As Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) finishes term this year, two well-known Maryland political figures will fight to take his place. Angela Alsobrooks (D), the Prince George’s County Executive, and former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) are conducting their campaigns via posters, endorsements, and political commercials. Still, only one will determine the Senate majority come November 5, 2024. But, what makes Alsobrooks and Hogan stand out from each other? Let’s look at their Maryland political history, and how they plan to impact America’s future.
Angela Alsobrooks – Democratic Candidate
Courtesy of Angela Alsobrooks’s website
Elected in 2018, Angela Alsobrooks is best known as the Prince George’s County Executive, and the first Black woman elected to the position in Maryland’s history. She is a Prince George’s County local who graduated from Duke University and the University of Maryland School of Law. Under her leadership as County Executive, Alsobrooks created the Summer Youth Enrichment Program so teens could get real work experience over the summer via paid internships, opened a mental health care center and addiction care facility in Lanham, and funded the largest salary increase for all Prince George’s County school system employees. If elected to the Senate, she will:
- Fight against defunding Planned Parenthood,
- Advocate for increasing Chesapeake Bay cleaning efforts and having it be recognized under the National Parks System, and
- Support the expansion of Pell Grants, which will allow low-income students to go to community college for free and give all students access to low-interest student loans.
Courtesy of the National Governor’s Association
Larry Hogan – Republican Candidate
Larry Hogan was Maryland’s governor from 2014-2022. He was only the second MD Republican candidate in 50 years, considering Maryland is a blue state. Under his tenure as governor, he cut taxes for eight straight years by $4.7 billion, made historic educational investments—as well as in environment protection and transportation—and overturned a Democratic gerrymandered map, all while fighting cancer. If Hogan is elected to the Senate, not only could the Republicans take control, but he will:
- Eliminate unnecessary college degree requirements and expand apprenticeship and internship opportunities,
- Fix the Francis Scott Key Bridge before 2028, and
- Reduce taxes for small businesses, as a small business owner himself.
You can learn more about Alsobrooks and Hogan and their intentions for the Senate on their websites, hyperlinked in their respective descriptions.