Md. governor has ‘very advanced’ cancer

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) has a “very advanced” form of cancer but will continue in his capacity as governor as he undergoes an aggressive chemotherapy regiment, according to a report in The New York Times.

The Times reports that Hogan, a 59-year-old former real estate executive, has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and will undergo an 18-week treatment for the illness.

{mosads}“I still feel good, I’ve got energy, other than I don’t have much of an appetite,” Hogan said at a Monday news conference. “I’m not tired and I’m not in terrible pain.”

The Washington Post ran a story over the weekend about how Hogan had been suffering from an undisclosed illness that had caused him to miss meetings and keep a low profile since returning from a trade mission to Asia earlier this month.

An outpouring of support for Hogan came from all corners, with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus calling him a “fighter,” and Republican Governors Association Chairman Bill Haslam, the Republican governor of Tennessee, saying Hogan has “the tenacity, courage and strength to confront and overcome this new challenge.”

Hogan’s surprise victory in deep-blue Maryland over former Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D-Md.) in 2014 shocked political watchers and put an exclamation point on a cycle in which Republicans captured several governor’s mansions in reliably Democratic states.

In addition to Hogan’s victory in Maryland, Republicans knocked-off Democrats in Illinois and Massachusetts, all states that President Obama easily carried in 2012.

While 2014 was a Republican wave year, Hogan’s victory was viewed as a rebuke of former Gov. Martin O’Malley’s eight years in office there. O’Malley is currently running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

“Katie and I are very saddened by this news,” O’Malley said in a statement. “We send our thoughts and prayers to Governor Hogan’s family during this difficult time, and wish him the best in overcoming this challenge.”