By John Celock
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced Monday that he is battling a “very advanced and very aggressive” form of cancer.
Hogan said in a press conference that he has been diagnosed with an advanced form of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He said that he first found a lump while shaving prior to a trade mission to Asia earlier this month and the disease was confirmed. He remained upbeat saying that while the cancer was aggressive, he has been told that it responds “aggressively” to chemotherapy.
“My odds of getting through this and beating this are much, much better than my odds of beating Anthony Brown to become the 62nd governor of Maryland,” Hogan said.
Hogan, a business executive, was a surprise winner in last year’s gubernatorial race against then Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D). Hogan, who served as appointments secretary in former Gov. Bob Ehrlich’s (R) cabinet, is serving in his first elective office.
Surrounded by his family and Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford (R), Hogan pledged to fight the disease. He said that he would not take any time off but would likely call on Rutherford to handle some meetings for him during his treatment. Under the Maryland Constitution, the lieutenant governor only becomes the acting governor if the governor hands over authority.
News of Hogan’s condition is prompting other elected officials to take to social media to wish him well for a recovery, including Brown, New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan (D), Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R), Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh (D), Maryland state Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Takoma Park) and Maryland state Del. Bill Frick (D-Bethesda)
Hogan pledged to overcome the diagnosis.
“I am going to face this challenge with the same energy and determination that I have relied on to climb every hill and overcome every obstacle I have faced in my life,” he said.