Warning! SPOILERS ahead for The Walking Dead season 11 episode 12.
The Walking Dead may have just dropped a hint that Lance Hornsby is an operative for the Civic Republic, possibly explaining what's up with his secret Commonwealth group. Ever since The Commonwealth was introduced, Hornsby, Pamela Milton's deputy governor and fixer, has been a suspicious character. He's charming, but also manipulative and ambitious, only ever really helping those who can offer him something in return. In the previous episode, season 11's "Rogue Element", it was revealed Hornsby is also running some clandestine operation seemingly without Governor Milton's knowledge, raising even more questions about his goals.
It hasn't yet been explained what's behind Lance Hornsby's secret group, but holding meetings in an abandoned building in the dead of the night doesn't suggest the group's operations are completely above board. As Hornsby is notably ambitious, it's likely the goal of this group has something to do with granting him more power within the Commonwealth, possibly even leading to him unseating Pamela Milton as governor. This may also be related to his desire to see Alexandria, Hilltop, and Oceanside all join with the Commonwealth, creating whole communities of people he can call on for favors.
In The Walking Dead season 11, episode 12 "The Lucky Ones", Lance Hornsby is seen trying his charm on Maggie in the hope she will agree to the Commonwealth forming a partnership with Hilltop. In doing so, he conjures up a future where Maggie and her son, Herschel, could travel freely and safely between their various communities - a concert in Commonwealth, doctor's appointment in Alexandria, and possibly even college somewhere up along the coast. It's a desirable future, of course, and one Maggie admits she tried to build. Hornsby's pitch, however, may point more towards the present than the future. His mention of a port town up north, for instance, could be an allusion to the Civic Republic, and it may hint at him having a connection to the militaristic community. Unsurprisingly, the consequences of such a link could have huge ramifications for the series moving forwards.
In Hornsby's fantasy future, something like sending Herschel to college could just be more detail to help sell Maggie on the idea. But how he describes that future, his wondering question of "What's up that coast? Another port town?" seems more telling, and could be Hornsby hinting at what he already knows is out there. The Civic Republic is speculated to be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and while not exactly coastal, it's a city that's reachable from the Atlantic Ocean via the Delaware River. It's also a community so large it dwarfs the Commonwealth, making it more than likely it hosts a college or university. If Hornsby is aware of the Civic Republic, then it makes sense he'd pull from this knowledge when trying to lay out a future with which to impress Maggie.
Lance Hornsby being an operative of the Civic Republic would also answer some questions about his actions as of late on The Walking Dead season 11. His secret group, for example, could be the trusted few who know of his connection to the other community, helping him to carry out his mission. As for what that mission might be, usurping Pamela Milton may still be the goal, but rather than taking over for his own interest, it could all be a part of bringing the Commonwealth under the Civic Republic's influence. Planting a spy within another community is also something the Civic Republic is more than capable of doing, as has been seen with Jadis and World Beyond's Huck.
The Civic Republic's goal is to rebuild the world as it once was and place itself in charge of it. Assimilating a community like the Commonwealth would align with that goal, and especially if one of their own is leading it. Lance Hornsby openly wondering if there's a port town up the coast is by no means proof he's working for the Civic Republic, but it's an interesting call out all the same. One that might be a clue he knows more about the larger world of The Walking Dead than he's letting on.
The Walking Dead season 11 continues Sundays on AMC.