Political notebook: Cardin, state's teacher's union endorse Alsobrooks for US Senate

Cardin restates Alsobrooks endorsement

Outgoing U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., first endorsed Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks as his successor on May 14 as Maryland's primary election results were being tabulated.

A month later, he repeated that endorsement.

“Congratulations to Angela Alsobrooks, who will be the next senator from Maryland,” said Cardin, a three-term senator, in a release from the state Democratic Party sent out in support less than 10 minutes after the Associated Press called the Democratic primary in her favor on May 14.

“A vote for any Republican candidate for senator is a vote for a Republican-controlled Senate, and the country cannot afford for that to happen,” he said.

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, had won his party primary, according to the Associated Press, less than two hours before. Hogan and Alsobrooks are set to be on the ballot in the general with Election Day scheduled for Nov. 5.

After a June 14 event where Cardin and Alsobrooks met with Jewish community leaders in Pikesville, Md., the state’s senior U.S. senator reiterated that endorsement.

Asked by a reporter if he was “officially endorsing” Alsobrooks, Cardin said: “Oh absolutely.”

More: Political notebook: Trump, Hogan, and the endorsement question

State’s teacher’s association also backs Alsobrooks

The president of the Maryland State Education Association called Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks a “strong education supporter” in an endorsement video released Tuesday, months after the 75,000-member organization backed Alsobrooks’ primary opponent.

U.S. Rep. David Trone, D-6th, received the organization’s endorsement in the Democratic Party primary, but Alsobrooks received 70,671 more votes than Trone (a margin of more than 10 percentage points).

“The stakes are high,” Association President Cheryl Bost said as she stood next to Alsobrooks in the video, “so let’s all work together for the betterment of Maryland and join educators to get Angela Alsobrooks elected as the next U.S. senator.”

The National Education Association, a 3 million-member organization of which the Maryland State Education Association is an affiliate, also recommended Alsobrooks, according to a June 25 release from the Alsobrooks campaign.

Business group backs Hogan

The National Federation of Independent Businesses and a collection of small business owners across the state backed former Gov. Larry Hogan, the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, according to a release from the Hogan's campaign.

“Larry Hogan is a long-time friend of small businesses, and we believe he will make an exceptional U.S. Senator,” Mike O'Halloran, state director for the National Federation of Independent Businesses Maryland, said in a statement released June 27.

The Hogan campaign announced nine “Small Businesses for Hogan” co-chairs in the release.

“Small business owners know I have their backs, and I’m so honored they have mine in this critical race for Maryland’s future,” Hogan said in the release.

— Dwight A. Weingarten

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Political notebook: Cardin, state's teacher's union endorse Alsobrooks