Gov. Hogan Mum On Political Future: 'I'm Focused On Maryland'

Amid national buzz, Gov. Larry Hogan downplayed any interest in mounting a primary election challenge to President Donald Trump, but didn't rule it out.

Hogan won a convincing victory in November, becoming the first Republican governor in decades to win re-election in heavily Democratic Maryland. Hogan, who did not endorse anybody in the 2016 general election, wrote in his father on the ballot that year.

"It's not something that I've been focused on at all. I guess to say I'm flattered all these people are talking about that. I'm focused on Maryland," Hogan told Brett Hollander on Monday. "It's a little bit surprising to me that so many people are making such noise about it, and I'm intrigued and listening to it, but it's not something I'm involved in at all."

Watch: Hogan talks political future:

Outlets including FiveThirtyEight, CNN, Axios and The New York Times have explored a theoretical bid by Hogan, even as the Republican National Committee prepares to galvanize support behind Trump. Gathering in New Mexico, the party's governing body will take the unusual step Friday of voting to declare the party’s “undivided support” for Trump and his “effective presidency.”

A new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows Republicans are largely standing by the president, even as his overall approval rating has eroded amid the ongoing government shutdown. About 8 in 10 Republicans approve of the job Trump is doing, which is similar to his level of support among Republicans in AP-NORC polls throughout his presidency.

Overall, Trump’s approval rating stands at 34 percent, its lowest point in more than a year.

Hogan said he does see his national profile increasing in the months to come as vice chair of the non-partisan National Governors Association.

And whether he was seeking to increase his profile or not, Hogan drew attention with his press conference last Thursday at BWI Marshall Airport. As the federal shutdown dragged on, he blamed "everyone in Washington" and expressed frustration with partisan gridlock taking precedence over putting Marylanders back to work.

"I believe very strongly that a majority of Americans, an overwhelming majority really, don't fall into the extremes of either party," Hogan said. "And I think that most people in America are kind of tired of the divisive angry politics. And you can't get anything done unless you can find a way to talk to people that don't agree to you 100 percent."

Hogan also talked about education funding, juvenile justice, Baltimore police Commissioner-Designate Michael Harrison and the future of Pimlico Race Course.

Watch: Full interview:

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.