WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The Maryland Senate race finds Republican Larry Hogan and Democrat Angela Alsobrooks fighting for a seat that could determine the balance of power in the United States Senate.
Since 2007, Sen. Ben Cardin (D) has served as a U.S. Senator for Maryland; however, in 2023, Cardin announced that he would not seek re-election, leaving his seat up for grabs.
Here are some things to know about Alsobrooks and Hogan as they vie for the spot.
Angela Alsobrooks (D)
Angela Alsobrooks, 53, a lifelong Marylander, was born and raised in Prince George’s County. She cites her grandmother as someone who pushed her to give back to the community, feeling inspired from a young age by her grandmother’s words to “go farther and do better.”
Alsobrooks graduated from Duke University with a bachelor’s degree in public policy and later received her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law.
From there, she worked as a law clerk in the Howard County Circuit Court and the Baltimore City Circuit Court before becoming the Prince George’s County assistant state’s attorney in 1997. In that role, she became the first full-time assistant state’s attorney to handle domestic violence cases in the county.
In 2010, Alsobrooks was elected as the Prince George’s County state’s attorney, becoming the youngest and first woman to serve in the position. During her time in office, violent crime dropped by 50%, and a unit to investigate and prosecute police and official misconduct was established, according to her campaign website.
She made history again in 2018, becoming the first woman and the first Black woman to be elected as Prince George’s County executive.
As county executive, Alsobrooks focused on creating economic growth, expanding access to health care and mental health and addiction treatment, youth outreach and education. She said is running for the U.S. Senate “to be a voice for families like the ones she grew up with and who she’s worked for throughout her life.”
If elected, Alsobrooks said she will co-sponsor the Women’s Health Protection Act, which she claims is a crucial step toward establishing federal protections for abortion care and access. Alsobrooks is against defunding Planned Parenthood and is vocal that the government should respect women’s health care decisions.
She also believes that gun safety is critical and that current gun laws are inadequate in preventing gun crimes. She proposes implementing universal background checks, implementing red flag laws, banning “military-style weapons” such as AR-15s, prohibiting devices such as bump stocks and “closing the gun show loophole,” which allows private sellers to sell firearms without background checks, according to the United States Concealed Carry Association.
Alsobrooks lists immigration as one of her priorities, stating her concerns with the “polarizing discourse” surrounding the issue, which often “dehumanizes hardworking immigrants.” If elected, she promises to advocate for immigration reform, which will include creating a pathway to citizenship for those already living and working in the country. She will support initiatives such as The American Dream and Promise Act to protect Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients and DREAMers.
Former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the Washington Post editorial board and other sitting senators have endorsed Alsobrooks in the Senate race.
Alsobrooks lives in Upper Marlboro with her daughter, Alex.
Larry Hogan (R)
Larry Hogan, 68, was raised in Prince George’s County. He says his interest in politics began at a young age when his father was elected to the U.S. Congress for Maryland’s 5th District.
Hogan graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in government. He then worked in various public service positions, including in the Tallahassee State House, in his father’s administration (after his father became county executive for Prince George’s County) and as secretary of appointments for former Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich (R).
He also worked in the real estate industry, founding Hogan Companies in 1985.
In 2011, he founded Change Maryland, the largest grassroots organization in state history. The organization focused on tax relief, budgeting and economic growth in the state.
He began his first term as the 62nd governor of Maryland, a historically blue state, in 2015 after defeating Democrat Anthony Brown. He was re-elected for a second term in 2018 and became the first Republican governor to win a second term in Maryland since 1954.
In 2015, during his time as governor, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After undergoing chemotherapy, he reported that he was cancer-free later that year.
The former governor said he is running for the U.S. Senate “not to serve one party – but to fix our nation’s broken politics and fight for Maryland.” He prides himself on not being a “typical partisan politician” and has rejected backing Donald Trump as the former president makes his bid for the White House.
If elected, Hogan said he would support legislation “that makes Roe the law of the land, in every state, so every woman gets the reproductive care she needs, because no one should come between a woman and her doctor.” He also asserts that he publicly has opposed a federal abortion ban since 1992.
Hogan lists public safety as one of his campaign pillars, and, like Alsobrooks, he cites gun violence as a concern. As a senator, Hogan said he would push for protections, such as universal background checks, to get guns out of the hands of “violent criminals” and “the mentally ill.” He also said he will use federal laws that are already in effect, such as increased penalties for firearms in school zones, to take guns from repeat offenders.
Regarding immigration, Hogan believes that politicians have cared more about using the immigration system as a campaign tactic rather than finding concrete solutions. In office, Hogan would work to pass immigration reform to “encourage legal immigration” and “secure the border.” He supports increasing the number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and immigration judges. He also notes fixing the asylum process and disassembling cartel networks as critical issues.
Donald Trump, Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), the US Chamber of Commerce, first responder units across Maryland, law enforcement associations across the state and officials have endorsed Hogan in his race for the Senate seat.
Hogan is married to his wife, Yumi, and the couple has three daughters, Julie, Jaymi and Kim.
