I'm Larry Hogan: That's why I want Maryland's vote for the Senate

As governor, I was guided by one guiding principle: helping people keep more of their hard-earned money. For eight years, our government cut taxes every year, saving Marylanders $4.7 billion. For working families, retirees, first responders and small businesses, every little relief counts when inflation has driven up the cost of essentials like housing, food and child care. As Marylanders grapple with hundreds of new taxes and fees – and more to come – I'm committed to bringing a taxpayer-friendly approach to Washington.

My opponent, Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, has made it clear that she will support the tax and spend agenda. She is campaigning on a promise to raise Social Security taxes — including on the middle class — which would cost Marylanders billions. These increases not only threaten jobs and drive down wages; They also lead to even higher prices for consumers.

I will work across party lines to make life more affordable. I will fight for real tax relief, starting with expanding the child tax credit and earned income tax credit to help working families. We must stop inflation-related tax increases by indexing housing gains and Social Security taxes and reauthorizing a higher standard deduction. And while my opponent supports maintaining the state and local tax deduction (SALT) cap, I will work to repeal it. My approach is simple: focus on solutions that provide direct relief to Marylanders, not more tax increases or red tape.

ALSOBROOKS SUPPORTS AS HOGAN FIGHTS THE GOP, MCCONNELL, TRUMP ASSOCIATIONS

The housing affordability crisis also requires urgent action. Our administration built over 28,000 affordable housing units and made record investments in workforce housing. In the Senate, I will continue to advocate for affordable homeownership by eliminating excessive regulations and supporting bipartisan action to build more housing for working families. It is time to accelerate regulatory streamlining and ensure local governments have the resources to address this crisis.

Health care costs are another area where we must overcome our partisanship and take meaningful action. While Washington fought, we reduced Marylanders' premiums by 30% through innovative models. As a senator, I will work to lower health care prices by increasing competition, transparency and choice, holding middlemen accountable for price gouging, and fighting to reverse the Biden administration's disastrous Medicare Advantage cuts.

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Education should open doors, not close them. As governor, I worked to make education affordable by preventing tuition increases and expanding scholarships for community college students, as well as implementing a highly successful school choice program for low-income families. For her part, my opponent is anti-school choice and will not even support public charter schools. In the Senate, I will continue to advocate for tax credits, scholarship accounts, and more flexibility in 529 plans to give families the resources they need to afford a quality education.

Larry Hogan, former governor and Republican Senate candidate for Maryland, speaks to members of the media at the AstraZeneca plant in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA, on Monday, August 26, 2024. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Finally, we must curb excessive government spending, unaffordable rules, and regulations that only increase the cost of energy, food, and household items. As governor, we turned a record $5.1 billion deficit into a $5.5 billion surplus by eliminating burdensome regulations and working together to promote responsible fiscal policies. In the Senate, I will fight against reckless spending and advocate for a balanced approach to reducing the cost of essentials.

These are not Republican or Democratic ideas – they are simply common sense. I won't worry about which side an idea comes from or wait for marching orders from party bosses about what I can support. My main test will be: Will it provide real economic relief to Maryland's hard-working families?

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Marylanders are facing real economic headwinds right now. My opponent's agenda would only worsen their struggles and the gridlock in Washington.

I will work across party lines to deliver for Maryland, just as I always have. Because let's be honest: one party alone cannot fix this chaos. Washington has enough speakers. It’s time to cut through the partisan bullshit and get the job done.