Alsobrooks and Hogan square off on abortion

BOWIE, Md.–Democrats Angela Alsobrooks and Gov. Wes Moore took aim at Republican Larry Hogan’s record on abortion access here the other day, saying that his support of it as a U.S. Senate candidate is nothing but a political move. 

“He switched his position,” Alsobrooks told reporters after a campaign event at Bowie State University. She went on to say that Hogan, who has now promised to codify Roe v. Wade, refused to make that same commitment “just this year” when asked directly during the primary season. 

Gov. Moore, in a speech to students and other attendees at the event, said that voting yes on this year’s abortion-rights ballot initiative and also voting for Hogan means that you “canceled your vote.”

But Hogan says that Alsobrooks’ campaign has mischaracterized the nuances of his stance. 

“It’s all nonsense,” Hogan told Capital News Service in an exclusive interview. “We have the same position. So, she’s just lying.” 

Hogan went on to say that he feels that the way his position on this specific issue has been portrayed by the Alsobrooks campaign is “shameful and disgraceful,” and is meant to scare women and make up his positions and his record. 

What they’ve said and done: The two campaigns on abortion

Alsobrooks	Hogan
What she has done:	What he has done:
As Prince George’s County Executive, endorsed by Planned Parenthood in 2022 Also invested in health care access for women at the county level, including development of a new labor and delivery center in Lanham Won endorsements from Planned Parenthood Action Fund, EMILY’s List, Reproductive Freedom for All	As governor, vetoed a 2022 bill supported by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that allowed nonphysicians to perform abortions, saying it would lower the standard of care Did not sign, but allowed to pass into law, a 2017 bill that made Maryland the first state to promise to reimburse Planned Parenthood if Congress defunded the organization Signed the Contraceptive Equity Act into law in 2016, making it easier to get contraceptive drugs and devices
What she has said:	What he has said:
Promised to co-sponsor Women’s Health Protection Act, which would expand federal protection of abortion, on first day in office Said that she will oppose any judicial nominee that does not support abortion rights Promised to stand up to “misguided Republican efforts” to defund Planned Parenthood Says that giving the Senate seat to a Republican would ensure there will be no vote to codify Roe v. Wade	Promised to “support legislation that makes Roe the law of the land, in every state” in a 2024 ad Says he would not vote for a federal abortion ban despite personally opposing abortion Said in 2019 that Roe v. Wade was “correctly decided” In May 2024, said he does not support Women’s Health Protection Act, which would expand protections beyond Roe

 

One of the key points of contention between the two campaigns in their race for U.S. Senate is Hogan’s record as governor, and what it says about his commitment to abortion access. 

Hogan’s 2022 veto of a bill that allowed new categories of medical professionals to perform abortions has been repeatedly mentioned by Alsobrooks’ campaign and her allies. 

At the time, Hogan cited a concern for the “high standard of reproductive health care services” in Maryland, saying that the bill would lower that standard. After his veto was overturned, Hogan withheld funding meant to train newly allowed providers.

Speaking to reporters after the event with Alsobrooks, Moore said he strongly disagrees with the suggestion that the bill would lower the quality of care. 

“That’s not true,” Moore said in response to a question from CNS. “If you look at the legislation that actually made it through, it was a core focus on making sure that there were increased protections.”

Again, Hogan disagrees with the characterization of his veto. 

“Once again, they’re completely wrong and they’re lying,” Hogan told CNS. “You could have a difference of opinion on whether you wanted to support that bill or not, but it had nothing to do with trying to limit access to abortion. We never had any limits whatsoever.”