| Democrat Angela Alsobrooks has won the Maryland Senate race, according to The Associated Press, fending off former two-term GOP Gov. Larry Hogan. The win comes as a relief for Democrats, who had not budgeted to defend Maryland this cycle. It's generally considered a safe blue seat, particularly in a presidential year. But Hogan is highly popular among Maryland voters — and his entrance ramped up focus on the race. Alsobrooks leaned in on Senate math as a crux of her argument, asking voters to consider the likelihood of a Senate Republican majority if Hogan was elected. She frequently highlighted things like committee chairships or floor control as part of her case, though Hogan countered by vowing to be a "swing vote" in the upper chamber. Alsobrooks is currently a county executive in Maryland. She will be the first Black senator from Maryland and among a handful of Black women ever elected to the Senate. She has called Vice President Kamala Harris a mentor, meaning the two women could be closely allied if in office at the same time. Alsobrooks will succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, who opted for retirement after this term. Read the latest
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