I have been a Democrat for all of my adult life. I spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 1996, worked for numerous Democratic candidates across the country, served as a Democrat in the Maryland House of Delegates and the State Senate, and was chairman of the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. I am pro-choice, a strong supporter of LGBTQ rights, a fierce advocate for the environment, a believer in criminal justice reform and reasonable gun regulations, fiscally responsible and socially liberal. And I intend to enthusiastically cast my vote for Larry Hogan for the U.S. Senate. Former Governor Hogan is exactly the type of leader that is needed in these times, to bring moderation, bipartisanship and common sense to a broken Washington.
Hogan is a good man who cares deeply about people. Most Marylanders are aware of his fight against cancer after he was first elected governor. Battling Stage 3 lymphoma, Hogan held staff meetings in the hospital while receiving chemotherapy treatment. His actions those first months as governor were an inspiration. And he beat cancer. Those difficult months gave Larry a fresh perspective, and he emerged a leader unafraid of petty partisan politics with a desire to work together for the common good. I’ve heard the same said about Senator John Fetterman and the late Senator John McCain.
Sometime after Larry’s fight with cancer, my mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. We lost her to that horrible disease. One day, when I returned from Annapolis after a grueling day in legislative session, I received a call from my mom, who told me she had just gotten off the phone with Governor Hogan. Larry had called her to talk through her cancer treatments and to share his story. He spoke with my mom for over an hour, and it made her feel hopeful. I will never forget that. My mom had never voted for a Republican before. Larry Hogan was her first.
I am a proud member of the Jewish faith, and there is nothing more important to me than protecting the State of Israel. After the horrific terrorist attack on October 7, Hogan was one of the first to reach out to me to let me know he was thinking about my family and my entire community. He knew that I have Israeli family and wanted to make sure we were safe. Larry has been a strong and consistent voice against antisemitism at home and abroad.
As Israel and its people have come under attack from all sides, Hogan has been a constant voice for the defense of Israel and against the antisemitism and bigotry creeping into the public sphere. And as over 100 Israelis and Americans are still held hostage in Gaza, Hogan has continued to speak out on the dire need to bring those hostages home. Unfortunately, other Maryland politicians including Senator Chris Van Hollen have chosen to appease the Hamas terrorists and bigots and only rarely mention hostages. Maryland needs a voice like Hogan’s in the U.S. Senate to help bring sanity to issues like defending Israel, to combat the outrageous misinformation and antisemitism from the far-left and far-right fringe and to provide a counter to Maryland’s other senator. For me, electing the strongest voice possible on the issue of Israeli security is of paramount importance.
I was proud to work on countless issues with Governor Hogan during my time in office. We passed the Justice Reinvestment Act, the single largest criminal justice reform package in the history of Maryland, expanding expungement opportunities for non-violent and victimless crimes, making treatment for addiction more readily available and adjusting penalties based on the severity of the offense. It was a huge bipartisan accomplishment and a model for how legislators can work across party lines.
We banned fracking in Maryland and protected the economy, environment, and tourist industry of Deep Creek Lake, which was under threat from international oil and gas companies. We passed Maryland’s national model anti-cyberbullying legislation, “Grace’s Law.” We passed bipartisan gun reform, establishing a red flag law. We expanded Stevenson University. We implemented an anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions executive order protecting Maryland’s Jewish community. And we passed meaningful laws on juvenile justice, drunk driving, domestic violence, sextortion, revenge pornography and so much more. All of this was accomplished working across party lines. This kind of bipartisan cooperation should be expected and it is what Hogan will bring to Washington.
I am pro-choice, and on abortion, Hogan has come out strongly in favor of codifying Roe v. Wade. Some have brought up a single veto of a bill that allowed non-doctor providers to perform abortions. This was an issue of scope of practice and patient safety, not access to abortion. Attempts to use this bill as evidence that Hogan is anti-choice are disingenuous.
It is a sad fact that today’s politics are broken. Politicians in Washington spend more time scoring political points than accomplishing things for those who elected them. Party loyalty has taken the place of common sense, and it is equally true for both sides of the aisle. The far fringes of both parties have outsized influence, with the loudest and most strident voices garnering the greatest attention. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Larry Hogan spent his entire career reaching across party lines to try and find consensus regardless of party. I am confident he will do the same in the U.S. Senate.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for Hogan’s opponent Angela Alsobrooks. But I believe Washington desperately needs something different. Ben Cardin was a great senator who was committed to public policy over partisanship. With Cardin’s retirement, Hogan is exactly who we need in Washington today, a true independent moderate who will pursue moderate bipartisanship over partisan politics. I urge my fellow Marylanders, Democrat, Republican and independent, to join me in this fight for political sanity, to return to an era where leaders worked together regardless of party, and elect someone who seeks common ground. Larry Hogan is the leader that Maryland needs.
Bobby Zirkin (zirkin2002@yahoo.com) is an attorney and former Maryland state senator and delegate representing Baltimore County.