Ten candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Maryland. Two candidates lead in media attention, endorsements, polls, and fundraising: Angela Alsobrooks (D) and David Trone (D). Incumbent Ben Cardin (D), who was first elected in 2006, is not running for re-election.
Democratic strategist Len Foxwell told The Hill that the Democratic primary will come down to the candidates’ personalities. “I think there will be a lot of comparative campaigning, and I think to the extent that there is negative campaigning, it will focus more on personalities, because as a practical matter, there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the two on the issues,” said Foxwell. An OpinionWorks poll, taken between April 7 and 10, found that in a sample of 600 likely Democratic voters, 48% preferred Trone, 29% preferred Alsobrooks, and 23% preferred another candidate or were undecided.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05), and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33) endorsed Trone. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02) also endorsed Trone. Five members of Maryland’s Democratic congressional delegation endorsed Alsobrooks: Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. John Sarbanes (3rd), Rep. Glenn Ivey (4th), Rep. Steny Hoyer (5th), and Rep. Jamie Raskin (8th).
Alsobrooks is Prince George’s County Executive and previously the county’s State’s Attorney. Alsobrooks said she is running because she believes “there aren’t enough people in the U.S. Senate who live like, think like and look like the people they’re supposed to represent.”
Trone represents Maryland’s 6th Congressional District and founded the alcohol retailer Total Wine & More. Trone said that because he does not accept contributions from PACs, lobbyists, and corporations he would be able to “listen to the people of Maryland, not special interests.” According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings as of March 31, Trone has raised $42,416,906, the second most of any Senate candidate running in 2024. His total includes a $41,771,000 loan he made to his campaign.
On Feb. 9, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) announced he was running in the Republican primary. Editor Josh Kurtz wrote in Maryland Matters, “If nothing else, Hogan’s entry into the race may prompt Democratic primary voters to not only think about whether they like Trone or Alsobrooks best, but to consider which would make a stronger general election candidate against the former governor.”
As of April 9, 2024, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated the general election Likely Democratic.
Also running in the primary are Michael Cobb Sr. (D), Marcellus Crews (D), Brian Frydenborg (D), Scottie Griffin (D), Robert Houton (D), Joseph Perez (D), Steven Seuferer(D), and Andrew Wildman (D).