'Need the Senate': Republicans brush off worries of anti-Trump GOPer being an 'irritant'

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers don't care that a newly minted GOP senate candidate isn't a Donald Trump ally because he will ultimately ensure the party's dominance should he win election.

The MAGA Republican candidate lost the Maryland GOP primary by a considerable margin last week, and Republicans now believe they can win the seat because their candidate is a former governor who won two terms.

Former Gov. Larry Hogan is already trying to distance himself from the party, with his first campaign ad explaining why he's pro-choice. It comes after Hogan refused to speak to reporters on the topic during his GOP primary. Meanwhile, as governor, Hogan vetoed greater access to reproductive healthcare. The Democratic state legislature overrode his veto, so he simply eliminated the funding altogether.

As governor, Hogan ran the state as the executive, but as a senator, Hogan would be just one of 100, and cast a vote for a Republican leader for the branch. Hogan claimed he would vote to codify Roe, although such a measure would never come up for a vote in a Republican-controlled Senate.

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Regardless, many Republicans just want to win, a sentiment that seems to be at the forefront of GOP lawmakers who spoke to Raw Story this week.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said that he was excited about Hogan because "he has a strong chance at prevailing in November."

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) said that he would happily send Hogan money and was looking forward to meeting him.

"You gonna write him a check?" he asked Raw Story. "You should write him a check."

Sen. Cynthia Lummis' (R-WY) eyes lit up when she heard Hogan's name. Raw Story asked if she was excited about him.

"I am! I am!" she said. "I think it's wonderful that there is someone who can serve in the Republican Party who is viewed as a, uh, solid, Maryland policymaker."

She gave Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) props for working with Hogan to get him through the GOP primary and onto the ballot.

Even if there is a concern that Hogan could be a "thorn" in the GOP's side, she said what is important is that he appoint Republican leadership.

"If you don't have the gavels in the Senate you don't set the agenda. It's a huge disadvantage," Lummis explained. She urged her colleagues to "open our pocketbooks to Republicans across the spectrum who are willing to help us take the majority so we can set the agenda. And then we can have our own" internal party battles.

Another pro-Trump lawmaker, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), said that Hogan is probably the only Republican in the state who could win the seat.

"I'd rather have a senator with an 'R' behind their name than a 'D,'" Johnson said, referring to Democrats. He explained that no official will have 100% agreement with each other all of the time."

Outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), who has often clashed with his party over its full-on embrace of Donald Trump, was asked if saw in Hogan a potential replacement for his own role, to which Romney asked if that role was as "the irritant" of the GOP conference.

Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz (HI) said that he isn't concerned because there have been a number of popular former Republican governors who couldn't make the jump to the federal level.

"The question is, who do you want to chair the Judiciary [Committee]?" he asked. "The question is, who do you want to confirm Supreme Court justices? Who do you want in charge of environmental policy? I mean, I don't think this takes clever framing. This is a federal race."