Liam Conner
Washington – The winner of Maryland’s Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday will likely face Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan for the seat in a race that could tip the balance of power in the Senate.
Rep. David Trone and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks are the leading candidates in the brutal and costly race for the Democratic nomination, which began after Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin announced last year that he would retire. The race kicks off a competitive general election fight, where the winning Democrat will almost certainly face the popular former governor as the party tries to hold on to the seat in November.
Although Maryland is a deeply blue state, Hogan’s late entry into the race in February put an easy victory for Democrats in question, making a GOP seat flip possible as Democrats fight to maintain their narrow majority in the chamber.
The two top Democrats are locked in a bruising primary fight that has divided Democratic leaders in Congress. Trone and Alsobrooks have been trading attacks in recent weeks in the closely watched race, and heading into the primary, the two appeared side by side on the researches.
David Trone
Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Trone, 68, has served in the House since 2019. Cash-rich as the owner of alcohol retailer Total Wine & More, the Maryland Democrat has poured tens of millions into the race, breaking personal primary funding records.
He counted CBS Baltimore that is willing to fund its own campaign to maintain its independence, “so I’m not owned by Exxon; I’m not owned by Pfizer.” And his approach could win him points within the party as Democrats seek a costly general election fight against Hogan. Trone made it clear that his fortune was self-made, pointing to humble beginnings on a farm.
The third-term congressman also touted his ability to work across aisles, with an emphasis on addressing issues like opioid addiction. He has the support of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, along with other members of House Democratic leadership, Reps. Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar.
Angela Alsobrooks
Baltimore Sun
Alsobrooks, 53, currently serves as Prince George’s County Executive. The former prosecutor would be the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the Senate and only the fourth Black woman to serve in the Senate in its history.
The favorite of Maryland’s Democratic establishment, Alsobrooks has the support of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Reps. Steny Hoyer and Jamie Raskin.
“This is a people-driven race, as it should be,” Alsobrooks said of his numerous supporters on “America Decides” earlier this month.
When it comes to facing Hogan in November, Alsobrooks said the former governor has a “record that he’s going to have to defend,” pointing to his record on abortion, among other things, which she has made a central tenet of her campaign.
“These are fundamental issues for Marylanders,” she said. “And they are issues that I believe will mean in the fall that we will prevail to keep the Democratic Party in control of the Senate.”
An important race in November
Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Hogan’s surprise entering the race in February presented a major challenge for Democrats seeking to maintain their one-seat majority in the Senate.
A Republican victory in Maryland could doom Democrats’ House majority. And even before Hogan’s announcement, Democrats faced long odds of holding the majority. Although Republicans defend 10 safe red seats, three Democrats are running for re-election in states where Trump won in 2020. And in five other states considered swing states, the Democrats’ re-election is not guaranteed.
Hogan’s candidacy now threatens what appeared to be a relatively safe Democratic seat in the Maryland Senate. The former governor, now 67, who served from 2015 to 2023, is still very popular in the state, having recently left office with approval ratings in the 70s, and still enjoys widespread name recognition in the state. If Hogan wins in November, it would be the first time a Republican has won a Maryland Senate seat in nearly four decades.
