Name: Larry Hogan
Occupation: Governor of Maryland
What does the fact that you’re only the second Republican governor of Maryland in over four decades mean to you? It’s pretty special, but I don’t think of it in terms of Republicans and Democrats. It’s much more important than that. This election was about change because Marylanders were fed up with politics as usual.
Did you anticipate your campaign to repeal the rain tax would resonate with Marylanders as well as it has? When I coined the term “rain tax,” I wasn’t surprised it resonated so well with Marylanders and I’m still not, because it’s ridiculous. We were the only state in the nation that taxes the rain. I made it a priority when I came into office to stand up for the taxpayers who elected me and stand up to repeal the rain tax, and that’s exactly what we did.
In June, you announced that you were battling stage III non-Hodgkin lymphoma. How has this affected your daily outlook on life? This new challenge has further reminded me how blessed I am to have an incredible family – a loving wife, three wonderful daughters, a strong extended family, and many devoted friends. I am constantly comforted by the outpouring of support not only from the people of our state, but people from every state sending thoughts and prayers my way. Since my diagnosis, I have realized just how short each day is, and every day that I am strong is another day I get to spend with the people I love and another day I can work to change Maryland. I hope that in being candid about my battle with cancer, I can help bring awareness to the disease and comfort others affected by it as well.
Your wife, Yumi, is a first-generation Korean immigrant who is an artist by trade. How has her diverse background influenced your political career? Well, I’m not a career politician so my political career is really only seven months long. My wife is the first Asian First Lady in Maryland and the first Korean-American First Lady in the history of the United States. The first economic development mission trip of my administration was a 12-day trip to Asia. We met with government officials and business leaders in China, Japan, and South Korea. A lot of the officials now joke that I’m a “Hankook Sawi,” or “son-in-law of South Korea.” I hope that building strong relations with our overseas partners will be an economic driver for our state, and the First Lady will play a key role in that.
As the son of former Congressman Lawrence Hogan Sr., how has his political legacy influenced your desire to serve the people of Maryland? My Dad is my biggest role model. During the Nixon administration, when he was a member of the House Judiciary Committee investigating the Watergate scandal, I watched in awe as he became the first Republican to vote for President Nixon’s impeachment. I often say that I learned more about integrity from my dad during that single moment than most people learn in a lifetime. That’s when I learned that it’s not about party politics and partisanship. He taught me firsthand the importance of reaching across the aisle and doing what is best for the people of this state.
And finally, who would you root for in an Orioles-Nationals World Series? Orioles! I’m gonna have to go with the Birds!