On May 14, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks defeated Congressman David Trone to win the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race in Maryland.
The primary was the most expensive race in Maryland history, with Trone loaning over $60 million to his campaign. Trone received criticism from Alsobrooks, who claimed he was “buying the race” in their first debate. The Washington Post reports that Trones’ $62 million in self-financing is potentially a record for the most spent by a candidate for Congress, with the average amount of money being around $200 per vote.
According to the Washington Post, Alsobrooks can make history by becoming the first black senator from Maryland, the state with the highest percentage of black people outside the South. She would become the third Black woman to serve in the Senate if elected.
The race also garnered national attention following the unexpected announcement of former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s campaign for the Republican nomination. Hogan, a popular two-term Republican governor, could potentially give Republicans a majority in the Senate if he is victorious.
Trone, elected to Congress in 2018, campaigned on his track record and the notion that he could beat Hogan, representing one of Maryland’s more moderate congressional districts. Alsobrooks capitalized on the chance to make history, noting how she was the first woman to serve as State Attorney and County Executive in Prince George’s County during her campaign.
According to the Washington Post, abortion was a significant issue in the race, with the question of whether Congress would codify Roe v. Wade into law after the Supreme Court overruled the landmark abortion rights case. Trone, who is pro-choice, campaigned on how his foundation built an abortion clinic in rural Maryland to improve access to reproductive health. However, Alsobrooks attacked him for donating to many Republican governors and state legislatures who instituted bans on abortion; he justified these donations as the cost of operating stores in Republican states.
Alsobrooks, who is also pro-choice, emphasized the importance of representation in government. “As women, we don’t want people talking about us and making decisions about us without us,” she said to the New York Times. She campaigned on her fear that her 18-year-old daughter, one of her inspirations for running, would have fewer rights than her grandmother.
Alsobrooks received the endorsement of much of Maryland’s political establishment, including Gov. Wes Moore, Sen.Van Hollen and five of the seven Democratic Maryland representatives. Trone flaunted the endorsements of House Democratic leadership, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi during the primary debate.
For much of the race, Alsobrooks seemed to be the underdog, the Washington Post reported. She trailed in polling against Trone and Hogan, and Trone dominated the airwaves with his massive outspending. However, the Washington Post explains that the momentum shifted when Trone, known for his gaffes, used a racial slur in a congressional hearing.
The New York Times reported that Alsobrooks won with over 53% of the vote to Trones’ 43 percent, carrying the major metro counties and Baltimore. She now looks to unify the Democratic party and beat Gov. Hogan in a battle for control of the Senate.
“We felt it for weeks that momentum was building,” Alsobrooks told 11 News. “I could feel the energy. I could feel the surge happening. We’re going to be unified in November. There’s so much space under the tent we’re building because it’s about the future and our families.”
