Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks won Tuesday’s Democratic primary for a Maryland Senate seat, setting her up against a popular Republican former governor that could determine control of the House. I set it up.
The Associated Press on Tuesday night called for Mr. Allbrooks, 53, to run after defeating Rep. David Tron, a wealthy congressman who had poured more than $61 million of his own money into his campaign. Tron outnumbered Allbrooks by a nearly 10-to-1 ratio.
She is seeking to become the first black woman to represent Maryland in the Senate. There are currently only four black members in the chamber, three men and one woman. Sen. LaFonza Butler has announced that she will resign at the end of her term in January.
Allbrooks, a former prosecutor, trailed Trone in the early stages of the race, but received a boost from widespread support among Maryland Democrats who rallied to her campaign.
She will now face former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan in a high-profile race. Hogan was scouted as a candidate by Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as the party seeks to retake the Senate.
Democrats and three independents who mostly vote Democratic currently control the House with a 51-49 vote, but Republicans are favored to take West Virginia and Democrats hold Maryland. The need is growing.
Mr. Albrooks and Mr. Hogan will be vying to replace Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, who has held the seat since 2007 and is retiring.
The primary race between Mr. Albrooks and Mr. Trone turned negative as it became a close race, splitting Democrats inside and outside Congress. Maryland hasn’t had a Republican senator in nearly 40 years, making it a rare competitive primary in a reliably Democratic state. Hogan’s decision to enter the race changed everything.
As Mr. Trone embarks on costly battles in several battleground states to maintain control of Congress, Congressional leaders were eager to find wealthy candidates who could finance his own Senate races. gained support from. But all but one Democratic member of the state’s congressional delegation supported Allbrooks.
