Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV), who recently switched his affiliation from Democrat to independent, has endorsed former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in the Maryland Senate race, snubbing Democratic nominee Angela Alsobrooks. Manchin praised Hogan's independent stance and criticized party ideologies, asserting that Hogan is the right person for the job. This endorsement is seen as a further distancing of Manchin from the Democratic Party, which could frustrate his former colleagues. Despite Hogan trailing Alsobrooks by about 4-5 points in recent polls, his campaign has been gaining traction, and he is favored for his centrist views and name recognition. The Senate race in deep-blue Maryland has become unexpectedly competitive, compelling Democrats to focus more resources on the state to maintain their seat.