With the election shortly coming up many have focused their attention to the very close presidential election between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris. But there are other elections occurring during the 5th of November, that being the races for the house and senate. This article will revolve around the two Candidates on the Maryland Ballot.
Before I discuss the candidates, I think it’s important to lay out what the senate is and how it functions. The senate is the other part of the legislative branch of the government, which is responsible for passing laws and legislation. They work in tandem with the house and are the second major step involved when passing a bill. Unlike the house which has many people the senate consists of 100 members and each state gets two members each for a six-year term.
In Maryland, senior senator Democrat Ben Cardin is stepping down and retiring at the end of his term (2024). This leaves an open spot for the taking, the two candidates who are primed to take this spot would be Angela Alsobrooks and Larry Hogan. Both candidates have won the respective primaries and are representing the Democrat and Republican party. Now let’s get to know the candidates.
Representing the Democratic Party is Angela Alsobrooks, a former lawyer turned politician gunning for the open Senate seat in Maryland. Alsobrooks earned her law degree from Duke University and the Maryland school of law, after working as a law clerk in multiple counties she became the first female assistant state attorney to handle domestic violence cases in prince George county and became the youngest and first women to be elected as prince George county state attorney. This is Alsobrooks’s first time running for senate or any major political position. Alsobrooks has the full support of the second biggest county in Maryland (Prince George County) which gives her a lot of momentum coming into this election. Her number 1 issue is making sure that women get the right to choose whether they should have an abortion.
Representing the Republican party is Larry Hogan, a former politician in the state of Maryland. Even though Hogan is running under the Conservative party he tends to hold centrist ideals and often implements Democrat policy into his own platform. Hogan has gotten support from both sides but faces criticisms for staunch Conservatives for his prochoice opinion in the heated abortion debate that has affected everyone in the country. Hogan has the advantage of having a long political career in Maryland and having a stronger base of supporters.
When looking at polling data and predictions from professionals it shows that Alsobrooks leads 9.4 in the general polls and is doing better in the big counties of Maryland, it would not be surprising if the first-time politician wins her first race in the deeply blue state. Overall whether you support Hogan or Alsobrooks it’s important to vote, especially in local elections as they affect your day-to-day life the most.
