The latest news out of Maryland today:
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s stratospheric approval rating has slipped in a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll for the first time since the Republican took office, while voter skepticism of President Trump and his party threatens to complicate the governor’s bid for reelection next year.
Hogan holds a 65 percent job approval rating, down from a high of 71 percent last September, but still above the highest mark in Post polls for each of the state’s three previous governors.
Yet Hogan’s support for reelection lags far behind his approval rating, with 41 percent of registered voters saying they would support him for a second term and 37 percent preferring a Democrat.
The margin has narrowed since September, when Hogan held a 46 to 30 percent edge over a generic Democrat. No Democratic candidate has entered the 2018 race so far, though several have said they are considering it.
The Post-U. Md. survey underscores Hogan’s challenge in satisfying a blue state electorate that vaulted him to an upset victory over then-Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D) in 2014, but favored Hillary Clinton over Trump by 26 percentage points in November. Hogan’s decision not to endorse Trump earned him widespread support, but he has faced continued pressure this year to buck the 45th president and bend to residents’ liberal leanings on big issues in Washington and Annapolis.
Keep your eyes on this race as it develops. Stay tuned.