2024 MD Senate Race

2024 MD Senate Race

Summary

The 2024 United States Senate election in Maryland will be held on November 5, 2024.  The seat is currently held by Ben Cardin.

The two leading candidates are Angela Alsobrooks – Democrat and Larry Hogan – Republican.

Incumbent three-term Democratic Senator Ben Cardin was re-elected in 2018 with 64.9% of the vote. On May 1, 2023, he announced that he would not be seeking re-election to a fourth term in office.

OnAir Post: 2024 MD Senate Race

News

Already historic Senate race gets more so, as Alsobrooks gets nod to take on Hogan
Maryland Matters, Danielle Brown et alMay 15, 2024

Maryland Democrats appeared to make history Tuesday by nominating a Black woman to be their standard-bearer in the U.S. Senate race against Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan in November.

With 97% of precincts reporting, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks had 54% of the vote to 42% for Rep. David Trone (D-6th), ending a bitter campaign and the most expensive Senate primary in state history.

Alsobrooks will face off against Hogan in November, a rare Senate general election of consequence in Maryland. In unofficial returns, the former governor defeated his closest opponent, former state delegate and frequent candidate Robin Ficker, 62% to 30%. The GOP primary was called for Hogan less than an hour after polls closed.

Hogan and Alsobrooks will battle for the right to replace three-term Sen. Ben Cardin (D), who is stepping down after a 58-year career in politics.

About

Background

At the federal and state level, Maryland is a deeply blue state and one of the most reliably Democratic states in the nation, with Joe Biden carrying it by 33 points in the 2020 presidential election. Elections in Maryland are dominated by the Baltimore metropolitan area and the D.C. suburbs. Democrats currently occupy both Senate seats, seven out of eight House seats, supermajorities in both houses of the state legislature, and all statewide offices.

Republicans have not won Maryland’s Class 1 seat since 1970. Although the entry of former Maryland governor Larry Hogan is expected to make the race more competitive, the winner of the Democratic primary is favored to win in the general election given that Republicans have not won a Senate seat in the state of Maryland since 1980. The decline of split-ticket voting in U.S. Senate races is expected to favor the Democrats for this race. Hogan led in most polls through April 2024, but polls in May showed both Trone and Alsobrooks leading against Hogan, and a higher number of undecided voters.

Source: Wikipedia

Money

Total Raised and Spent

 Download .csv file

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report[210]Likely DMay 17, 2024
Inside Elections[211]Likely DMay 9, 2024

Debates and forums

2024 Maryland Senate general debates 
No.DateHostModeratorLinkParticipants
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee W  Withdrawn
Angela AlsobrooksLarry Hogan
1[256]Oct 10, 2024The Baltimore Sun
WBFF-TV
WJLA-TV
University of Baltimore
TBDTBDPP
2[256]TBDMaryland Public Television
WUSA
WJZ-TV
WBOC-TV
TBDTBDPP

Web Links

Angela Alsobrooks

Angela Deneece Alsobrooks (born February 23, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 8th and current county executive of Prince George’s County, Maryland.

She is also the first female county executive of Prince George’s County, as well as the first African American female county executive in Maryland history. A member of the Democratic Party, Alsobrooks previously served two terms as the county’s state’s attorney from 2010 to 2018.

Alsobrooks is a candidate in the upcoming 2024 United States Senate election in Maryland. After winning the Democratic primary over U.S. representative David Trone, she will face former governor Larry Hogan in the general election.

OnAir Post: Angela Alsobrooks

Larry Hogan

Lawrence Joseph Hogan Jr. is an American politician and businessman who served as the 62nd governor of Maryland from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party and son of three-term U.S. representative Lawrence Hogan, he also served as chair of the bipartisan National Governors Association from 2019 to 2020.

Born: 1956 (age 68 years), Washington, D.C.
Party: Republican Party
Previous offices: Governor of Maryland (2015–2023), Secretary of Appointments of Maryland (2003–2007)
Education: Florida State University (1974–1978), Father Lopez Catholic High School (1974), DeMatha Catholic High School
Spouse: Yumi Hogan (m. 2004)
Descendants: Jaymi Sterling, Kim Velez, Julie Kim
Organization founded: Hogan Companies

OnAir Post: Larry Hogan

Issues

Larry Hogan

Source: Campaign Site

SECURITY

PUBLIC SAFETY
“We can no longer allow politics to get in the way of public safety. There are bipartisan common sense solutions that the federal government can urgently adopt that will make a difference and save lives. In the Senate, I will make it a top priority to bring people in both parties together to get this done, support our law enforcement, and make our communities safer.”

 Take Repeat Violent Criminals Off The Streets
In the Senate, Governor Hogan will continue to support increased criminal penalties for violent offenders. Governor Hogan will support federal law enforcement and their partner and task forces in our communities to curb violent crime just like he did as governor. In 2022, Governor Hogan showed that this could be done effectively in Baltimore City. He worked with the U.S. Attorney for Maryland to deploy strategic federal assets to get the job done, providing millions of dollars in state funding to support additional prosecutors and staff, including 10 additional Special Assistant United States Attorneys for the Baltimore Office. These prosecutors used the “Al Capone model” of pursuing federal firearms, fraud, and other criminal charges against individuals known to be repeat violent offenders. Starting in August 2022, murders in Baltimore began to decline compared to the prior year. We must adopt this proven approach at the federal level as a critical tool in our crime-fighting toolbox. On day one in the Senate, Governor Hogan will get to work to ensure Maryland has access to resources to hire federal prosecutors who will focus on breaking up these carjacking gangs and other organized crime

Get Guns Out Of The Hands Of Violent Criminals And The Mentally Ill
As Governor, Larry Hogan worked to get guns out of the hands of violent criminals and the mentally ill, leading the nation in passing red flag laws. In the Senate, he will push for common sense protections to get guns out of the hands of violent criminals and the mentally ill, including universal background checks. He will make sure we are proactive about leveraging the federal laws on the books, such as increased penalties for firearms in school zones and other federally-designated locations, to get guns out of the hands of repeat violent offenders.

Respect And Re-fund Police And Law Enforcement
Too often, our police do not get the respect and support they deserve. When calls to “Defund the Police” broke out across America, Governor Hogan was one of the first leaders to speak out in support of our police. Instead, Governor Hogan passed landmark Re-Fund The Police legislation, which provided a 50 percent increase of half a billion dollars more in state aid to local police to provide salary increases, hiring bonuses for state police agencies, and greater funding for de-escalation training, and equipment. In the Senate, he will lead the fight to Re-Fund our police at the federal level with greater training for law enforcement, more school resource officers, and funding to solve violent crimes, including the VICTIM Act that would provide critical resources to help law enforcement solve the most violent crimes. In addition, he will work to reverse cuts on flexible and highly used programs that police around the nation depend on, like Byrne Grants, that fund overtime for drug investigations, technology upgrades, and necessary equipment.

Let Law Enforcement Do Their Jobs
Law enforcement already has a hard enough job, but the federal government makes it even harder by tacking on unreasonable requirements and tying needed funding and tools to their political agendas. Federal resources are too micromanaged by Congress and federal bureaucrats. Congress should provide federal, state, and local law enforcement with the funding and flexibility to do their jobs.

Hold Prosecutors And Senate Confirmed Nominees Accountable
We’ve seen too many of our US cities suffer crime spikes because rogue prosecutors have failed to do their jobs. Tragically, juvenile crime has been surging in Maryland and Washington, DC, because of the failure to provide real accountability and rehabilitation. As Governor, Larry Hogan fought for and passed the Judicial Transparency Act to provide more transparency for the public to hold judges and prosecutors accountable. In the Senate, Larry Hogan will press for more accountability for those who fail to enforce the law. He will hold Senate-confirmed appointees accountable and ensure they will uphold their duty to enforce the law.

Stop Reckless DC Policies That Are Hurting Marylanders
Congress has a constitutional responsibility to provide oversight on local legislation passed by the District of Columbia’s City Council. This is critical for Maryland families who border Washington and feel the destructive impact of soft-on-crime policies. All too often, DC leaders have been promoting and passing legislation that decriminalizes serious crimes and has resulted in a crime wave impacting the District and Maryland suburbs. While crimes like carjacking have increased in the District and Maryland suburbs, the DC Council has tried to pass legislation that would have eliminated sentencing requirements and significantly reduced the penalties for nearly all offenses. This would include even violent crimes such as carjackings, armed robberies, and even homicides. If elected, Larry Hogan will hold these leaders accountable who fail to enforce the law and keep the citizens of the region safe.

Dismantle Drug Trafficking Cartels
Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs have caused an unprecedented amount of harm in Maryland and throughout the nation. As Governor, Larry Hogan created the first state-level coordinating agency to tap the resources of the entire state to provide a balanced approach to curbing demand via treatment and prevention while supporting law enforcement to go after volume dealers. In the Senate, Governor Hogan will make sure the federal government is a partner providing the needed resources to work across state and county lines to take these violent organized criminal enterprises apart. The failure to secure the border has become a perfect storm of chaos for criminal cartels that are profiting from a surge in human trafficking, fentanyl, and other drug smuggling. He will work across the aisle to finally secure the border by fixing the asylum process, sending more resources to law enforcement on the border with more Customs and Border Patrol agents, increasing the number of immigration judges, and dismantling the criminal cartel networks.

Dignity, Respect, And Resources For Victims Of Crime
Every act of violent crime leaves behind victims and their families, who are all too often re-victimized during the criminal justice process. That’s why Governor Hogan’s administration always prioritized victim’s rights. While Congress reduced funding for key programs that support rape victims and domestic violence, Governor Hogan made up the difference and funded these critical programs. As Senator, Larry Hogan will fight to increase funding for these important programs that victims and their families depend on.

Help Those Who Have Served Their Time Re-enter Society
As Governor, Larry Hogan led the nation in enacting the Second Chance Act to help people who had paid their debts successfully re-enter society. He also enacted the landmark Justice Reinvestment Initiative that prioritized prison sentences for violent offenders, and job training and drug rehabilitation programs in prisons. As Senator, Larry Hogan will continue his efforts at the federal level and support important legislation like the federal Second Chance Act to help communities and returning citizens successfully reintegrate into society.

Provide Mental Health And Substance Abuse Treatment For Those Who Need It
Governor Hogan dramatically increased treatment in our communities, jails, and prisons. He made sure that returning citizens have access to treatment upon release, ensured access to medication-assisted treatment in Maryland correctional facilities, and funded lifesaving projects. In the Senate, Governor Hogan will build on this critical work to support Maryland’s recovery community and affected families, and make sure those who need mental health and substance abuse treatment have access to these lifesaving resources.

PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH

Governor Hogan believes that the best way to secure peace is through American strength. He will work to ensure America invests in a strong military and cyberdefenses. As Governor, he made it a top priority to strongly support members of the Maryland National Guard and active-duty military and helped make Maryland the cyber capital of America, working in partnership with the NSA, U.S. Cyber Command, and the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.

America is strongest when we stand up to our enemies and for our allies. As Governor, he worked to deepen Maryland’s relationships with our allies around the world like Israel, South Korea, Japan, and Ukraine. While war rages in Europe and the Middle East, we desperately need a proven and experienced leader like Governor Hogan in the Senate to continue that critical work.

SECURE THE BORDER

For far too long, Washington politicians have cared more about keeping the broken immigration system as a campaign issue than finding actual solutions. As a result, the humanitarian crisis at the border has continued to worsen, becoming a perfect storm of chaos for criminal cartels that are profiting from a surge in human trafficking and the smuggling of fentanyl and other illicit drugs. Meanwhile, immigrants who attempt to enter the country through legal channels are unfairly punished.

Governor Hogan will work to take the gridlock and the partisan nonsense out of this critical issue. He will advance solutions to secure the border and pass meaningful immigration reform that encourages more legal immigration. This means fixing the asylum process, sending more resources to law enforcement on the border with more Customs and Border Protection agents, increasing the number of immigration judges, and dismantling the criminal cartel networks.

AFFORDABILITY
MAKING MARYLAND MORE AFFORDABLE

“For eight years, I fought every single day to make life more affordable and delivered on that mission. We eliminated 350 fees, cut taxes by $4.7 billion, and cut tolls for the first time in 50 years—including right here at the Bay Bridge. When we cut those tolls, many Maryland politicians scoffed. But I knew that for so many Marylanders who are struggling to get by, any relief can make all the difference in the world. Today, the economic headwinds hard-working Marylanders face are even more challenging than a decade ago. I am not going to ask or care what side of the aisle an idea came from. I am going to ask a simple question: will it deliver economic relief for hardworking Maryland families? We need strong, independent leadership to make life more affordable, and with this plan, that’s exactly what I’ll do.

ACCELERATE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT MIDDLE-CLASS HOUSING

Unaffordable housing costs have made it impossible for far too many Marylanders to achieve the American dream of homeownership. As a homebuilder himself, Governor Hogan would make it a top priority to address this crisis. As Governor, Larry Hogan made record investments in affordable housing programs—dramatically increasing the state’s commitment to providing middle-class and workforce housing. He spearheaded innovative uses of public-private partnerships to build more than 28,000 housing units throughout the state.

Unnecessary regulations and red tape are part of the problem. Today, 24% of the cost of a home is due to federal, state, and local regulations. Each new regulation increases these costs and makes homeownership even less affordable for Marylanders and Americans.

In the Senate, Larry Hogan will fight to stop these overbearing regulations. He will also work to pass legislation like the Smith-Wyden bill that would incentivize the development of more than 200,000 homes for working families who have been priced out of the housing market. He will support reforms to federal grant funding to encourage local governments to eliminate excessive regulations that stifle new housing construction. In addition, he will hold federal bureaucrats accountable for policies that add to housing costs, expedite permitting by removing roadblocks to force agencies to complete reviews on time, and support construction trades workforce development programs to keep up with the demand.

REDUCE OUT-OF-CONTROL HEALTHCARE COSTS

Washington DC politicians argue about healthcare, but fail to actually do anything to address what most people care about: the out-of-control prices. As Governor, Larry Hogan put aside the partisan nonsense and delivered common sense solutions to cut the cost of healthcare premiums 30%. His administration successfully negotiated innovative healthcare models for Maryland that controlled the cost of healthcare while improving patient outcomes and quality. When Republicans in the US Senate tried to repeal Obamacare in 2017 without a sound alternative that worked for Maryland, Larry Hogan voiced his opposition to this idea.

As a Senator, Larry Hogan will move us past these repetitive partisan battles and focus on reducing costs through greater competition, innovation, transparency, and choice in the healthcare marketplace. He will advance common sense bipartisan solutions that will stabilize markets and actually expand affordable coverage. He will fight the Biden administration’s proposal to increase Medicare Advantage premiums and lead on passing legislation to hold accountable Prescription Benefit Managers (PBM) middle men who are driving up the cost of prescription drugs.

STAND AGAINST UNAFFORDABLE SPENDING AND MANDATES RAISING COST OF ENERGY, FOOD, AND BASIC NECESSITIES

Unaffordable regulations and excessive government spending drive up the cost of everything, especially the cost of energy and food. Governor Hogan is a proven fiscally responsible leader who eliminated thousands of burdensome government regulations and fees while working across the aisle with a Democratic legislature to transform a record budget deficit into a record surplus. He will bring that same common sense and balanced approach to the Senate to make everyday essentials like food, gas, and basic household items more affordable for working Marylanders.

RELIEF FOR OUR SENIORS

“When I was running for governor in 2014, as I traveled around the state over and over again I heard people say ‘I don’t want to leave my kids and grandkids, but I can’t afford to retire in Maryland. As governor, I fought for 8 years and in my final year I finally got them to pass the Retirement Tax Elimination Act of 2023—a much deserved break for seniors for the first time in decades in Maryland. There is still more work to be done and in the Senate I will continue fighting for tax relief for all of our nation’s retirees.

 PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE
Governor Hogan will always fight to protect Social Security and Medicare, especially for seniors who depend on this vital program. They paid into the system, earned these benefits, and deserve their fair share. Seniors that have already reached retirement and those close to retirement need to be protected from changes to benefits they have planned on.

END INFLATION TAX HIKES
While most parts of the tax code are indexed to inflation, several key aspects are not, including housing gains, social security, and child tax credits. This results in pushing many Americans into higher tax brackets, increasing the tax burden for many who are just struggling to get by with higher costs. In the Senate, Governor Hogan will fight to end this unfairness in the tax code that is punishing so many Marylanders struggling with inflation.

STOP MEDICARE ADVANTAGE CUTS
As runaway inflation continues to eat away at earnings power, seniors are worried that increased medical and prescription costs will make it difficult to afford the health care they need and deserve. The Biden administration has proposed Medicare Advantage cuts that will hurt hundreds of thousands of Maryland seniors who are already struggling on fixed incomes with inflation eating away at their hard-earned savings. In the Senate, Governor Hogan will fight these Medicare cuts and protect Maryland Seniors.

LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES
As Governor, Larry Hogan supported and signed legislation that held Prescription Benefit Managers (PBM) middlemen who are driving up the cost of prescription drugs accountable and required more transparency. Most PBM’s today are owned by massive insurance companies and too often they hold on to discounts and get in the way of decisions that should belong to doctors, pharmacists, and their patients.

As a Senator, Governor Hogan will fight for legislation that requires these savings to be passed on to patients and taxpayers. He will vote to force the Federal Trade Commission to aggressively investigate these unfair and abusive pricing schemes that make it more difficult to get the health care seniors need. Pharmaceutical middlemen must be made accountable to the public.

REPEAL SALT CAP TAX HIKE
The cap on the state and local tax deduction (SALT) increases the tax burden on Marylanders who have worked their entire lives to afford a home and who are already struggling amid crushing inflation. In the Senate, Larry Hogan will fight to repeal this cap.

RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
“As governor, I was proud to change the entire mission of state government to be unabashedly pro-jobs and pro-business, and jumpstart the greatest economic turnaround in America. We helped small businesses like Marlin Steel expand by finding ways to reduce the tax and regulatory burden, and through innovative incentive programs like More Jobs For Marylanders. With the plan we’re launching today, I’m looking forward to bringing these same policies and ideas to the United States Senate.”

Small businesses are the backbone of America’s economy, creating tens of millions of jobs. However, too often, they don’t have a voice in Washington. Politicians in both parties are not looking out for the hard-working small businesses that make our economy run.

Larry Hogan is not a career politician. He is a lifelong small business owner who decided to run for governor in 2014 because he was fed up with the overburdensome regulations and 43 consecutive tax hikes that crushed Maryland’s economy. Once in office, Governor Hogan kept his promise to champion small businesses. He eliminated thousands of job-killing regulations and cut taxes for eight years in a row by $4.7 billion, including tax cuts for small businesses. He successfully turned Maryland’s economy from 49th out of 50 states to number six – the greatest economic turnaround in America. After eight years in office, Maryland ranked 3rd in the nation for the number of small businesses as a percentage of total companies.

With unaffordable inflation and overburdensome regulations, our small businesses are getting squeezed across the country. In just the last three years, the federal government has added $1.5 trillion in regulatory costs onto the backs of small businesses.

In the Senate, Larry Hogan will be a champion for our small businesses to get our economy moving:

REDUCE TAXES AND PROVIDE STABILITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
With unaffordable inflation and overburdensome regulations, our small businesses are getting squeezed across the country. In just the last three years, the federal government has added $1.5 trillion in regulatory costs onto the backs of small businesses.

In the Senate, Governor Hogan will fight to reduce the tax burden on small businesses. In 2025, over 30 million small business owners will face a massive tax hike if Congress does not act. Governor Hogan will fight to make the Small Business Deduction permanent to give them the stability they need to grow our economy and create jobs.

CUT EXCESSIVE RED TAPE
Small businesses are the backbone of America’s economy, creating tens of millions of jobs. As Governor, Larry Hogan eliminated thousands of regulations and fees that hurt small businesses and job growth. In the Senate, he will continue to be a champion for regulatory reform and reign in regulatory overreach from federal agencies targeting small businesses.

MAKE IT EASIER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT WORKERS
The unaffordable cost of healthcare is making it nearly impossible for countless small businesses to provide critical benefits for their employees. As Governor, Larry Hogan was able to work across the aisle to lower healthcare costs for small businesses. As a Senator, he will once again work across the aisle to do the same by expanding health insurance coverage options for small businesses and providing greater flexibility to support their employees.

FIXING CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE

Larry Hogan has long been a champion for rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure. As Governor, he launched an infrastructure renaissance by moving forward on priority projects in every jurisdiction; making record investments in roads, bridges, tunnels, transit systems, ports, and airports; fixing every structurally deficient bridge that the administration inherited; and resurfacing nearly all of the state highway system. He implemented significant and dramatic expansions at both the Port of Baltimore and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to keep them modern, competitive, and thriving. Maryland’s approach to infrastructure under the governor’s leadership is one of the key reasons CNBC named it America’s most improved state for business.

The Governor’s bipartisan approach created results across the country. As Chair of the nation’s governors, he launched a national, year-long initiative focused on fixing America’s crumbling infrastructure. At the end of 2019, Governor Hogan submitted these recommendations to Congress on behalf of all 50 of the nation’s governors and these ultimately became the basis of the bipartisan infrastructure law.

In 2021, when toxic politics made passing an infrastructure compromise nearly impossible, Governor Hogan brought Democratic and Republican state and federal leaders together in Annapolis and hammered out a compromise that would lead to the bipartisan infrastructure law, providing a historic national commitment to rebuilding our nation’s roads, bridges, airports, and transportation networks.

However, there is still far more work to do. Much of the federal funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law was eaten away by inflation and slowed down by excessive red tape. As a Senator, Larry Hogan will continue to be the same results-oriented leader who can actually cut through the partisan nonsense to get infrastructure rebuilt. He will lead the fight to secure critical infrastructure funding and to eliminate job-killing regulations through permitting reform.

This starts with rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge and addressing the soul-crushing traffic. Current estimates are that the new Francis Scott Key Bridge will not be rebuilt until 2028. Governor Hogan believes that is unacceptable. In 2022, as governor, we opened the new Nice-Middleton Bridge—which is similar in size—across the Potomac, under budget and ahead of schedule. Governor Hogan will work to expedite the environmental and the Endangered Species Act review and get this project done ahead of schedule.

OPPORTUNITY
ENSURING A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD
“I have always believed every child deserves to have access to a world-class education, regardless of what zip code they happen to grow up in. Great schools like Archbishop Borders embody the power of a great education and create opportunities for Maryland’s future leaders. Our administration made unprecedented strides to empower parents, build first-rate school facilities, and expand choice and innovation—and I’ll take the same approach to the Senate.”

Governor Hogan believes every child across our country deserves access to a world-class education, regardless of what zip code they happen to grow up in. To make our schools the best in the world, we need to embrace innovative ideas for the 21st century instead of continuing to be weighed down by old partisan divisions.

For eight years, Governor Hogan ensured that Maryland public schools had record funding every year, supporting children with special needs and computer science programs like Girls Who Code. He supported programs like P-TECH that allow high school students to earn a degree while gaining career training. He boosted charter schools and created the BOOST program so that underserved children could attend a non-public school of their choice. No administration in Maryland history did more to improve the physical condition of our public schools. Under Governor Hogan’s leadership, Maryland provided more than $4.7 billion for school construction over eight years.

As Governor, Larry Hogan always worked to make higher education more affordable, funding higher education at record levels, providing historical support for HBCUs, preventing tuition increases, and granting scholarships to low-income and middle-income students from Maryland to cover the full cost of tuition for community colleges. He started innovative programs to address the student debt crisis, including allowing first-time homebuyers to roll student loans into their mortgage and made interest on student loans deductible on state taxes. He consistently advocated providing incentives, credits, and other innovative programs to help families save for college.

Larry Hogan will bring this same common sense approach to the Senate. Just as he did as Governor, Senator Hogan will advocate for greater funding with real accountability, results, and choice. He will work across the aisle to advance innovative ideas that create new pathways for success for every child. And he will fight for tax credits, educational scholarship accounts, charter schools, and more flexibility for 529 accounts that empower kids and their parents with the tools to shape their own destiny.

EXPANDING PATHWAYS TO THE AMERICAN DREAM

“I am so proud that in 2022, we were able to make Maryland the first state in the nation to eliminate unnecessary college degree requirements for jobs in state governments. A number of states have followed our lead, but much more needs to be done to remove barriers for workers–particularly at the federal level. I will bring that same innovative approach to the United States Senate to make these opportunities even more accessible.”

ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY COLLEGE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
A prestigious degree must not be the only pathway to the American dream. It’s common sense that success should be determined by skills and experience, not just a credential or a degree.

As Governor, Larry Hogan led the nation in tearing down the paper ceiling. For too long, qualified Marylanders were locked out of a job working for the state government because they lacked a college degree, disproportionately harming people of color, people from remote communities, and veterans. Governor Hogan was the first governor in America to direct all state agencies to eliminate these requirements when the job did not require a degree. This model has now been followed all across the country in the private and public sectors.

Governor Hogan believes every Marylander and American deserves the opportunity to succeed. Sadly, only 36 percent of Americans believe that the American dream — that anyone can get ahead through hard work — is still alive today. As Governor, Larry Hogan advanced bipartisan common sense solutions to expand economic opportunity for all Marylanders, including making Maryland the best in the nation for economic opportunity for women. Governor Hogan will take that same approach to the Senate.

EXPAND APPRENTICESHIP, JOB TRAINING, AND OPPORTUNITIES
Governor Hogan has been a champion for investing in our workers. He made Maryland a national leader in innovative job training, workforce development, and apprenticeship programs like EARN that invest in our workers and help meet the increasing demand for essential skilled jobs. Under Governor Hogan, total registered apprenticeships grew by 38.84%, and the number of youth apprentices enrolled in the Governor’s Apprenticeship Maryland Program grew by over 1,000%. The administration also modernized apprenticeship opportunities for Marylanders, expanding to 89 new occupations, including cybersecurity, healthcare, and information technology. By late 2022, over 12,000 apprentices—the highest ever in state history—were registered across Maryland’s 182 active apprenticeship programs, partnering with 3,879 employers. In 2016, Governor Hogan launched P-TECH, an innovative program for students from all backgrounds that creates clear paths from high school to college and then on to successful careers by partnering with private sector sponsors. In six years or less, students graduate with a high school diploma and, at no cost, a two-year associate degree in a critical STEM field.

As a Senator, Governor Hogan will be a champion for expanding federal support for apprenticeships. Maryland is currently not in compliance with federal law allowing military spouses to use their professional licenses in the states where their spouses are stationed. Governor Hogan will fight for our military families and make it a top priority to ensure those who make incredible sacrifices for our freedom do not have their dreams and livelihoods crushed by unnecessary red tape.

Angela Alsobrooks

Source: Campaign Site

Abortion

On her first day in office, Angela will co-sponsor the Women’s Health Protection Act, a crucial step towards establishing federal legal protection for the right to provide and access abortion care. She finds it shameful that the Dobbs decision overturned 50 years of abortion rights, putting her daughter in a position where she faces the same challenges her grandmother did—deprived of the federally recognized right to make her own health care decisions.

As a Senator, Angela is determined to stand against misguided Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. Additionally, she will oppose any judicial nominee who does not support abortion rights. Angela firmly believes that Congress and the Supreme Court should respect women’s health care decisions and leave them to be made between women and their doctors.

Agriculture

Angela is committed to ensuring our farmers and fishers, from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore, have the resources they need to cultivate and grow their business. That includes access to federal programs and support as well as investing in rural broadband to ensure every Marylander has access to high speed internet. Our agriculture industry plays an important role on the front lines of protecting the environmental health of our state, and Angela would work alongside farmers and fishers to ensure that we are working collectively to improve soil health and meet our commitments to the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Angela will strongly support nutrition assistance programs that ensure those in need have access to high quality, fresh food grown by our Maryland farmers. She also supports federal investments in agricultural research into institutions like the University of Maryland and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center to ensure the next generation of farmers have the tools they need to produce in an ever changing economy and environment.

Oftentimes, minority farmers have lacked an equitable amount of access to capital and resources. Angela would seek to ensure that we eliminate discriminatory policies that have had a harmful effect on these communities.

Climate Change

Angela knows urgent action is necessary to address the climate crisis and protect the environment. As County Executive, she issued an Executive Order for Prince George’s County, setting ambitious targets to reduce the 2005 emission levels by half before 2030 and net zero by 2045. Angela believes the U.S. should adopt a similar timeline. In Prince George’s County, she initiated investments in electric vehicles and sustainable building design to move towards a greener future. Additionally, she implemented a county-wide composting program to reduce and reuse organic waste.

She strongly supports President Biden’s efforts to address climate change, including the measures passed in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. These pieces of legislation prioritize investments in clean energy and aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

If elected to the Senate, Angela will be a vocal advocate for expanding tax credits for clean energy, ensuring that all U.S. Government purchases, from buildings to vehicles, align with emission goals. She will also work towards the U.S. actively participating in and fulfilling its obligations to international efforts in combating climate change. Angela expresses her readiness to proudly co-sponsor Senator Van Hollen’s Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act, which seeks to ensure that the largest contributors of fossil fuel emissions take responsibility by paying their fair share in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Education

Angela firmly believes that the investments made into the education system reflect the value society places on its children and how these children feel valued by their community. However, she recognizes that there has been a failure to make adequate investments across the board in education. Many students attend schools in deteriorating buildings and are taught by underpaid and underappreciated teachers. As a response to this issue, Angela took a groundbreaking approach in Prince George’s County by implementing a first-in-the-nation strategy for building new schools.‍

Angela spearheaded the construction of 10 new schools in Prince George’s County, accomplishing this feat with the help of a public-private partnership (P3) model that can deliver schools 10 years faster and at a cost of 15-20% less without the need to raise new taxes. She firmly believes that providing schools that are properly built, equipped with heating and cooling systems, advanced technology, and free from safety concerns is crucial in ensuring students can learn effectively and graduate from high school well-prepared for college or the workforce.

Angela also understands the importance of career and technical education (CTE), Our students all have different gifts and not every student desires to go to college, and instead complete vocational training. As a result, she allocated $15 million to construct a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Hub at Crossland High School in Temple Hills, to prepare students to work in various employment industries including automotive, barbering and cosmetology, and electrical. Students enrolled in the CTE program have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications and college credits, in addition to gaining real-world work experience. She has also invested and fought for additional federal funding for Prince George’s County’s Summer Youth Enrichment Program to give youth constructive summer work experiences.

Angela also emphasizes the importance of investing in the teaching profession. She strongly advocates for raising teacher pay and providing proper training for educators. As County Executive, she funded the largest salary increase in a generation for all Prince George County school system employees. Angela firmly believes that teachers deserve a living wage and should not be burdened with having to cover basic job-related expenses out of their own pockets.

Angela sees one of the fundamental mistakes made in the country is relying on local jurisdictions funded primarily by property taxes as the primary source of school funding. She strongly opposes this approach as it results in unequal educational opportunities, with the quality of a child’s education being determined by their zip code. Angela firmly believes that we should expand Title I funding and that the burden of education should be lifted off of local budgets to ensure fair and equitable opportunities for all students.

Education does not end with high school and Angela strongly supports efforts to lower the cost of college education to ensure all students have the opportunity to pursue a higher education. She supports expanding Pell Grants, offering free community college to low income students and improving access to low interest student loans for all students. Angela also supports President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan and would advocate for Congress taking action in light of the Court’s ruling against Biden’s executive action.

Equality

Angela appointed the first-ever LGBTQ+  liaison to better serve the community and connect members of the LGBTQ+ community to critical County resources. She will continue to stand up for the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans, including the right to marry, grow their families, and live free from discrimination, in the Senate. She will strongly oppose Republican efforts to undermine equality and promote discrimination including the recent wave of anti-trans legislation in some Republican led legislatures. Angela believes we must speak out against anti-trans hate and violence, from bullying in our schools, to violent hate-based crimes, to discriminatory legislation.

Gun Safety

Angela has personally witnessed the devastating effects of gun violence and the immense pain and destruction it inflicts on the community, both in her roles as a prosecutor and County Executive. Angela firmly believes that the current gun laws are inadequate in preventing guns from falling into the wrong hands, whether it’s criminals, individuals with mental instability, domestic abusers, or even children.

As a mother, Angela has been deeply affected by the tragic loss of too many children to gun violence and is frustrated by the lack of action from Washington. She is committed to fighting for essential gun safety legislation to protect children and communities from school shootings, mass shootings, and other gun violence. Angela’s proposed measures include implementing universal background checks, closing the gun show loophole, banning military-style weapons like AR-15s, and prohibiting devices like bump stocks. Additionally, she supports the implementation of red flag laws to prevent dangerous individuals from acquiring firearms.

‍Angela strongly believes that legal protections enjoyed by gun companies, which shield them from being held accountable for their products and dangerous marketing practices, should be eliminated. She believes that everyone, especially those profiting from gun sales, should have a stake in addressing and curbing gun violence in the country.

Health Care

Angela believes health care is a fundamental right and all Americans should have access to quality and affordable health care. That’s why as County Executive, she has worked to expand health care access, including a state-of-the-art mental health care and addiction care facility in Lanham, and a crisis stabilization center in southern Prince George’s County. She secured funding to build the county’s first dedicated cancer center, and ensured all Prince Georgians had access to vaccines during the COVID-19 crisis. She also funded the Health Assures program which covered over 55,000 patient visits for uninsured residents during a two-year period.

‍In the Senate, Angela will build upon the Affordable Care Act to ensure universal health coverage and bring down the cost of health care to ensure all Americans don’t have to make critical health care decisions based on their financial situation. She believes it’s time for Congress to act to expand Medicaid for millions of Americans that should be covered by the ACA Medicaid expansion but live in the 10 states whose Republican legislators refuse to expand coverage in their states.

Angela also believes it’s time to pass a Medicare buy-in option and apply ACA subsidies to the plan to ensure all Americans have access regardless of their income. Medicare buy-in balances the critical need to cover all Americans while driving down costs of private insurance and ensuring those who enjoy their current insurance plans can continue to do so.‍

Covering all Americans is not enough, too many people in this country remain underinsured. Angela supports placing caps on total out-of-pocket expenses to ensure no one faces bills, even if insured, that they cannot afford and expanding the ability for the Federal government to negotiate prescription drug prices to ensure all Americans can afford the prescriptions they need.

Immigration

Angela knows that the United States is a nation of immigrants, and she is deeply concerned about the bitter and polarized discourse surrounding immigration system reform, which often dehumanizes hardworking immigrants seeking a better life for their families. Throughout her career as State’s Attorney and County Executive, Angela has consistently fought for fair treatment of immigrants and their ability to live and work with dignity, irrespective of their legal status.

During her tenure as Prince George’s County State’s Attorney in 2013, Angela was a vocal advocate and pushed to pass legislation allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, promoting safer roads and enabling immigrants to legally commute to work. She was an early and vocal supporter of the Maryland Dream Act, actively encouraging the legislature to pass this important legislation.

As County Executive, Angela instituted a formal policy on how Prince George’s County interacts with federal immigration officials. Under her direction, the county’s Department of Corrections was instructed to notify ICE only in cases where an undocumented immigrant was arrested and charged with gang-related or violent criminal offenses, believing that deportation should not result from minor offenses like speeding tickets.

Furthermore, Angela declined to enter into a 287(g) agreement with ICE during her time as County Executive. While she strongly supports local law enforcement collaborating with federal agencies to address and remove all gang members and violent criminals from the community, she firmly believes that local law enforcement should not be involved in routine enforcement of a person’s immigration status.

Angela created the Office of Multicultural Affairs to better serve immigrant populations. She also implemented and funded the Language Access Program for Public Services, which ensures all residents can access government services in the language of their preference.‍

If elected to the Senate, Angela will be a strong advocate for comprehensive immigration reform to mend the broken immigration system. This reform will include creating a pathway to citizenship for those already living and working in the United States. Additionally, Angela will fervently support initiatives such as The American Dream and Promise Act, aimed at safeguarding the rights and future of DREAMers and TPS recipients. She firmly believes that these individuals deserve certainty and security, regardless of who holds the office of the President.

National Security and Foreign Policy

Angela firmly believes that the United States has a pivotal role to play in the international economy and in promoting peace worldwide. She advocates for diplomacy-first policies that align with American values and contribute to global peace. Angela is committed to speaking out against dictators and authoritarian regimes and supports legislation aimed at imposing tough sanctions on nations that violate international law and abuse their citizens’ human rights.

‍Furthermore, Angela is a staunch supporter of maintaining the strength of the U.S. military, recognizing its importance in national defense. She is particularly dedicated to supporting Maryland’s crucial role in the nation’s defense. Maryland is home to 11 military bases, including Joint Base Andrews, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort Detrick, Fort Meade, and others, all of which provide essential resources, personnel, and support to all branches of the military. Angela takes pride in Maryland being the proud home of the U.S. Naval Academy, where the Navy’s next generation of leaders are trained. As a Senator, Angela will be a vocal advocate for securing the funding and support necessary to sustain these critical installations.

Protecting the Chesapeake Bay

Angela recognizes the Chesapeake Bay as one of the country’s most precious natural treasures and believes in the necessity of safeguarding its beauty and natural ecosystem. She understands the significant role the Bay plays in Maryland’s economy, from tourism to fishing, and recognizes the importance of protecting it for the benefit of future generations, allowing them to enjoy all the Bay has to offer. Our watermen rely on the bay for good jobs and protecting their business is important for Maryland’s economy.

As County Executive, Angela invested $1.3 billion into stormwater management programs, doing her part at the county level to help improve the water quality of the local rivers and streams that affect the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In her first term, Prince George’s County removed over 410 tons of litter from the Anacostia river.

If elected to the Senate, Angela will be a strong advocate for increasing funding for Chesapeake Bay clean-up and protection efforts. Additionally, she is already a vocal supporter of Senator Van Hollen’s legislation designating the Chesapeake National Recreation Area as a part of the National Parks System, further solidifying its status as a nationally recognized and protected area.

Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform

As a prosecutor, Angela had a firsthand view of the inner workings of the criminal justice system, and she knows well the misery that often exists within it. In her experience, the criminal justice system becomes the destination for individuals when society fails to invest adequately in education, health care, jobs, and families.

Angela firmly believes that the first task at hand is to keep families safe. She believes that everyone has the right to feel secure in their homes, every child and teacher should feel safe in their schools, and businesses should have confidence in locating in the community. During her time as State’s Attorney, Prince George’s County saw a 50% reduction in violent crime – an achievement Angela helped reach by focusing on prosecuting violent criminals and allocating resources to keep those who pose the greatest threat to families off the streets.

Feeling safe and secure in the community also involves having trust in law enforcement. Angela made it a priority to hold police officers accountable for any wrongdoing, ensuring that they faced charges and prosecution when they committed crimes. As County Executive, she established a Police Reform Work Group in the summer of 2020, with the goal of investigating and recommending necessary reforms for the Prince George’s County Police Department. She has since hired a reform-minded chief who specializes in 21st century policing and is implementing 46 of the 50 recommendations made by the Work Group.

Angela also believes in giving people a second chance. That’s why as State’s Attorney, she started Back on Track-Prince George’s to give first-time nonviolent felony drug offenders a second chance and a clean record. As County Executive, she started the Returning Citizens Affairs Division in her Administration to better serve returning citizens and ensure a holistic approach for those transitioning back to the community.

‍If elected to the Senate, Angela will passionately fight to ensure proper funding and nationwide implementation of standards to keep families safe and to reform the criminal justice system. She firmly believes in the need for comprehensive changes that promote safety, justice, and equity for all residents.

Seniors

Like many Marylanders, Angela is a part of the sandwich generation, caring for and supporting both her teenage daughter and her aging parents. She knows the challenges of witnessing her parents, who taught her everything she knows, grow older, and believes that they deserve to age and retire with dignity.

As a U.S. Senator, Angela will advocate for the protection and preservation of Social Security and Medicare. She views these programs as a promise made to seniors and firmly opposes any efforts to defund or privatize them. Angela strongly stands against raising the retirement age or cutting benefits for either program.

‍She is a staunch supporter of the Biden Administration’s efforts in the Inflation Reduction Act, which enables Medicare to negotiate certain prescription drug prices and cap the cost of insulin. Angela believes that extending the ability of Medicare to negotiate drug prices should apply to all drugs, and she supports capping any drug price increases for seniors at the rate of inflation each year. Additionally, she advocates for eliminating the payroll cap on Social Security taxes to ensure the long-term solvency of the program.

Standing up for Workers

Angela is an advocate for raising the minimum wage in Maryland to $15 an hour and believes it should be done federally. As a Senator, she will support increasing the minimum wage and indexing any increase to inflation to ensure that families can keep up with the cost of living.

She is committed to protecting workers’ rights. Building an economy that works for all Marylanders requires a commitment to the people who make that economy work. Angela will be a strong supporter of passing the PRO Act in the Senate to strengthen workers’ rights to collective bargaining and make it harder for corporations to prevent workers from organizing.

Angela also supports enacting universal paid family and medical leave policies to ensure all Americans can have the paid time off to care for their family and their health when needed. Maryland made great strides with the Time to Care Act of 2022 to ensuring all Marylanders have the time off they earned and Angela is committed to expanding those policies nationwide.

The Economy

One of Angela’s earliest memories is her father taking her and her sister to work with him as a newspaper distributor for the Washington Post. They would wake early in the morning and ride with him on the truck as he delivered the newspaper. He told them once, “I jump on and off this dirty truck every morning so you don’t have to.” He taught Angela that a job is more than just a paycheck and that there is dignity in all work.

As County Executive, Angela fought hard to invest in Prince George’s County’s economic growth, bringing amenities to communities that had been left behind for years. She has attracted more than a billion dollars to the Blue Line Corridor, worked to redevelop New Carrollton, and secured the first ever RAISE grant funding in Prince George’s County history to build new trails. She has also led in making the case to the federal government to build the new FBI headquarters in Maryland and for the Commanders to build a new stadium in Prince George’s County. Angela has seen the economic benefit of these kinds of investments first-hand as each project brings new jobs, new businesses, and pride in communities.

With record inflation, everyone’s paycheck is not going as far as it did just a few years ago. That’s why she fought to create and preserve affordable housing, including 5000 new affordable housing units since 2020, in Prince George’s County and would be a vocal advocate to pass a permanent Child Tax Credit, which lifted millions of children out of poverty and helped families address rising costs.

She strongly supports the investments made through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build new roads, bridges, fix access to drinking water, expand access to high-speed internet, and strengthen supply chains. Angela will be a strong advocate for continuing these critical investments into our future economy to ensure businesses have the infrastructure and tools they need to compete with companies around the globe.

Veterans

Angela believes we have an obligation to do more than say thank you to those who served our country. As County Executive, Angela was the first executive in Maryland to create a county  Office of Veterans Affairs to serve the 60,000 veterans who call Prince George’s home. The office helps veterans obtain county, state and federal resources from applying for VA benefits to resources to address PTSD and referrals for everything from health care to housing.

‍As a Senator, Angela will advocate for increased funding for VA medical centers, to ensure our veterans have the health and mental care they need. She supports modernizing our medical records system to ensure a seamless transition from active duty services to the VA system. She believes no one who served this country should ever be allowed to go hungry or homeless and will strongly support expanding programs aimed at ending veteran homelessness.

Angela will also ensure continued funding and support for the critical health care needed for service members exposed to burn pits and toxic chemicals during their service. The PACT Act took important steps to give these men and women the care they need and Angela will ensure those benefits continue

Voting Rights and Protecting Democracy

Angela has observed with deep concern an all-out assault by MAGA Republican politicians on democracy, primarily led by the Republican party under the leadership of Donald Trump. She points to efforts that have been made to make it harder for people to vote, undermine elections, and even encourage an armed insurrection. In her view, the Republican party has taken an anti-democratic stance.

‍Angela is committed to fighting for the passage of critical legislation, such as the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which empowers the Department of Justice to enforce voting rights and prevents any right-wing legislature in the country from undermining those fundamental rights. Additionally, Angela will sponsor the Freedom to Vote Act, which expands voting rights, reforms campaign finance laws, bans gerrymandering, and strengthens ethics laws for all federal office holders.

Angela firmly believes that the filibuster in the Senate should be eliminated. She sees that the current Senate is not adequately serving the needs of the American people. Too often, a partisan minority has misused the arcane filibuster rule, which was initially abused in the efforts to block civil rights legislation, and to obstruct the passage of essential and popular bills. She is determined to reform Senate rules to ensure they work in the best interest of the American people.

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