Is Maryland’s Senate seat a swing seat?
The upcoming Maryland senate race between Democrat Angela Alsobrooks and Republican Larry Hogan is expected to be one of the closest state races. According to The Hill and Emerson College, Alsobrooks is leading over Hogan by 49% to 42%.
Earlier this year, Alsobrooks defeated U.S. Representative David Trone in the Democratic primary election. Alsobrooks is the current County Executive of Prince George’s County, Maryland, and is the first Black female to hold this position. Alsobrooks’ campaign is focused on gun restrictions, pro-abortion rights, minimum wage, and health care for all.
In an interview with NBC News Alsobrooks said, “We are looking at a time that is like a time we’ve never seen before…This election will help us decide the kind of future we want for our children and grandchildren and what kind of state and country we will build for them.”
Hogan triumphed over Robin Ficker in the Republican primary election. Before running for senator, Hogan served as the 62nd governor of Maryland from 2015-2023.
In a recent report by NBC News, Hogan said, “I wasn’t looking for another title, but three weeks ago on a Wednesday night, when I saw a real solution to secure the border and provide funding for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan… It made me frustrated and angry enough to say, I think I’m going to go down there and try to do something about this.”
Incumbent Mayor projected to win Baltimore City election
The Baltimore City mayoral race is ramping up between Democrat Brandon Scott and Republican Shannon Wright. Scott is running for a second term and looking to continue his run as the 52nd Mayor of Baltimore City. According to The Maryland State Board of Elections, he was initially elected in 2020 by 70.5% of Baltimore City voters. Additionally, the Capital News Service has reported that Scott has touted his success in slashing the homicide rate by 20% since he was elected in 2020. In 2021, Scott implemented a $50 million donation to the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement to fund a public health initiative to prevent violence.
In a Capital News Service article, the Director of Sarah T. Hughes Center for Politics at Goucher College Mileah Kromer said, “His job approval and favorability ratings have both improved, as views toward the direction of the city.”
Earlier this year, Scott defeated opponent Sheila Dixon in the Democratic primary election and is gearing up for Election Day on Monday, Nov 5. His opposition Republican mayoral candidate Shannon Wright faces the challenge of a Republican mayoral candidate not having won the Baltimore mayoral race in 56 years. The last Republican was Theodore McKeldin in 1967 when his second term ended, and he did not pursue re-election.
Maryland puts reproductive rights on the ballot
According to NPR, the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision on June 24, 2022, resulting in the constitutional right to abortion no longer existing. As of now, reproductive and abortion rights have been passed down to the states’ governments and their voters to decide, instead of the decision being upheld by the federal government.
As stated by CBS News, abortion rights will be included on Maryland’s 2024 ballot as voters will be able to vote to enshrine Maryland’s Right to Reproductive Freedom into Maryland’s constitution. The Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment aims to give individuals the choice to prevent, continue, or terminate a pregnancy. The right also protects patients and providers from penalties regarding abortions or bans in other states.
This is the first in a three part series about the 2024 election season. The next part of the series is How Loyola Students Can Vote in the upcoming election.