Democracy Dies in Darkness

In homestretch of Md. U.S. Senate primary, identity is center stage

The deeply diverse state has never sent a Black person to the U.S. Senate, and the Democratic primary will reflect how voters weigh representation

By
May 12, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EDT
Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks hugs a campaign volunteer in Randallstown, Md. on May 3. (Craig Hudson for The Washington Post)
9 min

In the closing hours of her primary campaign for U.S. Senate, Prince George’s Executive Angela Alsobrooks rallied with fellow Black women to boost her potentially historic campaign and push her closer to the top of America’s political power structure.

Nearly 1 in 3 of Maryland’s over 6 million residents is Black, living in the most diverse state on the East Coast — a typically blue electorate that has elevated Black people to key positions of power, but never to Congress’ upper chamber.