Democrat Angela Alsobrooks has won a key U.S. Senate seat, defeating former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, and retaining the seat for the Democrats.
“Thank You, Maryland!” Alsobrooks tweeted after the AP called the race in her favor.
Maryland is a Democratic stronghold, with Democrats winning every U.S. Senate race in the state for over 40 years. Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 2-to-1 margin in the state.
Currently serving as the county executive of Prince George’s County since 2018, Alsobrooks faced a tough race against Hogan, who enjoys wide name recognition and has won significant Democratic support in his 2014 and 2018 gubernatorial victories.
Her priorities include supporting abortion rights, investing in education, promoting diplomatic foreign policies, and economic improvement, according to CBS news.
Alosbrooks will succeed retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, who endorsed Alsobrooks.
Alsobrooks has said she supports Israel’s right to defend itself and supports a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.
“I’ll continue to protect the relationship between the U.S. and Israel, and to make sure that as an ally, we not only support Israel’s right to defend itself, but also are there to make sure that we’re helping them to have the means to do so,” Alsobrooks told the Baltimore Jewish Times.
At the same time, Alsobrooks has also called for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and advocated for a two-state solution.
“We share the goal of not only returning the hostages, but a cease-fire, where we can see peace and safety for the Israelis and for the Palestinians,” Alsobrooks said.
In a Washington Post Maryland Democratic Senate primary Q&A, Alsobrooks expressed support for withholding arms from Israel if it invades the Gaza city of Rafah.
“I do not support an invasion of Rafah and agree with President Biden if Netanyahu does not change course, that the U.S. will need to withhold offensive weaponry,” Alsobrooks said.
The Israeli military later reported that six hostages, including American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, were found dead in a Rafah tunnel just before a planned rescue.
Alsobrooks stated that, if elected, she would work to ensure that federal, state, and local governments provide “adequate protection against antisemitism.”
Alsobrooks will make history as Maryland’s first Black senator and along with newly elected Democratic Sen.-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester, this will be the first time two Black women serve in the Senate together.
