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Republican Larry Hogan Projected for Surprising Win in Maryland

In one of the night’s biggest surprises, NBC News projects Republican Larry Hogan will become the next governor of the heavily Democratic state of Maryland.
Image: Larry Hogan, Boyd Rutherford
Larry Hogan, left, Republican candidate for Maryland governor, speaks to the media alongside his running mate, Boyd Rutherford, Monday, Nov. 3, 2014, in Baltimore. Maryland voters will choose a successor to Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is term-limited, Nov. 4. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)Patrick Semansky / AP

In one of the night’s biggest surprises, NBC News projects Republican Larry Hogan will defeat Democrat Anthony Brown to become the next governor of the heavily Democratic state of Maryland.

Brown was vying to become the state’s first African American governor and served as lieutenant governor under Martin O’Malley. But his association with the increasingly unpopular outgoing governor cost him votes.

Hogan’s campaign focused heavily on the economy, promising more jobs and to roll back tax increases passed under O’Malley.

-- Andrew Rafferty