Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is launching two new campaign ads Thursday, fending off attacks on the Republican Senate candidate’s stance on reproductive rights and featuring his three daughters and four grandchildren.
“When Larry Hogan married my mother, he became the father of three strong, independent women, and he earned our trust. He became our father. Now she’s being attacked again as an anti-woman,” said Hogan’s daughter, Jamie Sterling. A new ad called “Trust”.
“He’s pro-choice by reinstating Roe in every state. As a pop-pop to four grandkids, we know you can count on him too,” Sterling added.
Hogan’s new ads come after EMILY’s List, which supports Democratic women who support abortion rights, announced Thursday that it was spending $2.2 million on the race, airing attack ads targeting Hogan’s position on abortion. Democrats are counting on abortion rights to help offset Hogan’s personal popularity in the Senate race in the normally uncompetitive state of deep blue Maryland.
Hogan’s new ads are the first in a campaign that features women in her family standing up for reproductive rights — a theme that has become a theme for Republican candidates under Dobbs, many of whom have relied on female relatives to help win over skeptics. women voters.
the second ad called “Girl Daddy”It highlights Hogan’s record of protecting access to contraceptives and equal pay while serving as governor. The two 30-second spots are part of an $8 million media buy that will air across cable, broadcast and digital platforms in Maryland.
As governor of Maryland in 2022, Hogan vetoed the bill It would expand access to abortion in the state by ending the restriction that only doctors can provide the procedure. After his veto was overridden, Hogan kept $3.5 million in funds earmarked for training non-physicians to perform abortions.
EMILY’s List’s super PAC, Women Vote!, highlighted vetoed the legislation in a recent ad.
Hogan, a former two-term governor, will face Democratic Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in the Maryland Senate seat this fall. A new Aug. 24-30 poll from Gonzales Research shows Alsbrooks slightly ahead of Hogan, but within the margin of error, with 46% of registered voters supporting Alsbrooks and 41% for Hogan; 11% are undecided.
Still, the threat of Hogan’s candidacy has some Democrats worried about retaining control of state seats. Alsobrooks and outside groups tried to connect Hogan to the broader Republican Party, particularly on the issue of abortion.
Hogan has consistently pushed back against attacks on his abortion record, speaking to NBC News in May he will never support a national abortion ban. In recent months, Hogan has gone even further, positioning himself as a “pro-choice” candidate and take an oath Roe v. if elected. Restoring Wade.
Hogan left the governor’s office in 2022 with one of the highest approval ratings in the country, and he sought to distance himself from former President Donald Trump and national Republicans.
“He can try to confuse the voters as he wants, but the truth is that he exercises power while in office. That’s why Mitch McConnell hired him. He would give the Republicans a Senate majority, and frankly, his anti-abortion record is clear. While in office, he vetoed legislation protecting abortion access and blocked millions in critical funding for abortion provider education. So the truth is there.” EMILY’s List communications director Yari Aquino told NBC News.
Democrats have made abortion central to their messaging since overturning the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade in 2022. In turn, GOP ads featured more wives and other female family members advocating for candidates.
Montana GOP Senate candidate Tim Sheehy has been released an advertisement in July, his wife Carmen Sheehy took notice and shared the story of how they met. Amy Brown, wife of Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sam Brown, has been front and center in his campaign. one Interview with NBC NewsAmy Brown spoke about her personal abortion story and Sam Brown said his wife’s experience helped him show politicians “must lead with compassion”.
In the last election cycle, male GOP candidates in Ohio, Arizona and Nevada featured their wives in ads amid campaigns that suggested the party was struggling to attract women voters. 2022 Colorado GOP Senate candidate Joe O’Dea made an announcement said that he supports access to abortion in the first five months of pregnancy with his daughter.
The two ads are the latest move by Hogan to fend off pro-abortion attacks by Democrats since he entered the race last year. Abortion has proven a mobilizing issue for Democrats, with a growing number of voters in swing states saying it is central to their decisions this fall. New York Times/Siena College survey released in August.