Maryland Democratic Governor Wes Moore on Monday explained why he doesn't trust his predecessor's claim to be an "Independent voice" as he vies to represent the state in the US Senate.
Former Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan will run against Democratic candidate Angela Alsobrooks in November.
After receiving an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, Politico reports that Hogan "released a new spot Monday that doesn’t name Trump at all but instead stresses his independence from the GOP."
READ MORE: Black Senate candidate’s signs defaced with 'KKK' and crosshairs on her forehead: report
The ex-governor said in the ad, "As President Kennedy said, 'Sometimes party loyalty demands too much.'"
However, as Moore pays close attention to the former GOP leader's actions, the governor told CNN's Kaitlan Collins that he remains unmoved by Hogan's words.
"After Trump was convicted in New York, your predecessor, Larry Hogan, who is now running for Senate, asked for all Americans to respect the verdict," Collins said. "It seems pretty simple, but he was widely criticized by Trump allies. He's not wavering though. He said in a new ad tonight that he'll be an Independent voice in the Senate. And I just wonder when you see how Larry Hogan responds to that kind of pressure from Republicans, do you believe that there should be more people like that, with that kind of view in Washington?"
Moore replied, "Well, I think the old governor is a nice guy. I also know this is going to be very difficult because I think some of the things that we've seen over these past months are the things that people just dislike like about politics. You know, you say you're not going to run for Senate, and you don't want to be a useless body and be one of 100 who does nothing, and then the day of the filing deadline, you announce your running for Senate. That you are recruited by Mitch McConnell. You were endorsed by Donald Trump."
READ MORE: GOP senators are trying to dissuade hush money judge from sending Trump to prison
The governor continued, "You've said you're going to caucus with the Republicans as you get to the Senate. But then you turn around and call yourself an independent voice. That you are saying you're pro choice now. But the truth is, when you were the governor and when you actually had the authority to do something about Roe v. Wade, and when Roe v. Wade fell under his watch, he did things like vetoed bills that would enhance privacy. Vetoed bills that would enhance protection, while my first day is the governor, I had to release three-and-a-half million dollars, of previously unreleased funds because the because the old governor would not release them. And so I just think right now, the back-and-forth is actually the thing that really frustrates people about politics, about not knowing where you are."
"And I know he just received the endorsement of Donald Trump, but but my endorsement is going to Angela Alsobrooks, the person who he is running against — the county executive of Prince George's County — who has a track record of actually bringing crime down inside of the neighborhoods while she was the state's attorney." Moore emphasized, "She has a track record of building ten new schools while she was the county executive of Prince George's county. I trust her. I trust her vision. I trust her consistency. And that's why i'm supporting her to be to be Maryland next senator."
Watch the video below or at this link.
