In their May 14 primary election, Maryland Democrats face a dilemma, but at least it’s the good kind: how to choose between two well-qualified candidates seeking the nomination to run for U.S. senator against the likely Republican contender, former governor Larry Hogan. Similar in policy and ideology, either Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks or Rep. David Trone, who has represented Maryland’s 6th Congressional District since 2019, could do the job, which is currently held by retiring incumbent Ben Cardin (D). On balance, though, Ms. Alsobrooks is the better pick.
The first Black woman ever to serve as Prince George’s county executive, Ms. Alsobrooks, 53, possesses a down-to-earth personal perspective and ample seasoning as a public official. She has been a fiscally responsible steward through the pandemic and a champion of economic development in areas historically left behind. She helped make the case for moving the FBI headquarters to Greenbelt. She worked out a deal with Mr. Hogan when he was governor for up to $400 million in state bonds to ensure redevelopment along Prince George’s five-mile Blue Line Corridor even if the Washington Commanders leave their stadium. She embraced innovative public-private partnerships to construct 10 new schools.
Ms. Alsobrooks deserves credit for her leadership on public safety. She resisted pressure from progressives to pull police officers out of schools during the tumultuous summer of 2020 — in contrast to D.C., Alexandria and Montgomery County, which came to regret their rash cuts to school resource officer programs. In 2022, Ms. Alsobrooks began enforcing a curfew for kids under 17 when she learned that most armed carjackings were being committed by teens between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. She clashed with her successor as state’s attorney, who accused her of grandstanding, but Ms. Alsobrooks stuck to her position and she was right.
