Former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan sees the issues of immigration and border security as political winners — even 1,800 miles away in deep blue Maryland.
Mr. Hogan is putting the challenges at the U.S.-Mexico border front and center in his bid for the U.S. Senate. His campaign released an ad Wednesday saying, “Every day Washington politicians let the border crisis continue and do nothing.”
“Open-border Democrats and status quo Republicans are both to blame,” the narrator adds. “We need commonsense leaders with the guts to get it done.”
The Maryland governor from 2015 to 2023, Mr. Hogan traveled to the southern border last week to talk with law enforcement and political leaders about immigration problems.
A vocal critic of Donald Trump’s influence on the GOP, Mr. Hogan is betting the issue that the former president popularized will help him woo Democrats frustrated with how President Biden and Congress have handled the issue.
The strategy could pay off, according to an Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll released this week that found 53% of Democrats acknowledge a real crisis at the southern border, with 59% saying illegal immigration is a problem.
In addition, 42% of Democrats say they support mass deportation of illegal immigrants.
“Typical D.C. politicians play politics instead of solving the problem,” Mr. Hogan says in the new ad. “As governor, we fought sanctuary cities. Enough is enough. Secure the border — immediately.”
Democrats have no chance of defending their slim Senate majority if Mr. Hogan wins the seat of retiring Sen. Ben Cardin, according to political forecasters.
Rep. David Trone and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks are battling for the Democratic Senate nomination.
A Washington Post-University of Maryland survey released last month showed Mr. Hogan with double-digit leads in hypothetical general election matchups with Mr. Trone and Ms. Alsobrooks, who are less well-known.
Six in 10 Democrats said they hold a favorable impression of Mr. Hogan.