In her bid to become Maryland’s next U.S. senator, Angela Alsobrooks will get a rare, prime-time moment in the spotlight Tuesday night as she takes to the stage of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Currently the Prince George’s County executive, Alsobrooks is locked in a campaign with Republican former governor Larry Hogan for an open U.S. Senate seat. It’s one of a handful of Senate elections that could determine control of the chamber.
Alsobrooks will talk about her personal and professional relationship with Harris, forged when both were prosecutors — Harris as California’s attorney general and Alsobrooks as the Prince George’s County state’s attorney before she became county executive.
The two have campaigned for each other, and the pair have appeared together in Maryland three times already since Memorial Day. They traded compliments during an event last week in Prince George’s County focused on prescription drug prices.
Alsobrooks was not available for interviews ahead of her speech. She posted on social media Tuesday afternoon that she was excited to speak at the convention. She said she’ll share why her “friend and mentor” Harris will be “an incredible president.”
In her remarks, Alsobrooks is also expected to lean into the convention’s daily theme of “A Bold Vision for America’s Future.” She’s expected to emphasize why Harris is the best choice to lead the nation in the future.
“Angela is honored to be delivering a keynote address at the DNC,” said Connor Lounsbury, a senior advisor to the Alsobrooks campaign. “She’ll be speaking not only to the 14-year friendship she and Vice President Kamala Harris share, but the future they are both fighting for.”
He added: “We know that Maryland will determine the Senate majority and in order to fight for that future where our freedoms are protected, we must win in Maryland.”
The prime-time slot is a chance for Alsobrooks to make a case for voting for Harris, but it’s also a chance for Alsobrooks to draw attention to her own race, raising her national profile and perhaps campaign contributions. Elected officials, candidates and activists jockey for one of the dozens of daily convention speaking slots that start in the late afternoon and usually culminate with a headliner just before 11 p.m.
Convention speeches have fueled the rise of politicians for future success — Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, William Jennings Bryan — and Tuesday’s main stage slot provides Alsobrooks a chance to introduce herself beyond Maryland voters.
In addition, Alsobrooks will appear at a meeting of the national party’s Asian American and Pacific Islanders Caucus on Wednesday. It’s part of the programming at McCormick Place, a secondary site that’s hosting meetings and “DemPalooza,” a series of trainings, panel discussions and other activities, much of them open to the public.
Alsobrooks and Democrats have made the case for months that electing her, and defeating Hogan, will ensure that Democrats can set the agenda in Washington on issues like protecting abortion access and cracking down on guns.
“Republicans know Hogan could be the 51st seat they need to push forward an agenda that’s wildly out of touch,” Karen Darkes, executive director of the Maryland Democratic Party, said at an event last week.
During the Democratic National Convention, party leaders are expected to emphasize the need not only to elect Harris as president, but to give her Democratic majorities in the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives to help enact her policies.
“We have to understand that when she becomes the first woman president, she can’t do it alone. She’s going to have to work alongside Congress,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, wearing a Harris “duly elected incumbent” T-shirt, said last week.
Most election predictors and prognosticators rate Maryland’s Senate race as “leaning” or “likely” Democratic, based in part on Maryland’s four-decade run of sending only Democrats to the Senate and the strong voter registration advantage that the party has.
But there’s been very little independent polling since the primary election to gauge the state of the race, and Democrats acknowledge that Hogan is a strong candidate who left office with high approval ratings after two terms as governor.
“Marylanders on the right and the left are sick and tired of divisiveness and dysfunction, and seeing nothing ever get done in Washington while local communities and families pay the price,” Hogan said in a statement.
Alsobrooks’ Rise to the Forefront
Alsobrooks, the Prince George’s County executive, has been steadily climbing the political ladder since her early days as a prosecutor. The race between Alsobrooks and Hogan has attracted national interest — and national money.
A History-Making Election
If elected, Alsobrooks would become Maryland’s first Black senator. Harris would be the first woman to become president. The race between Alsobrooks and Hogan has attracted national interest — and national money.
Alsobrooks’ Background
Alsobrooks, 53, is the first woman to be elected as Prince George's County Executive. She began her professional career in 1997 as Prince George's County Assistant State's Attorney and became the first full-time prosecutor assigned to handle domestic violence cases. In 2010, she became the youngest person and first woman elected to serve as the County's State Attorney. Alsobrooks graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy and received her law degree from the University of Maryland. She's also a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority member and has one daughter named Alex.
The Stakes of the Election
The Maryland Senate race is one to watch for its potential to reshape the makeup of the Senate, where Democrats have a razor-thin majority. The race between Alsobrooks and Hogan has attracted national interest — and national money.
The Hogan-Alsobrooks Contrast
The two Maryland candidates for the Senate, who have contrasting visions on everything from public safety to tax relief, haven’t yet debated.
Hogan’s Strategy
In a July opinion piece, Hogan wrote: “While my opponent will be a rubber stamp for her party bosses, Marylanders know me, and they know I have the courage to stand up to the current president, the former president, and the bosses in both parties. I will work with leaders on both sides of the aisle to deliver for Maryland.”
Alsobrooks’ Response
In response, the Alsobrooks campaign said: “Larry Hogan continues to mislead and misrepresent. Moves straight out of the Mitch McConnell playbook, which makes sense given Mitch recruited Larry.”
The Race’s Significance
The race between Alsobrooks and Hogan has attracted national interest — and national money. Super PAC dollars are flowing to the state as never before, perhaps rivaling the influence of the candidates’ own campaigns or national parties. Super PACs can raise unlimited sums from individuals, corporations and unions. Both parties are watching the race closely. Democrats hold a 51-49 voting majority in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a longtime Democrat who is now an independent, is retiring, and Democrats must defend a handful of seats in November in states that Democratic President Joe Biden narrowly won in 2020.
The Future of the Race
The race between Alsobrooks and Hogan has attracted national interest — and national money. Democrats are hoping to hold onto their slim majority in the Senate, while Republicans are looking to flip the chamber. The race is likely to be close, and the outcome could have a significant impact on the direction of the country.
Looking Forward
The race for Maryland’s U.S. Senate seat is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched in the country. With the national spotlight on the race, both Alsobrooks and Hogan will be looking to make their case to voters and secure a victory in November.
A New Era for Maryland?
The race between Alsobrooks and Hogan has attracted national interest — and national money.
