(CNN) Fresh off his 2018 re-election in deep blue Maryland, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan says he is leaving the door open to challenging President Donald Trump in a Republican primary.

"People are talking to me about it," Hogan, a moderate, told CNN in an interview this week. "I'm watching with great interest all of this talk. I'm flattered people are saying that and including me in those discussions. My focus, my plan right now is to stay here for four years and do the best job I can in Maryland, but I've said, 'You never say never.' Who knows what's going to happen."

Asked if he's thinking about running, Hogan replied, "I would say I'm listening. I'm not sure how much thinking we're doing, but I haven't closed the door."

Any Republican challenge to the President would be a longshot. Trump's approval rating stands at 81% among Republicans in the latest CNN poll, he's already raised nearly $130 million for his re-election bid and the Republican National Committee recently committed its "undivided support" to the President. The White House is projecting confidence on any challenge, with White House director of strategic communications Mercedes Schlapp recently saying, "the President is ready for any candidate that would decide to go to run against him. We have a great record to run on, especially when you look at the economy."

A new Washington Post/ABC News poll, however, found one-in-three Republican and Republican-leaning independent voters would like the GOP to nominate "someone other" than Trump in 2020. For some in the Republican Party, Hogan is exactly the type of person they would like to see run.

Read More