In a pivotal victory that could help determine control of the U.S. Senate, Democrat Angela Alsobrooks has defeated Republican Larry Hogan in the closely watched Maryland Senate race. Alsobrooks, the county executive of Prince George’s County, becomes only the third Black woman ever elected to the Senate, a historic milestone that underscores the groundbreaking nature of her triumph.
A Boost for Democrats’ Senate Hopes
Alsobrooks’ win is a major bright spot for Democrats as they fight an uphill battle to maintain their precarious 51-49 Senate majority. With several other key races still too close to call, every Democratic victory is crucial in this nail-biter of an election. As one party strategist put it:
Angela’s win in Maryland is huge for us. It gives us a little more breathing room and keeps our path to retaining the Senate viable. We’re not out of the woods yet, but this is a big step in the right direction.
Anonymous Democratic strategist
Hogan’s Failed Balancing Act
For Hogan, a popular two-term governor who sought to portray himself as a moderate, the loss is a stinging rebuke. Despite his efforts to distance himself from Donald Trump and the GOP’s far-right flank, Hogan couldn’t shake off the specter of extremism that has come to define his party in the eyes of many voters.
That balancing act was thrown into stark relief last month, when reports emerged that Hogan had touted Trump’s endorsement during a private call with donors. The revelation undercut Hogan’s carefully cultivated image as a centrist willing to buck his party’s hardliners.
Alsobrooks’ Vision for Maryland and the Nation
Alsobrooks, for her part, ran a campaign centered on bread-and-butter issues like reproductive rights, gun safety, and economic opportunity. In an interview with The Guardian last month, she outlined her priorities for office:
Reproductive freedom, sensible gun legislation that will help us to eradicate the gun violence that we’ve seen in an epidemic across our country … economic opportunity that considers a path forward for the middle class [and] preserving freedoms and democracy. And I think that message resonates with Marylanders.
Angela Alsobrooks, October 2024
That message clearly struck a chord with voters, propelling Alsobrooks to a decisive victory. Her win is a testament to the enduring appeal of a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach to governing, even in an era of intense political polarization.
A Trailblazer Takes Her Place in History
Beyond her political vision, Alsobrooks’ triumph is a milestone in its own right. She becomes only the third Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, following in the footsteps of Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois and Kamala Harris of California (now Vice President). In a twist of fate, Alsobrooks narrowly missed out on being the third Black woman senator elected, as Delaware’s Lisa Blunt Rochester secured her victory just moments before.
Nevertheless, Alsobrooks’ ascent to the Senate is a powerful symbol of the slow but steady progress toward a more representative democracy. As she prepares to take office, she will undoubtedly serve as an inspiration to countless young women and girls, particularly those of color, who dream of one day shaping the nation’s laws and policies.
The Road Ahead
As the dust settles on the Maryland Senate race, attention now turns to the remaining battlegrounds that will determine control of the chamber. With Democrats’ hopes of retaining their majority still very much alive, every seat counts. Alsobrooks’ win is a crucial piece of that puzzle, but there are still many unknowns.
One thing, however, is certain: Angela Alsobrooks will head to Washington as a trailblazer, a history-maker, and a senator with a mandate to fight for the issues that matter most to Marylanders and all Americans. How she wields that power, and how her presence reshapes the Senate, will be one of the most closely watched stories of the coming months and years.
I am humbled and honored by the trust the people of Maryland have placed in me. I promise to fight every day to justify that trust, to be a voice for those who have been left behind, and to work tirelessly to build a brighter future for all.
Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks
As the 118th Congress convenes in January, Angela Alsobrooks will take her place among its most consequential new members. For Maryland, for the Democratic Party, and for the nation as a whole, her journey is only just beginning.
