Political Notebook: Senate debates upended, Trone and Parrott pick up endorsements

One statewide U.S. Senate Democratic debate canceled

A debate for Democratic U.S. Senate candidates in advance of the Maryland primaries has been called off after one of the leading contenders did not accept the invitation to participate.

U.S. Rep. David Trone, D-6th, announced Thursday he had accepted a debate with another station.

A scheduled April 23 debate hosted by Baltimore’s NBC affiliate WBAL-TV in conjunction with NBC Washington, the NBC program “Meet the Press,” and Maryland Public Television was canceled, according to a April 3 article from the news director of WBAL-TV.

Senior Managing Director of Communications for Maryland Public Television Tom Williams confirmed the debate’s cancellation in an April 3 email.

“David has already participated in or committed to more than a dozen public forums and a televised debate,” Trone's campaign said in a statement to WBAL-TV, which reported his campaign refused to commit to the debate.

Details of the televised debate he “committed to” came the next day through a Trone press release. The debate, according to the release, is co-hosted by The Baltimore Sun and WBFF Fox 45 and scheduled to air at 8 p.m. April 19. But details of the WBFF Fox 45 debate could not be confirmed as of press time on Friday.

Trone is a leading contender for the Democratic nomination, according to March poll by the Washington Post and University of Maryland. A news release from the campaign of Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, another Democratic candidate, said she had accepted WBAL-TV's invitation to debate.

“Angela is committed to ensuring voters across Maryland have the opportunity to see the choice they have on the ballot in May,” her campaign manager Sheila O’Connell said in an April 2 release. “Angela continues to gain momentum as we approach the primary, earning key endorsements and growing her grassroots movement in Maryland.”

MPT, which often hosts gubernatorial debates, including one for Democratic primary in 2022 and for the general election that same year, did not hold a U.S. Senate candidate debate in 2022 or in 2016, the last time there was an open seat.

The outlet’s most recent U.S. Senate candidate debate took place in August 2006, according to Williams. At that time, the seat now held by U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., was being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes, D-Md.

Cardin, then a member of Congress, and fellow Democrat Kweisi Mfume, then a former cogressman (who has since been reelected), participated in the debate hosted by MPT.

Cardin has held the seat since 2007. He announced last May that he would not seek reelection.

MPT plans to invite candidates to participate in one-on-one interviews with anchor Jeff Salkin in the coming weeks, Williams said.

The Maryland primaries are May 14.

6th District candidate backs Trone

A Democratic candidate for the U.S. House seat Trone is vacating has backed the man she hopes to succeed.

“I personally worked with Congressman Trone while at Commerce to bring affordable, high-speed internet to all Marylanders,” April McClain Delaney in an April 3 press release by the Trone campaign. “I’m proud to endorse him.”

Delaney is a former deputy assistant secretary for communications at the U.S. Department of Commerce during the Biden administration. She is married to former U.S. Rep. John Delaney, D-6th, who held the seat before Trone. John Delaney also endorsed Trone on Friday, according to the Trone campaign.

“April McClain Delaney is no stranger to Maryland’s 6th District,” Trone said in the release. “I’m thrilled to have her endorsement.”

House Freedom Fund endorses Parrott for Congress

A national political fundraising organization that supports conservative candidates endorsed a Republican candidate in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District this month.

Former state Del. Neil Parrott, R-Washington, received the backing of the House Freedom Fund, which according to its website, endorses candidates who:

• “are true conservatives and have a record to prove it”

• “have strong grassroots support in their districts

• “are running good campaigns and can win with the right support,” and

• “will join the Freedom Caucus after they’re elected”

: “I am honored to receive this key conservative endorsement,” Parrott said in an April 5 news release of his own.

— Dwight A. Weingarten

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Political Notes: Election news for the week of April 8