What Mike DeWine and Larry Hogan say about 2022, 2024 and how Biden is handling the pandemic
CBSN
Maryland's Larry Hogan and Ohio's Mike DeWine are among the most popular governors in the nation among their home state residents. But within the Republican Party, they're facing challenges that reflect the current state of the party.
In Ohio, DeWine faces a Republican primary opponent Jim Renacci, who is sharply critical of how he's overseen the Buckeye State's pandemic response. And the crowded GOP primary field of U.S. Senate contenders take issue with the governor's positive assessment of his handling of the public health crisis. Many of them have made the lockdown measures DeWine took at the onset of the pandemic — which were similar to those taken by Democratic governors — a centerpiece of their campaigns.
In Maryland, Hogan is being wooed for a run against Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, whom national Republicans believe would be vulnerable to a challenge from a governor with approval ratings that top 70% in some surveys. Those polls also show strong enough support among Black, Latino and women voters, making him an especially appealing general election candidate in a state that hasn't elected a Republican senator in more than 40 years.
