Until Friday the race for US Senate in Maryland was strictly a Democratic primary affair between Congressman David Trone and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.

The entry into the race of popular two-term Republican Governor Larry Hogan changes that. He launched with a video touting his father’s vote to impeach Richard Nixon, and is expected to run a staunchly anti-Trump campaign:

Biden won Maryland by 33 points last time, and federal elections are much more partisan than gubernatorial elections.

If Hogan somehow wins he would likely step into the John McCain/Mitt Romney role of being the media’s favorite Republican – but he would vote conservative sometimes on some issues – unlike the 100% liberal record we can expect from the Democratic contenders.