senate GOP hopeful exclusively told DailyMail.com.
'He's gonna add some things to the ticket. He brings a little bit of perspective.'
Hogan said he worked closely with Walz when he chaired the National Governors' Association.
He went on: 'I thought [Pennsylvania Gov. Josh] Shapiro was a good pick as well, but I thought picking a governor was really smart. I think they've got the best experience.'
'I want to extend my congratulations to Governor Walz on being selected as the Democratic vice presidential nominee,' Maryland's GOP Senate candidate wrote on X on Tuesday
Republicans erupted in outrage after he posted his congratulations on X on Tuesday after Harris announce her pick.
'We had the chance to work together as fellow governors, and while we come from different parties, I have always appreciated his dedication to public service,' said Hogan.
'I believe we need more governors at the national level because governors have to actually get stuff done. I wish Tim and his family well in the campaign ahead.'
'It's truly sad that in this day and age a personal statement of well wishes from a former colleague can be spun into an attack,' campaign spokesperson Blake Kernen said. 'This wasn't a political statement.'
'Hogan is a different kind of leader who leads from a human level – he doesn't issue obligatory partisan statements.'
However, Hogan did not offer the same praise when Donald Trump picked J.D. Vance as his running mate.
In fact, he told DailyMail.com Vance's recent comments about women, criticizing single 'childless cat' ladies, were 'not helpful.'
But the moderate ex-governor insisted he won't be voting for either the Republican or the Democratic nominees.
In June Hogan said he has 'no interest' in a Trump endorsement. He's running for Senate as a Republican in solidly blue Maryland this November.
Walz, the 60-year-old father-of-two, is a former U.S. congressman, school teacher, football coach and served more than two decades in the Army National Guard. He was seen as a more liberal pick than fellow frontrunner Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Harris announced her VP Pick Tim Walz on Tuesday
As governor, Walz codified the right to abortion, signed universal free school meals, legalized recreational marijuana and gave voting rights to former prisoners. He approved legislation to allow illegal immigrants to have drivers' licenses.
While he greatly increased funding in schools, that did not translate to higher test scores. In 2015 the state was ranked sixth overall in the nation for education quality - by 2024, it sunk to 19th.
He is a close ally of the LGBTQ+ community, serving as a faculty advisor to the first gay-straight alliance at the high school when he was a teacher and later as governor with efforts to ban 'conversion therapy' for youths in the state.
Walz likes to tout health care access in his state. His administration has implemented drug pricing transparency requirements and reached a deal with Eli Lilly to cap insulin prices in the state.
