BALTIMORE — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Monday waded into the Democratic primary process by announcing his support for Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in the open U.S. Senate race – solidifying her large list of party endorsements across the state.
"In this moment of promise and peril, we need to rally behind a person with vision and intention," Moore said Monday. "We need to rally behind a person who shares both the empathy and the track record to meet this moment, and I know who that person is. And that's why today I am proud to announce my endorsement of County Executive Angela Alsobrooks to be Maryland's next senator."
Moore made the announcement in Baltimore Monday afternoon alongside Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando – who announced on Friday that he was dropping out of that race.
"It's time now for Democrats to coalesce behind the strongest candidate in this race who I know will fight for Marylanders with every bone in her body," Jawando said. "And if you haven't figured it out yet, I believe that candidate is Angela Alsobrooks."
Alsobrooks, 52, has amassed key endorsements from many of Maryland’s key Democratic leaders like U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Rep. Kweisi Mfume among others. Of the more than 80 endorsements confirmed so far, many are from leaders in key counties like Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, and Montgomery.
“Marylanders deserve a Senator who not only fights hard for them but who understands and shares the concerns of everyday, hardworking families," Alsobrooks told WUSA9 in August. "I've spent my career focused on families. The issues of the growing economic opportunities: safety, income, safe communities, education. These are the issues I intend to continue focusing on as Senator."
It's now a head-to-head Democratic primary between Alsobrooks and Maryland Rep. David Trone.
Trone has focused on issues including opioid addiction, mental health, medical research and criminal justice reform while in office. The congressman said he would continue advocating for those issues in the Senate.
It's an open race for the Senate seat because 3-term Sen. Ben Cardin announced earlier this year that he would not seek a fourth term.
"It's changed pretty dramatically," Cardin told WUSA9 about the dynamics in Congress. "It's certainly become more partisan, which is not a healthy thing. When I first started in the General Assembly it was a much friendlier place than today. People worked together and they collaborated much more. Civility was there. And these are important ingredients in a Democracy. And I'd hope we'd return to some of those days."
Despite her many many endorsements, Alsobrooks is facing a stunning disadvantage in money and spending in the campaign. Trone his funded his campaign with $10 million of his own money; he's spent $4.7 million on TV advertising. Alsobrooks raised $3.2 million since the beginning of her campaign.
Trone's campaign reacted to Moore's endorsement of Alsobrooks with a statement touting his own endorsements.
"Our campaign is honored to have the endorsements of 111 elected officials from across Maryland and the country who have seen David Trone's ability to get things done for Maryland families," the statement said.
Trone campaign officials said they would be rolling out additional endorsements for him later in the week.
Larry Miller, Brittney Melton, Evan Koslof and the Associated Press contributed to the reporting of this story.
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