GOP Senate candidate who disavowed Trump touts MAGA leader's endorsement to donors: report

Larry Hogan, former Maryland governor and current Republican Senate candidate, has repeatedly said he would not vote for Donald Trump this year and didn't vote for Trump in 2016 or 2020. And in June, Hogan said he had "no interest" in Trump's endorsement, stressing that Trump's support would not be promoted by his campaign.

But a new CNN report shows Hogan did just that behind the scenes in a call to donors.

Hogan touted Trump's endorsement in a private donor call Wednesday and implied it helps him with “hard core” MAGA supporters, according to the report, which cited video of the call obtained by CNN.

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When asked about his sour relationship with Trump, Hogan replied: “Donald Trump actually endorsed me,” Hogan said, interrupting the donor. He repeated: “Donald Trump actually endorsed me.”

A spokesperson for Hogan's campaign told CNN in a statement that Hogan was responding to a question about whether he and Trump "hate" each other.

"Governor Hogan rejects the notion of hatred in politics, and will attempt to work with anybody who is elected," spokesperson Blake Kernen said in a statement.

Kernen added that Hogan said in the same answer he will continue to be an "independent voice even if it angers" some in the GOP.

Hogan has long criticized Trump in a state Trump lost by more than 30 points.

In September, Hogan said on "Face the Nation" he would not vote for Trump and criticized the former president's language.

“I’m not going to. I didn’t vote for him in 2016 or 2020 and I’ve made that pretty clear,” Hogan said. “You know, I’ve said for years that Trump’s divisive rhetoric is something that we could do without. I think he’s his own worst enemy.”