The Maryland Democratic primary for US Senate headlined the May 14 primary results, and both they and the challenging GOP have selected their candidates.
Angela Alsobrooks, the executive of Prince George’s County in the eastern Washington, DC suburbs, won the Democratic nomination over MD-06 Representative David Trone on Tuesday. With at least 66 percent of the estimated vote counted, Alsobrooks had 54 percent to Trone’s 42 percent, with other minor candidates at less than one percent each. Trone spent a significant amount of his personal fortune on this race, upwards of $60 million; he was the founder of the Total Wine & More chain of alcohol retailers.
On the Republican side, former governor Larry Hogan easily won his primary over Robin Ficker, claiming 62 percent of the vote.
Maryland Senate In Play in 2024?
The Senate seat being sought by Alsobrooks and Hogan is currently held by Democrat Ben Cardin, a former congressman who first assumed this post in 2007. Cardin served three terms and is retiring. This is Maryland’s Class I Senate seat, which has been in Democratic hands since a brief GOP stint in the 1970s. Maryland is considered one of the bluest states in America, which has not had a Republican US Senator since the 1980s and last went Republican on the presidential level in 1988 for George HW Bush. The state has had two Republican governors in the 21st Century, and one of them is a candidate in this Senate race.
On paper, this should not be a competitive race, given Maryland’s extreme Democratic lean. However, Hogan proved a very popular governor in Maryland, establishing his own centrist brand, aligning with old-guard figures like George W. Bush, and distancing himself from his party’s leader, Donald Trump. Hogan, who was touted as a possible White House candidate, did not endorse Trump in the 2024 presidential primaries and has stated he will not support Trump or President Joe Biden in the November general election.
Six months out from the general election, it is too soon to say what will happen, but a few things can be true about this race. First, Hogan will likely do much better in November than almost any other Republican in Maryland would have. Second, the top of the GOP ticket will hurt Hogan, rather than him pulling it upwards. Finally, presidential election turnout in a very Democratic state will make a Hogan victory more difficult.
Alsobrooks will be favored in this election given how rare Republican victories are, but the GOP is running the best possible candidate available to them, which should, if nothing else, make it more interesting.
Other Maryland Primary Results from May 14
Johnny Olszewski, the county executive of Baltimore County, won his Democratic primary in MD-02. This district has been represented by Dutch Ruppersberger (D) for over 20 years, and like Olszewski, he was also the Baltimore County Executive before being elected to Congress. Olszewski will face Kim Klacik (R) in the general election, and he will be the presumed favorite.
State Senator Sarah Elfreth won a very competitive primary in MD-03 to replace the retiring John Sarbanes (D). Elfreth bested a field of 22 Democratic candidates to win with 35 percent of the vote. Her next-closest contender, Harry Dunn, had 25 percent. Elfreth will face Rob Steinberger (R) in November, in what is also a safely-Democratic district.
In the third open race in Maryland’s House slate, MD-06, April Delaney won the Democratic primary and will face Republican Neil Parrott in November. Delaney is the wife of former congressman John Delaney, who briefly ran for president in 2020. This is perhaps the only House race of consequence in 2024 in Maryland, as it has a Cook PVI rating of only D+2.
Key Races from Across America: May 14 Primary Results
Anchorage, AK Mayor: Suzanne LaFrance appeared to have won the election to become the next mayor of Anchorage, Alaska. While the Associated Press had not called the race as of Wednesday morning, LaFrance had about a 10-point lead over incumbent Dave Bronson. Though the race is officially non-partisan, the latter is a registered Republican with outspoken conservative views, while LaFrance is an independent/unenrolled. If elected, she would become the city’s first female mayor.
Nebraska 2nd: Incumbent Rep. Don Bacon (R) faced a primary challenge from his right in the Omaha-based 2nd District, but stared down the challenge with ease. Bacon defeated Dan Frei by a margin of 62 to 38 percent. The state’s Republican Party endorsed the more conservative Frei, but were rebuffed by the voters. He will face Tony Vargas (D), a state senator who was unopposed in his own primary. Vargas was the 2022 Democratic nominee here as well, and Bacon won the election by less than 6,000 votes. Joe Biden carried this district in 2020 and won its electoral vote, but Bacon’s less-populist brand has aligned well with voters here. It is possible that both Biden and Bacon will win here again in 2024, but this could be a very close call.
West Virginia Senate: Incumbent Governor Jim Justice (R) easily won the GOP primary over US Rep. Alex Mooney; Justice tallied almost 62 percent of the vote. This Senate seat is being vacated by Democrat Joe Manchin, in what is expected to be an easy pickup for Republicans. Glenn Elliott won a contested Democratic nomination fight and will face Jim Justice in November.
West Virginia Governor: Patrick Morrisey, the state’s GOP attorney general, won a close primary race on his path to becoming West Virginia’s next governor. He took 34 percent of the vote against Moore Capito, the son of West Virginia’s junior senator, on 28 percent. Steve Williams was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, but will have an uphill battle in November.
