Angela Alsobrooks emerged victorious in a hard-fought Democratic Senate primary in Maryland, besting Rep. David Trone, who poured a record-setting amount of his own money into the campaign. The Associated Press declared Alsobrooks, the current Prince George’s County Executive, the winner late Tuesday, with a commanding lead of 53% to 43% and more than half of the votes tallied. She is now poised to face former two-term Republican Governor Larry Hogan in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, a contest anticipated to be one of the most prominent Senate battles this fall, crucial in determining control of the Senate.
Although Democrats currently hold a slim 51-49 majority, they face challenges, including likely losses in West Virginia and the need to defend vulnerable seats in states like Ohio and Montana. Alsobrooks, should she win in November, would become only the third Black woman ever elected to the Senate. Additionally, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, a Democrat running for the Senate in Delaware, is favored to win, further bolstering the presence of Black women in the Senate.
Alsobrooks expressed confidence on social media, stating, “We are going to defeat Larry Hogan, keep Maryland blue, and keep our Senate under Democratic control—spread the word.” At 53 years old, Alsobrooks has a strong legal background, having previously served as the state’s attorney in Prince George’s County and as a prosecutor before assuming her current role. Despite Trone's significant advertising advantage, Alsobrooks garnered support from much of Maryland’s Democratic political establishment, including Governor Wes Moore, Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Representatives Jamie Raskin and Steny Hoyer.
Hogan, a centrist GOP governor in a predominantly blue state, entered the Senate race in February and initially held a substantial lead in theoretical matchups against either Democrat. However, recent polls indicate a tightening race. Hogan has emphasized his independence, stating, “I will stand up to the current president, the former president, to the Democratic Party, or the Republican Party.”
Democrats anticipate a challenging race for Hogan, particularly on national issues such as abortion. While Hogan has expressed opposition to a federal ban on abortion, he has not clarified his stance on federal legislation regarding abortion access. In 2022, Hogan vetoed Maryland state legislation aimed at expanding abortion access.
It remains uncertain whether Hogan’s popularity as governor will translate to success in the Senate race, where party affiliation plays a more significant role. Despite facing an uphill battle and trailing in polls for months, Alsobrooks managed to secure a remarkable victory over Trone, who, at 68 years old, spent nearly $62 million of his personal fortune in the race, making him the largest self-funder in a Senate primary. Trone’s campaign faced criticism for various missteps, including his use of an outdated racial slur during a congressional hearing and a backfiring attack ad that drew condemnation from Black female elected officials, activists, and church leaders.
In other primary contests on Tuesday, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice won his GOP Senate primary to succeed retiring Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, defeating Rep. Alex Mooney. Additionally, swing-district GOP Rep. Don Bacon easily secured victory in his Nebraska primary.