maryland governor larry hogan talks about the direction of the republican party. warning that the gop will not win back the white house in 2024 by nominating donald trump. he shares his thoughts on how the party should move forward to gain more support from voters. from the reagan presidential library in simi valley, california. this is 35 minutes. >> ladies and gentlemen please

welcome governor larry hogan. [applause] good evening everyone i am roger zach i'm, director of the reagan institute. just across lafayette park from the white house. i hope you all have a chance to come and visit sunday. as is our tradition at the library in honor of the men and women who defend our freedom around the world. please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance. i pledge allegiance to the flag

of the united states of america, and to the republic for which it stands one nation under god indivisible liberty and justice for all. >> you may be seated. before we get started there are a couple of people in the audience i would like to recognize first governor hogan's wife, the first lady of maryland. welcome. awe [applause] what the executive director of the ronald reagan presidential institute, my boss, john high bush. tonight it is my honor to welcome you to the reagan library for the latest installment of the reagan foundation speaker series, a time for choosing. this is the tenth event in our series.

it since last may we have heard from speaker paul ryan, vice president mike pence secretary mike pompeo, governor chris christie, ambassador nikki haley renowned reagan speech writer peggy newton, governor kristi noem, and senator tim scott. all have offered their perspectives on the path forward for our country, and for the party of reagan. now as the gop decides what path to pursue and grapples with some truly existential questions we feel this is the venue to address those issues. those questions are, what should it stand for? what's other republican philosophies we can all agree on? is there still room for reagan -esque optimism in the gop? it truly is a time for choosing. and that phrase, the title of

our series, comes from the 1964 speech that launched ronald reagan's career and catapulted him to political stardom, governorships, and ultimately the presidency. it is a speech so important around here we just call it, the speech. [laughs] it is not the title of a speech that is on my mind tonight, it's the title of a book. a dickens book, specifically. a tale of two cities. now if i measure correctly the distance between the white house and washington d.c. and the governor's office in the governor's state house in annapolis is less than 35 miles. but the two cities feel like they are worlds apart today. in annapolis, the sitting governor consistently enjoys a approval rating in the 70s. a republican governor in a blue state with an approval rating

higher than 70%, amazingly, that is not a work of fiction! in washington though the sitting president approval rating way below 40 on a good day. the best of times, the worst of times. there are also to reason for those differences. i have to think governor larry hogan has taken an optimistic practical common sense even raisin-esque approach to he is he was the 1980 chair of youth for reagan, the delegate for the republican convention 40 years later it is reported he wrote in ronald reagan for president just to send a message those now governor hogan's prac leadership gets results. those results earned him an

easy reelection. which is no small feat. he was the first republican reelected governor a maryland since 1954, before he was born. by the way, if you happen to catch a recent video of him drinking with oriole span during opening day last month. it's not hard to see why he is so popular. that popularity combined with the fact that a second term is now coming to an end has people wondering, will he try to repeat this tale of success in another city? perhaps another that is, say, 35 miles from annapolis? i doubt he'll answer that tonight. we will not press him for. we do expect an answer to the questions we posed each and every one of our speakers. where does the party go from here? what can bring the party together? white passed it take in this time for tuesday? to give us his answer, please join me in welcoming the 67th

governor of maryland, larry hogan. >> thank you all so much. thank you so much. it is great to see all of you. roger, thank you for that very kind introduction. i think i should probably take roger with me everywhere i go. that was wonderful. i want to thank you very much. i want to thank the ronald reagan presidential foundation and institute for giving me this opportunity. i want to thank all of you for being here tonight. it truly is a great privilege to be here at this incredible library dedicated to the president, who my most admire. the two leaders who inspired me to become a republican where ronald reagan and my dad. my father served on the house

judiciary committee during watergate. he was the first republican to come out for the impeachment of president nixon. he put doing the right thing for his country ahead of self interest and the demands of his party. now, that decision cost him politically. it earned him something more valuable. a quiet conscience and an honored place in history. learn about integrity and public service from my dad. he taught me that being a republican man's always putting america first. he also, albeit accidentally, introduced me to my other political hero, ronald reagan. i went to the, as roger touched on, i went to the 76 gop convention in kansas city with my dad. governor reagan was challenging

president ford for the republican nomination. my dad was a friend of jerry forwards, and a chair of his campaign. i am hired president ford. i was captivated by the appeal of ronald reagan, who expressed common sense, conservative values, and a positive, hopeful vision for america. that appeal not just the republican voters but also to independence. voters in the other party, who would become known as raegan democrats. so, family consideration is notwithstanding. i was for the -- one hunted percent. some kids rebelled, getting into a little trouble, partying at woodstock, and i rebelled by campaigning for ronald reagan. and that moment on i became a lifelong, committed, common

sense conservative from the reagan whip of the republican party. i still am. ronald reagan run to landslide elections and created a movement that endured for a generation. because he understood the simple truth that successful politics is about addition and multiplication. not subtraction and division. it's when thing to win an election, but quite another to build a broad and durable governing coalition. for raegan, a big tent party was it just an electoral imperative, it was a moral one. he knew that if our party wanted to govern, we couldn't ignore any part of america. in the 1970s, after the debacle of watergate, and the tragedy of vietnam, the failed

leadership of jimmy carter's, the republican party and america were in dire straits. americans were unsure of the future and losing faith in our country. but ronald reagan showed us a better path forward. he changed the course of history for america and the world. he proved that change is possible even when the odds seem stacked against you. in 2014, maryland looked a lot like washington did back in 1980 and what it looks like today. an arrogant and out of touch democratic monopoly. they were calling maryland that california of the east. they did not mean that as a compliment. no offense. maryland had raised taxes 43

times in a row. we had lost 8000 businesses and 100,000 jobs. a gala poll came out that said 48% of all marylanders wanted to leave the state. i was a small businessman who had never held elected office. i was fed up enough to try to do something about it. i can tell you, not a soul believed it was remotely possible for a republican to win in the blue state in america. i ran in underfunded, underdog grassroots campaign that focused on the issues that most people cared about. we were able to build a big tent coalition of republicans, independents, and raegan democrats. i promise to get the government off our backs and out of our pockets so we could grow our small businesses and put people back to work and turn our economy around. we pulled off the biggest surprise upset in america.

and then we did something that seems to really happen in politics, we actually did exactly what we said we would do. we change the entire mission of state government to be unabashedly pro jobs and pro business. we eliminated or re-wrote thousands of job killing regulations. i was the only governor in america who got an overwhelmingly democratic legislature cut taxes. and we did it eight years in a row by a 4.7 billion dollars. we turned a 5.1 billion dollar deficit into the largest surplus in state history. we took our states overall economic performance from 49th out of 50 states. the number six was the biggest economic turnaround in america. when the politicians pander to the far left, dangerously lunacy, defund the police, i was the first elected leader in

the country to speak out loudly against it. saying you want to improve public safety by defunding the police is like saying you want to improve education by defunding our schools. it is absurd. and ridiculous. the reality is our police are under funded and under attack. to reverse the rising tide of violent crime, we need to start the -- stop demonizing and step sabotaging the dedicated men and women who risked their lives every single day to keep the rest of us safe. which is why i enacted a refined the police initiative that invested more than half a billion dollars more into state and local police. now others all across america are following our lead. and 2015, i had only been governor for 89 days. when the worst violence in 47 years erupted in our largest

city of baltimore the mayor said that she wanted to give the rioters room to destroy. i merely declared a state of emergency and sent in 1000 additional police officers and 4000 members of the national guard into the city. we followed the reagan doctrine of peace through strength. we allowed for peaceful protest, but we immediately stop the violence. and then i walk the streets of baltimore meeting with faith leaders and community leaders and the naacp. the people of baltimore thanked me for restoring peace and law in order to their community. they knew that we had their backs and that i would never put politics before public safety. in the summer of 2020 when cities all across america are facing unrest, baltimore was peaceful. city residents worked with us

to keep baltimore safe. now, we didn't get any of this done by resorting to the phony partisan posturing that is so typical in this age of performative politics. in my first inaugural in 2015 i pledged that the politics that have divided our nation need not divide our state. and they haven't. . we have sought out and achieved bipartisan common sense solutions that worked for all the people of our state. it turns out, that is exactly what most voters want. while most americans think that the nation is way off track, as roger mentioned, the overwhelming majority of marylanders believe that our state is headed in the right direction. more than 70% of every single

demographic group, regardless of age, race, gender, or party affiliation approve of the job that we are doing. in 2018, while republicans were getting wiped out all across the country, and our deep blue state, and a big blue year, i became only the second republican governor to be reelected in the entire 242-year history of our state. in a state that donald trump lost by 33 points we outran him by 45 points. we completely debunked the false narrative that the way you vote is predetermined by the color of your skin, where you live, where you were born, who you love, where you worship. we did just as well with

republicans and conservatives as donald trump did. we also won suburban women, asians, hispanics, young voters, in a historic level of the black vote. we succeeded by growing the tenth and by convincing voters that we have the right ideas. and the competence to get things done. in november of 2020, just days after the presidential election and before this terrific series was created, i had the honor of speaking at the reagan foundation institute in washington. i said then that the republican party, and america, or once again at a time for choosing. if we want to find a better path forward, we should look back to the example set by ronald reagan. i believe that even more today. i have never been more

concerned about the direction of our country. america is at a critical turning point. one in which the very faith of our democracy could be at stake. in washington, the democratic party is dragging us in a far-left direction that america does not want, and cannot afford. joe biden said he would govern from the center and unite the country. instead he caters to the far left extremes of his party. flailing from crisis to crisis, showing weakness to the world. just like in 1980, america is beset by out of control inflation, energy crisis is hurting small families and businesses. violent crime is devastating our cities and communities. instead of offering americans relief, the biden

administration tries to jam through a reckless grab bag of progressive wish list items, massive spending and tax hikes, and's handout to special interests. instead of i increasing domestic production on our nations abundant energy supply, the biden administration goes hat in hand begging a dictator in venezuela for oil. around the world, americas enemies are emboldened and on the march. russia invades a peaceful neighbor and threatens the united states and our nato allies for supporting the freedom of the brain people of ukraine. china steals our nations intellectual property and makes common cause with our enemies around the world. iran, north korea, threatening the peace and stability of the world as a merging nuclear

powers, reckless aggressors, enemies of freedom after the disastrous withdrawal of afghanistan our allies question whether they should still trust us. our enemies question whether they should still fear us. for the majority of americans today, now they believe that our country is way off track and heading in the wrong direction. but americans don't just blame the democratic party. they are fed up with the divisive politics and the extremes of both parties. most americans are thoroughly convinced that we are hopelessly divided. our political system is fundamentally broken and that washington is completely dysfunctional. voices of the exhausted majority are ignored in deference to the demands of the

loudest in angriest few. they seem hell-bent on tearing america apart. when so many americans feel that neither party is delivering for them the result is unrestrained toxic politics. rabid tribalism and hatred of the other. neither side really seems to want to make progress, they would rather make demands and win arguments on twitter! look, i am willing to stand up and fight for the things that really matter but not for status quo politics as usual. not to perpetuate polarization and paralysis. america needs workhorses, not show ponies. it is time for less talk and more action. i don't come from the performative or school of politics. i come from the get to work and

get things done school of politics. i will work with anyone who wants to do the people's business. ronald reagan said but there is no limit to what you accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit. he proved with tip o'neill that it willingness to cooperate and compromise doesn't have to come at the cost of our principles. look, i have always been a guy who tells it like it is. let me just give it to you straight tonight, a party that lost the popular vote in seven out of the last eight presidential elections, couldn't even be joe biden [laughs] they are desperately in need of a course correction. the truth is the last election was not rigged. it wasn't stolen, we simply didn't offer the majority of voters what they were looking for!

january 6th was not and through the aspect tourist misbehaving, it was an outrageous attack on our democracy incited by the losing candidates inflammatory false rhetoric. the last four years where the worst four years for the gop since the 1930s! even worse than after watergate when ronald reagan had rebuild the party from the ashes. we lost the white house, the senate, the house, we lost governor seats, we lost a legislative bodies. trump said we would be winning so much we would be tired winning, i'm tired of our party losing! reagan understood that successful politics is really addition and multiplication not subtraction and division. we have been doing far too much subtracting and dividing. ronald reagan was not afraid to stand up and criticize the failures of our party.

reagan said, don't be afraid to see what we see. reagan knew that a major course correction was essential if we were going to get back to winning elections and governing again. we all already know what must be done to return the republican party to a successful governing majority. we need to take on the powerful and entrenched democratic monopoly and win. we need to stand against the extremes and for the majority of americans. we need a hopeful, positive vision for america. a message that appeals to a broader group of voters. we need to convince voters that we have the best ideas and solutions. over the past eight years, just down the road from our nation's capital, we have already shown a better path forward. no place in america wand if we n

maryland, then there is no place in america when those very same principles will not succeed. the reason ronald reagan landslide victories are a distant memory is not because his principles lost their widespread appeal, it's because our party has turned its back on them. reagan had a hopeful confidence in america. he trusted in the decency, common sense of americans. today there are people in both parties who no longer share reagan's confidence, and his unshakable faith in the american people. they doubt if we can, or should, still lead the free world. reagan was the great communicator. he believed in the power of persuasion. today's politicians simply fine scapegoats to blame for their own failures.

reagan stood up for our allies and stood up to our enemies. he didn't abandon our allies and appease our enemies. today all of the vitriol from the far left in the far-right obscures the larger truth. that the extremes of both parties have more in common than they would care to admit. they both believe that politicians know better than the people. at least when their side is in charge. both undermined our democratic processes when it does not serve their own interest. both care more about controlling a party than they do about governing or actually solving the problems that faces. both parties demonize, canceled, and questioning the patriotism of the other side instead of engaging in open, honest, civil debate.

both blame their fellow americans first, and make excuses for our enemies. both this smith american exceptionalism and reject reagan's shining city on a hill. we have lost faith not just in americans but in the very idea of america. they are wrong about reagan, they are wrong about america. despite our imperfections and all of the serious problems that we face, america remains the greatest nation on earth. people from all across the world still yearn to come here, to become americans. the rest of the world still looks to us for leadership, and inspiration. ask yourself even on our darkest days where on earth

would you rather live then the united states of america? americans are not tired of freedom and democracy, they are tired of failed leadership. they haven't given up on the values that make our nation great, they are just fed up with politicians! politicians who put their interest before america. those of us blessed by your trust should give you a government that doesn't act as if it is something apart from you, but one that is of the people, by the people, and for the people. a government that appreciates that no one of us has all of the answers or all of the power. a government that tolerates contrary views among a diverse

citizenry without making them into enemies or doubting their patriotism. a government that can discuss and debate with as much civility as passion. with a view to persuade, not to intimidate. to encourage, not demonize or defeat. a government that can take on the big problems and make things better for all of our citizens. a government that all of america can be proud of. in 2022, 2024, republicans have and a historic opportunity to put america back on the right course. while there are those who are more interested in attacking their fellow republicans then growing and rebuilding the republican party, my focus has been and will continue to be on growing that bigger tent, building a lasting governing

coalition to change america for the better, just like ronald reagan did. the divide in our party today really isn't ideological. -- we will leave this here to hear from interior secretary deb haaland on her department's 2023 members will also ask the members on a report that found physical, sexual, an emotional abuse that native american children at federal boarding schools between 1819 and 1969. the schools were established to establish indigenous eaves into mainstream american culture. live coverage here on c-span 3. it