Initiatives
With murders skyrocketing across the country, An America United believes the last thing we should be doing is attacking the men and women who are working to keep us safe.
When the “Defund the Police” movement started gaining momentum, Governor Hogan was one of the first leaders to speak out loudly against it and to completely reject the idea. Governor Hogan has a long track record of support for law enforcement, including his leadership restoring law and order in Baltimore City during the riots of 2015.
Governor Hogan recently announced his administration’s $150M “Re-fund the Police” initiative. This significant investment includes a 50% increase in aid to local police, millions of dollars for body cams, de-escalation training, and other critical tools, plus funding for Neighborhood Safety Grants and victim protection services.
Adequate investment in public safety is necessary to recruit and retain quality officers, increase diversity, expand community policing efforts, improve training, and provide better technology and equipment. As calls to “Defund the Police” become increasingly common in Maryland and across the country, An America United is fighting to support police and increase police funding across the country.
As Governor, Larry Hogan has cut taxes and regulations for seven years in a row, including the largest tax cut in state history, while turning the state’s $5.1 billion deficit into a record $2.5 billion surplus. As a result of his common sense leadership, Maryland produced the greatest economic turnaround in America.
In Washington, politicians are taking the exact opposite approach, jamming through trillions in reckless spending and tax hikes that are strangeling America’s economic recovery and resulting in skyrocketing inflation.
An America United believes that Governor Hogan’s approach in Maryland is the better model for our nation. We are fighting against these extreme policies that are harming struggling families and small businesses.
For decades, Republicans and Democrats in Washington agreed that America’s infrastructure desperately needed to be repaired, but refused to do anything about it. While Washington was failing to act, Governor Hogan was leading in Maryland by rebuilding roads and bridges, investing in the Port of Baltimore—keeping it running smoothly through the supply chain crisis— expanding broadband to every corner of the state, and bolstering the grid and cybersecurity. According to CNBC, Maryland was 2021’s most improved state for business because of these vital investments.
When Washington had given up on getting anything done, Governor Hogan was determined to use his success in Maryland as a model for federal action. As chairman of the National Governors Association, Governor Hogan rallied all 50 governors in support of common sense principles for federal action. When the conventional wisdom said that a bipartisan infrastructure bill was a pipe dream, Governor Hogan hosted an Annapolis infrastructure summit with a bipartisan group of governors, senators, and members of the House Problem Solvers Caucus the bipartisan infrastructure deal was forged.
Finally, in 2021, thanks to these efforts, An America United helped break the partisan gridlock by spreading Governor Hogan’s message that Republicans and Democrats needed to put politics aside and finally act for the American people.
When the COVID-19 pandemic first struck the United States, Governor Hogan was Chairman of the National Governors Association. While Washington was playing partisan politics, Governor Hogan used his position to bring the nation’s governors together to keep the American people safe. During this time, Governor Hogan led dozens of meetings with all 50 governors as well as the President and Vice President.
In Maryland, Governor Hogan’s decisive and balanced response helped the state weather this crisis. As a result, Governor Hogan has maintained strong approval of his leadership on economic improvement and public health metrics, such as the state’s vaccination and booster rates.
During a time of national uncertainty, An America United worked to promote Governor Hogan’s unifying, calm, and non-partisan leadership approach.
While many Republicans nationally struggle to win diverse voters, in Maryland Governor Hogan has shown it’s possible to win support from Black, Hispanic, Asian American, women, and young voters—while also winning Republican and conservative voters. Astonishingly, seven years into his term, Governor Hogan maintains over 70% support from nearly every demographic group in his state.
An America United believes that America’s future depends on building an inclusive and big tent Republican party, just like Governor Hogan has built in Maryland.
