So then, why have any Republicans in the first place?
In states like MD, the GOP has often been just an afterthought. Even in neighboring WV, where the GOP was a minority from 1930/32 until this election, if you wanted to get elected, you had to run as a Democrat (even if your ideology wasn’t on the left). Hogan’s challenge is picking off about 1/4th of the Dem caucus to get his agenda through. He recognizes this. That’s why it’s largely unhelpful with suggestions that he should fall on his sword and the like. Obviously, enough MD Democrats voted for Hogan that they wanted someone who could get something done, at least with respect to fiscal and tax matters. Get done what you can do and move on to the tougher things.