PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (DC News Now) — Angela Alsobrooks has been crisscrossing Maryland in her quest to become the state’s next U.S. senator. In early October, DC News Now spent a couple of days on the campaign trail with the Prince George’s County Executive in Western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore.
The first stop was to drum up support in Princess Anne. Then, it was just down the road to the campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) for a get out to vote rally. Alsobrooks’ message to the college students was a simple one: vote on November 5.
“Oh, my God, I just love today. I’m the mother of a 19-year-old daughter who is herself a college student. So there’s a special connection between me and this generation. And I have to tell you, I’m so impressed with that. So impressed with what we saw today,” Alsobrooks said.
The Democratic candidate for Maryland’s open U.S. Senate seat opened up about how all-encompassing and demanding running for office can be. The self-described runner equates it to a marathon.
“This has been probably one of the most challenging things I’ve done in my lifetime. I almost literally spent seven days a week for a year and a half. There is no kind of off to this, you know, but I think it’s working. I really do. I feel that it’s worth it. And I have met the most interesting and amazing people. You know, I’ll never forget the people I’ve been meeting. I’ve been, I’ve also found all the jewels across the state. I know where the great coffee shops are. So, I have just enjoyed it. Yeah, but it has been fun,” she said in between campaign stops.
With a little less than a month before Election Day, Alsobrooks has a lead over Republican nominee, former governor Larry Hogan, according to a poll from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Institute of Politics. If Alsobrooks defeats Hogan she will become the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the U. S. Senate and just the fourth Black woman ever to serve in the upper chamber.
“It’s something that I don’t take for granted. You know, I know there are a lot of people that worked hard for me to have the opportunity that I have today. And I didn’t take it for granted. And as a matter of fact, this would only be the second time we’ve elected a woman to the Senate. So, talking to people like Senator Barbara Mikulski, who said very plainly I may be the first woman to have been elected, but I don’t want to be the only one. And then she said something else I agree with. It is not so much about gender as it is the agenda. The agenda means that the lived experience of all of us should be included. I think it is great to be able to represent women everywhere, including women of all backgrounds. Women like me, Black women, White women, women of all backgrounds,” she commented.
Alsobrooks said running for U.S. Senate has been grueling, made up of long days and long nights, often being away from family, including her daughter, Alex.
“One of the things I’ve been really happy about is my daughter is in college, out of state. For children whose parents are running for office it can be pretty brutal. To look at commercials or to read materials that are critical of a parent. It’s something that can be very emotional and difficult, so I feel kind of relieved that she can just be on college campus someplace else, not worrying about any of this because it does affect the whole family. You know, my parents have been, you know, engaged in it. They’re excited about it, but it takes the whole family,” she said.
In August, Alsobrooks had a prominent role at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago where she served as the keynote speaker.
“It was unbelievable. First of all, if you’ve ever had the experience of being able to hear your heartbeat, I was having that experience as I’m waiting to go out on the stage. And oh my gosh literally, I felt like I could hear my heartbeat. But it was so exciting. Up there, I’m representing Maryland, and the by the way, the first convention I went to was in 1992 as a college student. I worked as a volunteer in New York — Madison Square Garden — when Bill Clinton was nominated. So, the idea that I could start there as a volunteer, as a college student, and then someday stand on the stage of that convention and give a speech. I was so grateful and so excited and nervous. But it was great. Yeah, it was amazing,” she said.
Alsobrooks said she and Vice President Kamala Harris have been friends for years and still talk despite both busy on the campaign trail. “She’s been to Maryland three times since June. She came here, she endorsed me for this race, and she has been wonderful. She does give advice, and she gives really great advice. Part of what she said is, you know what? You get to be joyful in all of this work. Never to forget to, you know, to enjoy it. In fact, she also gave me the advice that I should keep a journal. That was advice she gave me a few years ago when I talked to her and said, what do you wish you had known? And she said, I wish I’d kept a journal of the exciting people you met and all of the things you did, so she said keep a journal. And I have. So the first day of this race, I kept a journal and that was advice she gave me,” Alsobrooks commented.
When Alsobrooks has a rare moment off the campaign trail, she said she likes to unwind by cooking.
“Not just for me. I like to cook. I enjoy cooking for my family. So, I cook for my parents a little. They say they like them a lot. So I enjoy cooking. And you know what? I like exercise. I work out just about every day. But I enjoy family gatherings. Any excuse will do, you know, for the people, for it to come together. A game, a good game or song or something. But I haven’t had time to do a lot of that during the campaign. But I’m looking forward to getting back to it. After this is done,” Alsobrooks commented.
She said her go-to meal is spaghetti.
“We have the tradition that on your birthday, you get your favorite meal. So they always know what I want for my birthday is always spaghetti. I enjoy that and I enjoy barbecuing. So, I love to grill. Anything on the grill I love, but more than that I just love the camaraderie. You know, I’m in Maryland, so I like crabs, you know?,” she said.
From UMES, the next campaign stop was an evening town hall event at First Baptist Church in Salisbury. Then, on Saturday, Alsobrooks headed to Western Maryland for a series of meet and greets, including at a hotel in Frederick to kick off the day.
“So excited. So first of all, we’re back here again, but we’re finding that each time we come the momentum is growing and we’re expecting quite a crowd here today and they are an enthusiastic one. We’re knocking on about 10-thousand doors here, but the reception has been wonderful. The people have been wonderful, so I’m excited to be here,” Alsobrooks said as she walked into the packed ballroom full of supporters.
After a few quick campaign events, Alsobrooks ended her Saturday in Hagerstown at another meet and greet.
“It is literally seven days a week. So, it’s been a grind. It’s been worth it and on November 6, I’m going to need a little bit of a break, you know, take a little bit of a rest, eat some of that barbecue I’ve been missing out on. I’ve just been grateful for this whole experience. And you know what, I’m looking forward to a victory on November 5. We’ve worked very hard and I’ve been so thrilled with the response we’ve gotten and you know fingers crossed and looking forward to representing Maryland in the Senate,” she said.
DC News Now spent a day on the campaign trail with Hogan in August.
