Alsobrooks, Trone battle it out for Maryland US Senate seat in Baltimore

BALTIMORE (DC News Now) — Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Congressman David Trone on Monday campaigned for the open U.S. Senate seat in Baltimore.

Tuesday’s Democratic primary will decide who advances in November.

The wealthy businessman, Trone, spent more than $60 million of his own money, according to campaign finance reports, to win the race while Alsobrooks has garnered a multitude of key endorsements from office holders like Gov. Wes Moore.

Political Analyst: Alsobrooks leads Trone in Senate Race, poll finds

Both Trone and Alsobrooks both said they expect victory in a hard-fought campaign that will be close.

Trone says he feels “very optimistic.”

“It’s been a year. We’ve visited all over the entire state and from Oakland to Ocean City, and spoken to so many voters,” Trone said. “Voters just want a change. Voters are tired of the same old, same old. They’re tired of the special interests always getting their way and never seen their life change.”

Alsobrooks said her grassroots campaigning style and meeting voters where they are have born fruit.

“I feel great. There is a lot of excitement,” Alsobrooks said. “We built a coalition, a really broad coalition of people from all walks of life.”

She said she has a message about economic opportunity for all that is resonating as well as finding people “affordable places to live in, about a woman’s right to make her own decisions and choices.”

Alsobrooks, Trone react to poll showing them in dead heat for coveted Maryland US Senate seat

Both candidates said that Baltimore, with its rich Democratic voters, is a major key to winning the primary.

“Baltimore is really important, and I’m excited to be here today,” Alsobrooks said.

“We know as Baltimore goes, the state goes,” Trone added.

The election is expected to be by a razor-thin margin. An Emerson College/The Hill/DC News Now poll released last week showed Alsobrooks with a 42% to 41% edge over Trone with 12% undecided.

Both have been contending that they are the only electable candidate who can beat popular former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan who is the presumptive GOP nominee.

Rev. Derrick DeWitt, the pastor of First Mount Calvary Baptist Church, said Trone has a proven track record and is the best candidate to beat Hogan.

“What I challenge people to do is look at the record, look at the accomplishments and we need that to continue,” DeWitt said.

Bruising Maryland Senate primary comes down to the wire for Democrats

But Addie Redfearn of Baltimore said she sees Alsobrook’s candidacy as better for Baltimore and Maryland.

“She knows the issues that we have as women,” Redfearn said of Alsobrooks. “The abortion issue, that’s number one and she’s the one that’s going to get things changed.”

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