What to know about Angela Alsobrooks
Angela Alsobrooks has one of the most fascinating stories to tell about her life. She started from a humble beginning and passed through the ranks to become a leader in Maryland.
She was born on February 23, 1971, to James Alsobrooks and Patricia Alsobrooks. Following the death of her great-grandfather, J.C James, who was shot and killed by police officer Charles Lee when he resisted arrest, her family relocated from Seneca, South Carolina to Maryland in July 1956. Raised in Camp Springs, Maryland, Angela attended Benjamin Banneker High School in Washington, D.C.
Alsobrooks obtained a bachelor’s degree in public policy and Afro-American studies at Duke University in 1993 while she got her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1996 after being admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1996.
As a clerk, she worked with law firms DLA Piper and DeCaro, Doran, and for Circuit Court Judges William D. Quarles Jr. and Donna Hill Staton until 1997 when she started working as an assistant state’s attorney in Prince George’s County. She was then assigned to handle domestic violence cases.
In 2002, Alsobrooks ended her work at the state’s attorney office to become education liaison for Prince George’s County Executive Jack B. Johnson. She received an appointment as an executive director of the county revenue authority in 2003.
When Did Angela Alsobrooks get involved in politics?
Angela Alsobrooks’ first political involvement began at the time she served as the president of the student government at high school. She also worked as an intern for House Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. She was present at the 1992 Democratic National Convention where she served as an intern to the Congressional Black Caucus and undertook a volunteer role for Democratic nominee Bill Clinton‘s presidential campaign.
In 2000, she played a huge role in working on the presidential campaign of Vice President Al Gore. During the Democratic National Convention in 2008, Alsobrooks ran for delegate and pledged to U.S. Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton. She threw her weight behind Barack Obama after the convention. Her involvement in electoral politics was in 2009 at the time she filed to run for Prince George’s state’s attorney.
She became the first woman and the youngest person to be elected as Prince George’s state’s attorney in 2010—and secured the position after her re-election in 2014.
Since 2018, Alsobrooks served as Prince George’s County Executive after defeating former U.S. representative Donna Edwards in the 2018 Democratic primary election, she however, ran unopposed in the general election. She got reelected in 2022.
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Impact
During her days as the state’s attorney, her tough approach to crime contributed to the violent crime rate in Prince George’s County declining by 50 percent. The number of attorneys in office was increased after she sought funding, leading to higher conviction rates.
Angela, in 2019, backed the legislation in the Maryland General Assembly to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2023.
In May 2024, she also subscribed to a Maryland Healthcare for All, which pledged to support legislation to extend Inflation Reduction Act-provided healthcare benefits beyond 2025.
From developmental issues, health, education, environment, gun control, foreign policies and more, Alsobrooks has contributed to making an impact with her support and opposition to those she deems unfit.
Maryland Senate Race
Angela Alsobrooks replaced Senator Ben Cardin who was retiring after deciding to run for the Maryland Senate Race in 2024. During the Democratic primary, she defeated U.S. Representative David Trone.
2024 United States Senate Election in Maryland
Alsobrooks defeated Republican Larry Hogan in the United States senate elections in Maryland. Her victory made her the first African-American senator in Maryland. She is also the third African-American woman to have been elected as senator of any U.S. state.
Angela Alsobrooks Vs Larry Hogan
Democratic party’s Angela Alsobrooks defeated Larry Hogan of the Republican Party in the 2024 United States Senate election in Maryland.
According to AP’s result, Alsobrooks garnered 1,387,652 votes representing 52.7 percent while Hogan got 1,181,047 votes representing 44.9 percent.
Alsobrooks will be sworn in on January 3, 2025, as Maryland’s new senator following her victory.
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