Some of the bluest states in the country have a long history of electing both Democratic and Republican governors. I live in Maryland and our current governor is the "moderate" Republican Larry Hogan. He's an okay governor, not too nuts, and he repudiated Trump, but why the hell did we elect a Republican?
Some liberals like to vote a split ticket because it makes them feel moderate, open-minded, or whatever, or maybe they like forcing a Democratic legislature to cooperate with a Republican governor, or maybe they want to give Republicans a chance to stay in the game, or maybe they just remember the olden days when Republican governors often supported policies that were actually reasonable.
Here's the problem with that.
Last week, one of Maryland's two Democratic Senators, Chris Van Hollen, suffered a minor stroke and was hospitalized. He's out of the hospital now and seems fine. However, if Van Hollen had died . . .
Republican Governor Larry Hogan would appoint his replacement.
Fortunately, since 2016, in the event of a death in office, Maryland law requires the governor to appoint someone of the same party. (Not all states have that requirement and if you think there are Republican governors who would voluntarily appoint a Democrat, I have a bridge to sell you.) But even in Maryland, the law would still allow a fair amount of shenanigans. Hogan could appoint a conservative Democrat like Joe Manchin. Hogan could sit on the appointment for months. Hogan could replace a Senator with someone who's a Democrat in name only, and foul things up until the courts (or the legislature, if that's an option) intervene. And in a 50/50 United States Senate, even one such appointment could result in Mitch McConnell getting even more control of U.S. policy than he has already.
In short, don't vote for even "safe" Republicans. Vote them into the ground until they go extinct, or come to their senses and stop with the hate, violence, and treason.
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