In the only head-to-head televised debate in the Maryland Senate race, Democratic candidate Angela Alsobrooks, a Prince George’s County executive, and former Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan sought to define themselves as broad-based moderates, but proved themselves on partisanship, abortion and gun violence.
The debate was hosted by Maryland Public Television, moderated by NBC News’ Chuck Todd, and taped Thursday afternoon.
Although Maryland is a deep blue state, Alsobrooks faces a serious challenge from Hogan, who was considered a popular centrist Republican during his tenure. However, in recent weeks his lead has increased – a late September Washington Post the questioning Showing 11 points ahead of Alsobrooks. And according to the FiveThirtyEight polling average, Alsobrooks leads Hogan by nearly nine points, 48.9%-40.3%.
During the debate, Hogan tried to paint himself as a “maverick” type of Independent, with no respect for the Republican party machine.
“I was governor through three presidents, I worked with Obama and Trump and President Biden … when I disagreed, I stood up and said I disagreed, and I’ve stood up to my party. I’ll stand up to both parties.” Hogan said.
Hogan, in particular, is a longtime anti-Trump figure within the GOP, but the former president’s influence in this race is significant. In the summer, Trump he said would like to see Hogan win the seat, despite their close relationship. However, Hogan said no plan About voting for Trump in the upcoming presidential election. At the debate, Hogan said he was “the leading voice against the Republican Party’s Project 2025.”
Alsobrooks rejected that characterization, while insisting that a Republican majority in the Senate would have “huge” consequences for Marylanders, given the razor-thin margins Democrats currently hold.
“The point is, if he wanted to be an independent, he should have run as one. He didn’t choose to run as an Independent. He chose to accept Mitch McConnell’s request to enter (the race),” he said. Alsobrooks.
At the end of the debate, he doubled down: “He had a chance to run like nothing else, and he was happy to put the jersey on. When Mitch McConnell called him, he put the jersey on. He got into the game,” he said. he said
Other pointed exchanges between the couple focused on abortion; Alsobrook is clear that he believes the Republican leadership is destructive to women, and Hogan’s victory — along with the GOP Senate majority — would be a continuation of that danger.
In this photo provided by Maryland Public Television, Maryland candidate for U.S. Senate, Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, speaks during a debate against Republican running mate Larry Hogan on Oct. 10, 2024, in Owings Mills, Maryland Public Television.
Michael Ciesielski Photography/Maryland Public Television via AP
“The Republican Party has declared war on women’s reproductive freedoms. We recognize that this party of chaos and division led by Donald Trump is unfit to lead our country, and that it has dire consequences for Marylanders. Unfortunately, former Governor Hogan agreed. Mitch McConnell the invitation to participate in this race because they want to give the Republicans a majority in the Senate,” he said.
Alsobrooks has repeatedly criticized Hogan’s veto of a 2022 Maryland bill that would have allowed non-physician health care professionals (such as midwives) to perform abortions as evidence that Hogan will not “stand up for women.” It was Hogan’s veto prevail By the hand of the Maryland state house, however, and the new law went into effect.
Hogan’s defense, beyond saying that he believed the law endangered women’s health, is that as governor he considers himself a champion of women’s rights, and Roe v. Wade will continue to code.
“I will support the codification of Roe (v. Wade) and I will support it. I’ve said from the beginning, when I was governor, when I ran for governor, I promised to support women’s access to abortion, and I kept that promise. Eight years,” Hogan said.
However, they differ on the technical steps Congress should take to get there. Alsobrooks said he joins Harris in his call for Senate filibusters to protect abortion rights, which Hogan called “a terrible idea.”
“I like the idea of continuing to find people across the aisle, finding that bipartisan commitment,” Hogan added.
The pair also differed on the role of the Supreme Court, with Alsobrooks supporting several reforms to the institution, including the introduction of term limits and the body’s expansion. Hogan disagreed with the addition of judges—a practice he called “court stacking.”
“I think trying to change the rules to block things on a party-line vote is not the right way to go,” he said.
Todd pressed him on whether he would vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh, saying he doesn’t know how he would fare because he wasn’t a senator at the time.
Alsobrooks immediately responded, painting Hogan as aligned with Trump’s agenda and supporting his judicial selection. In 2022, Hogan he said in a speech The Jewish Republican coalition called Trump’s judicial nominees “unbelievable.”
Alsobrooks and Hogan said they would support an assault weapons ban. But Alsobrooks mocked Hogan’s leadership at this point, casting another veto of his own, this time in part to check background checks. State Senate at last turn over Hogan’s veto.
“The reality is, unfortunately, the former governor didn’t have the courage as governor, because he vetoed legislation that would have created a waiting period for long guns and flatly refused to sign a ban on ghost guns. He could have helped us on this issue, but in the face of the gun lobby he bent over backwards and just created this long gun wait and vetoed the ban that didn’t allow us,” he said.
Hogan called Alsobrooks’ attacks “half-truths.”
On the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Hogan said there is “no doubt” that the US should be on Israel’s side. Alsobrooks was involved in the ceasefire and increased aid to the Palestinians.
“We recognize the terrible attack that happened in Israel on October 7th, and I think at this point, we have an obligation to make sure that we’re bringing those hostages home to their families and that we get a ceasefire, that we get aid to Gaza for the suffering Palestinians and that we reach a two-state solution. that we need, so that we can have peace and security in Israel,” he said.
Alsobrooks said he would attend a conference if Netanyahu addresses the Senate.
