Major Controversies Surrounding Larry Hogan: A Detailed Timeline
Public opinion and media debates around Larry Hogan—discover key moments of controversy.
Lawrence Joseph Hogan Jr. is an American politician who served as the 62nd Governor of Maryland from 2015 to 2023. A Republican, and son of former U.S. Representative Lawrence Hogan, he co-chaired the centrist organization No Labels from 2020 to 2023. Hogan was the Republican nominee in the 2024 U.S. Senate election in Maryland, but lost to Democrat Angela Alsobrooks.
2014: Opposition to Transgender Rights Law
In 2014, Hogan opposed a transgender rights law signed by Governor Martin O'Malley.
June 2015: Baltimore Red Line Project Canceled
In June 2015, Hogan canceled the federally funded Baltimore Red Line project and reallocated the money to road construction across Maryland.
2015: Veto of Legislation to Restore Felon Voting Rights
In 2015, Hogan vetoed legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly that would restore voting rights to convicted felons after completing their prison sentences; however the General Assembly overrode the veto.
2015: Facebook Blocks After Baltimore Protests
In 2015, some Marylanders said they were blocked on Hogan's Facebook after reaching out following the Baltimore protests.
April 2016: Vetoed Maryland Open Transportation Investment Decision Act
In April 2016, Hogan vetoed the Maryland Open Transportation Investment Decision Act, calling it politically motivated and claiming it would increase the cancellation risk for major transportation projects.
August 2016: Executive Order on School Start Date
In August 2016, Hogan issued an executive order to set the public schools' start date after Labor Day, a measure opposed by the state teachers' union.
December 2016: Proposal of State Legislation for Paid Sick Leave
In December 2016, Hogan proposed state legislation to require companies with 50 or more employees to provide five days per year of paid sick leave.
2016: Veto of Marijuana Paraphernalia Decriminalization Legislation
In 2016, Hogan vetoed legislation to decriminalize possession of marijuana paraphernalia in Maryland, but the General Assembly overrode the veto.
January 2017: Facebook Blocks After Trump Order
In January 2017, some Marylanders said they were blocked on Hogan's Facebook after reaching out about Donald Trump's Executive Order 13769.
February 2017: Blocked Facebook Users
Between taking office and February 2017, Hogan's Facebook page blocked over 450 people.
February 2017: Citizens Rallied in Annapolis
In February 2017, citizens rallied in Annapolis in response to a funding crisis caused by Hogan's proposed budget cuts for community revitalization programs, extended library hours, and public schools in Baltimore City.
March 2017: Altered Headlines Controversy
In March 2017, it was discovered that Hogan staffers altered headlines of news articles on his Facebook page to falsely imply support for his "Road Kill Bill."
May 2017: Veto of Nonpartisan Redistricting Bill
In May 2017, Hogan vetoed a bill that would have enacted nonpartisan redistricting in Maryland if other states passed the same deal.
2017: Vetoed Renewable Energy Legislation
In 2017, Hogan vetoed legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly to increase the use of renewable energy, but the veto was overridden.
May 2019: Transit Advocates Accused Hogan Administration of Biased Scoring
In May 2019, The Baltimore Sun reported that transit advocates had accused the Hogan administration of using a biased scoring process for transportation projects.
October 2019: Hogan Supports Trump Impeachment Inquiry
In October 2019, Larry Hogan publicly announced his support for the U.S. House of Representatives' impeachment inquiry against then-President Donald Trump.
January 2020: Conflict of Interest Allegations
In January 2020, Washington Monthly reported that Hogan had potential conflicts of interest related to his real estate business and state funding for transportation projects.
February 2020: Hogan Criticizes Congress After Trump's Acquittal
In February 2020, after Trump was impeached by the House and acquitted by the Senate, Hogan criticized both House Democrats and Senate Republicans, stating that the Democrats had predetermined Trump's impeachment and the Republicans were set to acquit him, "no matter what the facts were".
August 2, 2020: Hogan Alerted to Roy McGrath's Severance Payout
According to an affidavit, on August 2, 2020, Hogan was alerted by a board member of the Maryland Environmental Service about the $233,647 severance Roy McGrath received.
January 2021: Hogan Responds to Capitol Attack and Calls for Trump's Removal
In January 2021, following the storming of the U.S. Capitol, Larry Hogan deployed the Maryland National Guard and called for President Trump's resignation or removal from office. He also supported Trump's impeachment and indicated he would have voted to convict him.
April 2021: Veto of Bill to Abolish Life Without Parole for Juvenile Offenders
In April 2021, Hogan vetoed a bill to abolish life without parole sentences for juvenile offenders, but the legislature overrode the veto.
May 2021: Hogan Vetoes Bill Requiring Counties to End ICE Contracts
In May 2021, Hogan vetoed a bill passed by the General Assembly that would require counties with ICE contracts to end them by October 1, 2022. The veto was later overridden.
May 2021: Hogan Vetoes Bill on Emergency Procurement Transparency
In May 2021, Hogan vetoed a bill that would create greater transparency in emergency procurements, despite it passing overwhelmingly in the state House and Senate.
May 2021: Veto of Bill Decriminalizing Drug Paraphernalia
In May 2021, Hogan vetoed a bill the state legislature passed that decriminalized the possession of drug paraphernalia and reduced the maximum penalty for possession.
May 2021: Veto of Bill Regarding Parole Decisions
In late May 2021, Hogan vetoed a bill that would remove the governor from parole decisions made by the Maryland Parole Commission, but the General Assembly overrode the veto during its 2021 special session.
June 1, 2021: Hogan Announces End to Supplemental Unemployment Insurance
On June 1, 2021, Hogan announced Maryland would end the $300 supplemental weekly unemployment insurance provided by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, effective July 3.
June 2021: Refusal to Veto or Sign Bills Banning Gay Panic Defense and Creating LGBTQ Affairs Commission
In June 2021, Hogan refused to veto or sign a bill banning the use of the gay panic defense and another bill creating the Commission on LGBTQ Affairs in the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives.
November 2021: Environmental Leadership Deemed Inconsistent
In November 2021, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters deemed Hogan's environmental leadership inconsistent in its annual legislative scorecard.
2021: Veto of Police Reform Bills
In 2021, Hogan vetoed bills that would raise the bar for officers to use force, give civilians a role in police discipline, restrict no-knock warrants, mandate body cameras, and open some allegations of police wrongdoing for public review, but the Maryland legislature overrode his vetoes.
March 2022: Threatened Veto of Climate Solutions Now Act
In March 2022, Hogan threatened to veto the Climate Solutions Now Act, but the bill passed and became law without his signature.
April 2022: Veto of Bill Expanding Abortion Access
In April 2022, Hogan vetoed a bill that would expand abortion access by expanding the types of medical professionals who can perform abortions in the state, but the General Assembly overrode his veto the next day.
April 2022: Veto of Bill Providing Paid Family Leave
In April 2022, Hogan vetoed a bill that would provide 12 weeks of partially paid family leave and up to 24 weeks of paid leave for new parents, but the General Assembly overrode Hogan's veto the next day.
April 2022: Veto of Bill Regarding Police Interrogation of Children
In April 2022, Hogan vetoed a bill that would require police officers to contact children's parents or guardians and allow them to speak with an attorney before being interrogated, but the General Assembly overrode Hogan's veto the next day.
May 2022: Vetoed Bills on Regional Transit and Red Line Study
In May 2022, Hogan vetoed bills that would establish a Baltimore-based regional transit board and fund a new study of the Red Line project.
November 2022: Land Sold by Stepmother
In November 2022, land owned by Hogan's stepmother, Ilona Hogan, was sold for $3.75 million after Hogan awarded millions in affordable housing contracts to the land.
April 3, 2023: Roy McGrath Dies in Confrontation with FBI
On April 3, 2023, Roy McGrath, Hogan's former chief of staff, died after shooting himself and being shot by a law enforcement officer in a confrontation with FBI agents in Knoxville, Tennessee.
March 2024: Hogan Declares He Won't Vote for Trump or Biden
In March 2024, after Haley suspended her campaign, Hogan announced he would not vote for either Trump or Biden, opting instead for a write-in candidate.
May 2024: Hogan Calls for Respect of Legal Process in Trump Trial, Faces Backlash
In May 2024, Hogan's call for respecting the legal process in the Trump hush money trial led to backlash from pro-Trump Republicans. A jury found Trump guilty on all charges that day.
June 2024: Trump Endorses Hogan Despite Previous Criticisms
In early June 2024, Donald Trump endorsed Hogan in his senatorial campaign, despite Hogan's campaign stating he was still not supporting Trump's presidential campaign.
October 2024: Investigation into Affordable Housing Awards
In October 2024, an investigation from Time found that Hogan awarded nearly 40 percent of the state's competitive affordable housing awards to developers listed as clients to Hogan's firm.
October 29, 2024: Hogan States He Will Not Vote in the Presidential Election
On October 29, 2024, Larry Hogan told CNN that he would not vote for anyone in the presidential election, stating that he only votes for candidates he believes in.
