Maryland voters on Tuesday will end one of the ugliest Senate primaries of the cycle, choosing between wealthy businessman Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) or county executive Angela Alsobrooks, a favorite of state party leaders.
Why it matters: The choice is a monumental one for Maryland Democrats, as the party will face former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a popular Republican, in November. The deep-blue state is suddenly competitive.
Trone has spent over $60 million of his own money on the primary campaign alone. The resources available to the wealthy businessman could be an attractive feature of his candidacy for national Democrats.
- In a year in which Democrats are forced to defend perilous seats in eight different states, having a candidate who can pay his own way would be a welcome relief.
But Trone's millions haven't been enough to put him in a comfortable lead. In fact, Alsobrooks, executive of Prince George's County, bested Trone in some of the latest polls.
- "I think that's a testament to the strength of her message and her campaign that despite being hugely outspent ... her message is resonating more strongly," Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) told Axios.
The last few months have plunged the campaign into the most divisive Democratic primary, which has split national and state Democrats.
- The Trone campaign started running attack ads going after Alsobrooks' lack of experience at the federal level. Alsobrooks backers have slammed Trone for his use of a racial slur in a congressional hearing — for which he apologized, saying he misspoke —and criticized his ads.
- Alsobrooks has a deep bench of key endorsements — including from seven potential colleagues in the Senate, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and much of the state's congressional delegation.
- Trone has had zero senators publicly back his campaign, though he does have the support of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and a swath of state officials.
What they're saying: Despite the deep schism the campaign has driven between the two camps, Democrats tell Axios they are confident either Trone or Alsobrooks can beat Hogan in November.
- "Either of our two major candidates will win in the general election," Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), who is retiring from the seat, told Axios last week.
- "Democrats have won every statewide federal election in Maryland for the past 40 years, and 2024 will be no different," said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson Amanda Sherman Baity.
