Angela Alsobrooks makes history as Maryland’s first black senator

Maryland voters made history Tuesday by voting to send Angela Alsobrooks to Washington as the first Black woman to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.

In the nation’s history, only two black women have ever been elected to the Senate, and one more has been appointed—a tally boosted significantly by victories by Alsobrooks in Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester in neighboring Delaware.

“Isn’t it nice to be in Maryland tonight?” Alsobrooks said she was cheering her on at a holiday party in Prince George’s County, where she is the county executive.

Alsobrooks noted that in the history of the country, more than 2,000 people have served in the US Senate – “and only three were like me.”

Brooks also thanked those who came before her and paved the way for her election. She said she would take their “sacrifices and stories” with her to Capitol Hill.

Half an hour earlier, a deafening roar had erupted from a crowd of several hundred seething supporters at Alsobrooks’ party as Maryland Democratic Party Vice Chair Charlene Dukes declared victory.

“It gives me great pleasure, absolute pleasure,” Dukes said to applause, “to tell you that our county executive, our friend, your neighbor, our sister in service, is a United States Senator!”

Throughout the night, guests were glued to large screens showing MSNBC coverage, cell phones ready to capture their candidate’s moment of victory.

Meanwhile, at Hogan’s party in Annapolis, Hogan admitted defeat.

“I just spoke with the Alsobrooks County Commissioner and congratulated her on her hard-fought victory,” Hogan told supporters around 10 p.m. “In the history of our country, only three African American women have ever served in the United States Senate. Tonight, no matter who you voted for, we can all be proud of the election of the first Black woman to represent Maryland.”

Hogan thanked the people of “deep blue Maryland who were willing to put country before politics and split their tickets.”

Alsobrooks thanked Hogan for the congratulatory call. “I know we both have a very deep love for Maryland,” Alsobrooks said.

And she addressed those who did not vote for her: “I hear your voice and I will be your senator too,” she said.

During her 15-minute speech, Alsobrooks thanked a long list of people who made her victory possible, from her family to her volunteers to “the worst campaign team” in the business. The biggest applause came when she thanked members of the Divine Nine, historically black fraternities and sororities who mobilized voters.

Brooks also promised to focus on issues that matter to Marylanders, from expanding economic opportunity and protecting reproductive rights to strengthening democracy.

“To every Marylander, I say this: I will make your concern my concern; your hope is my focus; and your dreams are my work for the coming days and years,” she said.

Behind her, several dozen people waved lime green signs that read “Angela is my senator” and blue signs that read “Team Maryland.”

Alsobrooks supporters rejoiced at the victory.

“Maryland: We just voted to codify abortion rights into the Maryland Constitution,” Gov. Wes Moore said. “We just voted to send Kamala Harris to the White House to become our next President! And we just voted—overwhelmingly, decisively, and lovingly—to send our friend Angela Alsobrooks to the United States Senate!”

“I’m so proud to have stood by Angela’s side,” U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, the dean of the state’s Capitol Hill delegation and a key supporter of Alsobrooks, said earlier in the evening.

“I am so proud that she will be my United States Senator, your United States Senator, your United States Senator and your United States Senator,” Hoyer said to applause, gesturing to the crowd.

The ballroom was bathed in bright green, the signature color of Alsobrooks’ campaign. Guests could take photos in front of a life-size photo of Alsobrooks surrounded by green and silver balloons.

Alsobrooks and Hogan have been in a bitter race for months for the Senate seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin. who decided not to run again. Each hoped their victory would propel their party into power in the Senate, where Democrats held a slim 51-49 lead going into the election.

The race was unusually competitive for Maryland, which has elected only Democrats to the Senate for nearly four decades. And the national fallout from the race has attracted attention and money from wealthy interests beyond state lines. Tens of millions of dollars joined the candidates’ own election campaignsand third-party groups spent tens of millions more on television advertising — making it likely the most expensive campaign in state history.

In the final days of the campaign, Hogan donated $500,000 of his own money to his campaign committee, according to federal records.

Each brings experience and compelling arguments to the race: Hogan is a popular two-term former governor, while Alsobrooks was twice elected county executive in Prince George’s County and was previously a prosecutor.

Hogan has repeatedly stated that he will independent and moderating voice if elected to the Senate, regardless of which party controls the situation. Hogan repeatedly clashed with Donald Trump, although the ex-president still lukewarmly supported the former governor.

About abortion Hogan stakes his position is at odds with much of his party by saying he would support codifying the right to abortion care nationally.

Alsobrooks, meanwhile, stressed that she will help Democrats pass policies that Marylanders approve of — and that Hogan would give Republicans the ability to vote unpopularly, such as by restricting abortion.

Both candidates touted their accomplishments in office. Hogan indicated the state would remain with a budget surplus, although that was largely due to federal pandemic aid and his efforts to reduce the government workforce.

Alsobrooks noted that her work contributed to Prince George’s economic development and crime reduction while she was a prosecutor, although she faced challenges criticism within one’s own party during her tenure.

And both faced contradictions: Alsobrooks improperly received tax breaks on the property, which she promised to return, while Hogan was questioned about whether he was involved in affordable housing subsidies. provided to companies that may have dealt with his real estate firm.

Both candidates expressed cautious optimism during voting Tuesday morning.

“It’s a great day for an upset win,” Hogan said outside Davidsonville Elementary School, looking out at several dozen fans wearing T-shirts emblazoned with his face and name.

“From the very beginning, another campaign has been pouring in tens of millions of dollars of dark money from across the country, and we have all of you,” he said. “And they attract big stars. Our stars are everyday people here in Maryland.”

Hogan failed to mention that he was supported by a super PAC called Maryland’s Future, which spent tens of millions of dollars on attack ads targeting Alsobrooks.

Tellsbrooks has indeed had major political stars endorse her name, including former President Barack Obama And Vice President Kamala Harris. But her biggest supporter joined her in Tuesday’s election: her 19-year-old daughter Alex.

“My daughter is voting for the first time, and in our country in 2024, my daughter had a chance to vote for her mother and Kamala Harris this year for her first vote,” Alsobrooks said after the couple voted at Dr. Henry Wise Jr. School . School in Upper Marlborough. Later that day, Alex introduced her mother at her victory party.

Alsobrooks said she is encouraged by the positive energy she sees among voters.

“It was a competitive race. It’s been a difficult year and a half,” she said. “And I am very fortunate to have an extremely talented campaign team and dedicated volunteers and Marylanders who took part, who opened their homes, met me at coffee shops, met me at subway stops, and shared with me with your hopes. , dreams and desires of their families, and I will not let them down.”

Alsobrooks said she is “praying” she will win and head to the U.S. Senate.

Voters offered various reasons for choosing their preferred Senate candidate.

Donna Allen, a 49-year-old independent voter from Annapolis, said she had some positive memories of Hogan as governor but voted for Alsobrooks in what she called a “vote of faith.”

“I want to believe that Alsobrooks will do a great job in office,” she said after voting at Walter S. Mills-Parole Elementary School on Tuesday.

As for Hogan: “He just seems to have gone from that to being too political, you know, more about getting this status in government than about the people,” she said.

Alanna Martin voted as Hogan encouraged in his ads: for Harris for President and for Hogan for President.

“He has a proven track record of finding compromise, and I think our country needs more compromise,” said Martin, 39, who voted Tuesday in Howard County.

During early voting last week, Mateo Diaz, 29, voted for Alsobrooks in Glen Burnie. Diaz said he doesn’t know much about Alsobrooks, except that she, like him, is a Democrat and he had no intention of voting for Hogan.

When Hogan was governor, Diaz recalled that he prioritized police funding over school budgets. Hogan’s priorities did not align with his own, Diaz said.

“If we’re not constantly helping them (Baltimore students), empowering them and leaving them to the fates they face, I feel like that’s a way of keeping people in a compromised position,” he said.

Cedric Tolson, an independent voter, cast his ballot for Hogan during early voting in Odenton. Tolson, 40, said he prioritizes immigration and the economy, is concerned that noncitizens might be allowed to vote and is disappointed that Democrats haven’t done enough to bring down inflation.

Tolson said he believes Alsobobrooks “sold out” to developers and didn’t deserve his vote.

“I’m Hogan all day,” he said.

Baltimore Banner reporter Maya Laura contributed to this article.