Maryland Senate Primary results pit Alsobrooks against Hogan for General in November
MARYLAND – The dust has settled on the Maryland primary for a prime senate seat, with former Governor Larry Hogan facing off with Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.
The race that has the potential to flip the US Senate balance of power in Washington, saw Alsobrooks beating the polls by 14 points, that were trending in Representative David Trone’s favor heading into Tuesday’s primary.
Alsobrooks’ lead of 60,000 vote state came almost exclusively from Prince George’s County and Baltimore City, where voters were mobilized by a series of endorsements from Governor Wes Moore, Senator Chris Van Holen, and other members of the state’s democratic leadership.
“Last night, the coalition of voters did come out. We built a grassroots coalition over the last year, really around issues that are in common of our families all across our state. Those messages include messages around economic opportunity,” Alsobrooks said speaking to WMDT Wednesday.
On the Republican side Hogan, surviving a primary from the right from Robin Ficker, despite Ficker overperforming on the eastern shore winning Wicomico, Dorchester, and Somerset Counties with Hogan holding in Worcester County as well as the upper shore.
Hogan’s base of suburban voters also turned out in the metro areas to help solidify his win, voters he will need coming into the general.
In a victory speech Hogan touted his record and says voters know what they get with a vote for him.
“I will stand up to the current president, the former president, to the Democratic Party or the Republican Party, and I will continue to be the same strong independent party leader that I always have,” Hogan said.
A big issue comes the general; abortion rights.
Alsobrooks says she’ll fight to protect abortion nationally drawing a distinction from Hogan, who has dodged the question of if he would support a national ban of abortion in the past and declined to sign protections for abortions into state law as governor.
“Choice is a real big issue for so many, including me, I have an 18-year-old daughter and I’ve talked to families and both mothers and fathers who want to ensure that their daughters have the privacy and freedom to make their own health care in reproductive choices,” Alsobrooks said.
Both parties looking to energize suburban swing voters, Hogan unveiling a new campaign push, Democrats for Hogan, looking to convert blue-leaning voters to his ticket.
“We balance the budget every single year and put people first. We worked across the aisle with our Democratic legislature to cut taxes. Eight years in a row by $4.7 trillion,” Hogan said.
Alsobrooks hoping an economic message will resonate with voters- as will the stakes of keeping the Senate in Democratic control.
“When we know where sensible gun legislation is concerned, where. So, you know, immigration reform, these are issues that would be decided in and would have a huge impact. The Senate would have a huge impact,” she said.
Both campaigns are now shifting to fundraising mode as they look to outspend on ad buys heading into the general election.
The Associated Press is reporting Maryland leans blue for the 2024 general election.
