Going where Gov. Larry Hogan has refused to go, Maryland's last Republican chief executive has thrown his endorsement in the presidential race to presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump.
Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a former backer of Ohio Gov. John Kasich, pasted a message on Facebook Wednesday night telling Republicans "it is time to get our act together" and rally behind Trump to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Hogan so far has resisted pressures to fall in line behind the billionaire developer. He has said he would not get involved in the race or make a presidential endorsement. In his most recent public statement on the matter, Hogan said: "I'm not going to take any more stupid questions about Donald Trump."
The governor has previously stated that he is no fan of Trump. An early endorser of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Hogan stayed neutral in the presidential race after Christie dropped out and threw his support to Trump.
Hogan spokesman Doug Mayer said Thursday that "nothing has changed" since Hogan's previous statement.
Ehrlich made clear Wednesday that he does not share those qualms. Nor, apparently does his wife, Kendel Ehrlich. She is is listed on a slate of would-be Trump delegates to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. The GOP will select at-large delegates at the GOP state convention in Annapolis this weekend.
Following is the text of Ehrlich's Facebook message:
"The GOP presidential field was the strongest in recent memory. Many of us had a favorite candidate (Ohio Governor John Kasich in my case) who fell short. This intramural fight is now history. Our candidate is Donald Trump. His opponent is most likely Hillary Clinton…aka four more years of progressivism on steroids.