(GREENBELT, MD – May 15, 2024) – Angela Alsobrooks made history, overcoming steep odds with a grassroots-powered campaign to win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. The following are her remarks as prepared for delivery. Alsobrooks said, “Thank you to the captain of Team Maryland, Governor Wes Moore.
Let’s give it up Senator Van Hollen and the other tremendous leaders who believed in us. You’ve been tremendous partners to me in this campaign and I am so grateful for your guidance, support, and friendship.
I had an opportunity to speak with Congressman David Trone. We are united in our focus to keep the Senate Blue and I am grateful to have his support.
I want to recognize two of the best people I know – my wonderful parents, James and Patricia. They raised me with deep faith, profound love, and the belief that there was a place for me. I want Marylanders to know that on this campaign, there’s a place for you, too.
I want to give a special shout-out to my daughter, Alex. She is my North Star and the reason I’m standing on this stage. I ran for public office with the deep conviction that Alex and all of our children deserve to live and grow in safe, supportive communities. She just finished her freshman year of college and as proud as I am for this opportunity to represent Maryland – I am prouder still to be Alex’s mom.
I want to thank three people: Lottie, Dottie, and EVERYBODY.
Really, I want to thank all of YOU.
For welcoming me to your living rooms, your backyards, and dinner tables. For talking to me at metro stops, grocery stores, and coffee shops. For believing in me to fight for you.
Tonight, we made history – and we did it while overcoming steep odds.
So for anyone who’s ever felt counted out, overlooked, and underestimated – I hope you share in this moment and know what’s possible.
Because I’m fully aware that stories like mine don’t make it to the United States Senate.
My mother retired as a hospital receptionist, and my father was a distributor for the Washington Post.
My sister and I would beg our dad to take us on his delivery routes. We’d go to bed fully dressed so that when the alarm went off at 2 AM, we’d be ready. It didn’t matter that it was the middle of the night, that it was cold, or that we were sharing the front seat – we loved driving around with our dad in that big, loud box truck.
One of those early mornings, my dad told us: “I jump up and down on this dirty truck so you never have to.”
You see, he and my mother didn’t have the opportunity to go to college and they made it their mission to make sure my sister and I could.
I didn’t fully understand their focus on building a better future for me until I had my own daughter. I wanted Alex to be able to play outside without fear, to feel safe in our home, and to understand that if she could dream it, she could do it.
That’s why I decided to run for State’s Attorney.
No woman had held that job before – and not only did I win, during my time in office, we cut violent crime by 50%.
But I also understood that public safety is so much more than reducing crime. I felt the urgency to address the issues that brought people to the courtroom in the first place: failing schools, health care that’s too expensive and out of reach, a lack of treatment for addiction and mental health struggles, and jobs that don’t pay a livable wage.
These are the issues I’ve focused on as Prince George’s County Executive, and I’m so proud of the progress we’ve been able to make: investing in education and breaking ground on 10 new public schools; building the county’s first cancer treatment and addiction treatment facilities, and bringing major investment like the brand new FBI headquarters to Maryland.
And I want to take a moment to recognize the people of Prince George’s County. You are the heart and soul of our campaign. Your faith in me as a prosecutor, County Executive and now candidate for Senate is something I will never take for granted.
But there is more work to do.
Thinking about what’s on the line in this election, I hear the stories of those I’ve had the privilege to meet across our state:
Seniors like my father, who thought they’d retire but are back at work to cover the cost of medication and groceries.
Young families who find new ways to stretch a dollar each month so their kids don’t miss out on the class trip or the team sport they love so much.
Patients who are holding off on treatment because it’s too far or too expensive.
Healthcare providers who worry that political games in Washington will prevent them from giving their patients medically necessary care.
Women all across Maryland who fear politicians will take away our fundamental right to make our own healthcare decisions.
These are the stakes of the election and it is why our work must start tonight.
The fight ahead will not be easy.
A lot of people look at our state and say, oh it’s Maryland – it’s a blue state, we can worry about another race someplace else.
Yes, Maryland has been a blue state – but it will only stay a blue state if we put in the work.
Because Larry Hogan, his BFF Mitch McConnell, and Donald Trump’s Republican Party want to flip this seat.
And let’s be very clear about who Larry Hogan is.
In one of his first acts as Governor, he canceled the critical Baltimore Red Line project – sending back $900 million to the federal government instead of investing in a transit project that would have provided a foundational opportunity for our communities.
In one of his last acts as Governor, he vetoed legislation to expand abortion access. (Don’t worry, Governor Moore who signed those measures into law last year.)
Larry Hogan has said he’s a ‘lifelong Republican’ and if he’s elected, he’ll give Republicans the majority they need to pass a national abortion ban.
He will not support a national law to protect abortion rights.
He will not oppose anti-choice judges, including nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court – even in the wake of the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
And given these positions, it isn’t all that surprising that Larry Hogan called abortion rights ‘an emotional issue’ for women.
Well, let us be very clear about who we are: in Maryland, we stand up and fight for each other and for our fundamental freedoms.
We will always protect the right for women to make their own health care decisions and come November, Larry Hogan will understand that we do not need any help managing our emotions or our bodies.
So we have a lot of work to do.
But scripture promises ‘those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.’
I am not weary.
I know we are just starting the work to build a coalition rooted in our values, in our faith that together we can reach the future we desire for ourselves and our families.
I am not weary.
I know our coalition doesn’t require us to agree on everything, as long as we respect each other. I hope that in these next few months, I have the opportunity to earn the support of those who did not vote for me in this primary and others who haven’t made a decision on their ballot for the fall.
I am not weary.
I am grateful to the family, friends, leaders and volunteers who renewed my strength so often in the last few months and will do so again in the months to come.
Maryland, we are not weary.
I’m Angela Alsobrooks, a proud daughter, a mother, Marylander, and with your support – your next United States Senator!
Let’s get to work.
Thank you.”
