After an expensive and closely watched race, Rep. David Trone has conceded the Maryland Democratic Senate primary to Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.
To his supporters and the press Tuesday night, Trone called for party unity against Republican Senate nominee and former governor Larry Hogan.
“We cannot let the party of Trump take our Senate,” Trone said Tuesday inside the Baltimore Museum of Industry.
Inside the planned “election night celebration” Tuesday, buzzing enthusiasm turned to murmured disappointment as the gap between the two Democratic candidates widened. Among the crowd was Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, the sole member of the Maryland congressional delegation who endorsed Trone.
Trone called Alsobrooks on election night, he told supporters, to congratulate her on the nomination and offer his support. As of midnight Tuesday, Alsobrooks has an 11-point lead over Trone.
Trone addressed the crowd in a short three-minute speech after the race was called for Alsobrooks, emphasizing the need for Democrats to hold on to their control of the Senate.
“Let’s get behind our nominee, let’s figure out how to hold onto that U.S. Senate,” Trone said.
Trone risked his position representing Maryland’s 6th district in Congress to run for Senate, a position he has held since 2019.
Alsobrooks faced an uphill battle this election, with disadvantages in campaign fundraising and political status.
Trone is a wealthy businessman from his success founding Total Wine & More, a nationwide liquor chain. Trone’s wealth allowed him to run as a primarily self-funded candidate, reportedly pouring over $60 million into his campaign.
The Trone campaign spent over $51.4 million during campaign season, while the Alsobrooks campaign spent $5.8 million. Trone flooded Maryland’s airwaves since his campaign announcement in May 2023, days after Sen. Ben Cardin announced his retirement.
Early polls showed Trone around 15 percentage points ahead of Alsobrooks, but as election day drew closer, Alsobrooks gained momentum. An Emerson College poll released May 9 showed Hogan trailing both Democratic candidates.
The Maryland Senate election, with Joe Manchin (D-WV) retiring and close Senate elections across the country, could decide the party control of the Senate.
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