Article Summary –
Maryland’s Senate race has become a key focus in the battle for Senate majority, with significant attention on the Democratic primary and the potential matchup with former GOP Governor Larry Hogan. Democratic Rep. David Trone has invested over $60 million of his personal wealth into the campaign, facing off against Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, hoping to become the state’s first Black senator. While Trone has significantly outspent Alsobrooks, arguments for her candidacy are based on her ability to build a wide coalition of people across the state who could potentially outweigh Trone’s financial advantage.
Key Senate Race in Maryland Turns into a Battle for the Senate Majority
What was initially seen as a duel for the essence of the Democratic Party, Maryland’s Senate race has transformed into a pivotal fight for the Senate majority. This shift occurred after ex-GOP Governor Larry Hogan decided to run for the open Senate seat, causing the Democratic candidates in Tuesday’s primary to present themselves as the preferable candidate to challenge Hogan in November, given he secures his own primary win.
Rival Democratic Candidates Spend Big in the Primary
Democratic Rep. David Trone has invested over $60 million of his personal funds in the primary, counteracting Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who’s aiming to become Maryland’s first Black senator. Trone, co-founder of Total Wine & More, has been leveraging his wealth to build an extensive campaign, significantly outspending Alsobrooks.
While Trone has been investing heavily, Alsobrooks received last-minute aid from EMILY’s List, an organization that supports pro-choice female Democrats, which has funneled $2.2 million into the race so far. This helped narrow the ad-spending gap in Trone’s favor. Some Alsobrooks supporters, however, question if the spending came too late.
Campaigning for Black Voters and a Potential Fight in November
Alsobrooks, a Prince George’s County native, leads Maryland’s second-largest county and was its first Black woman state’s attorney. On the other hand, Trone has been making strides to attract the state’s Black voters, a significant demographic in the Democratic primary.
The possibility of facing Hogan in November has greatly influenced the Democratic primary. If Hogan secures the GOP primary, Democrats plan to bind him to the wider Republican Party, particularly on the controversial topic of abortion rights.
Hogan is cognizant of his challenging path to victory in the fall, given the fact that President Joe Biden won Maryland by 33 points in 2020 and the state hasn’t sent a Republican to the Senate since 1987.
If Hogan does succeed in his primary, the Democratic candidate will have a tough fight on their hands. Some Democrats are nervous about their chances in November, particularly with Hogan’s popularity making him a strong contender.
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