(ThyBlackMan.com) Angela Alsobrooks, the Prince George’s County Government, is an lively, educated public servant. An legal professional, mother, and activist, she led Maryland’s largest county by way of the pandemic, offering much-needed help for needy residents. Prince George’s County (PGC) is a closely Black space subsequent to Washington, DC. It’s also one of many wealthiest counties for Black folks. A few of us jokingly name it “Ward 9” due to its proximity to DC (which has eight wards) and since so many DC influentials dwell there. Angela is considered one of three Black ladies operating for Democratic seats in the US Senate in 2024 (Barbara Lee in California and Lisa Blunt Rochester in Delaware), and her principal opponent within the Democratic major is Democratic congressman and billionaire David Trone, who has three congressional phrases and a liquor empire to his title.
Trone (D) as soon as stated, “I’m prepared to spend so much extra money than anyone else.” He’s executed it earlier than, spending greater than ten million {dollars} on every of his congressional races. Up to now within the Senate race, Trone has spent $9.8 million of his personal cash. Alsobrooks, with a much more modest portfolio, has raised $3.3 million. She has fifteen instances extra particular person donors than Trone, who says he received’t take PAC cash and solely desires small contributions. His willingness to spend extra money than anybody else displays the vanity of wealth. It means he can purchase something, even a Senate seat.
Trone says his self-financed marketing campaign means says it means he isn’t beholden to political motion committees or different exterior financing organizations. It additionally means he isn’t accountable to anybody. Whereas a few of his work in Congress means that he may assist good applications, like second probability laws for ex-offenders,
Self-financing additionally means he’s free to assist the pursuits of the rich, particularly round taxation and revenue distribution.
Trone’s determination to self-finance his marketing campaign highlights his dedication to focusing solely on the wants of his constituents with out the affect of exterior monetary organizations. By refusing PAC cash, he goals to make sure that his insurance policies and choices are formed solely by the pursuits of the folks he represents. Trone has used his appreciable wealth to assist causes like his alma mater, Furman College, and cultural considerations just like the Baltimore Symphony. However he has additionally supported Republican extremists who oppose a lady’s proper to decide on. That must be a non-starter in blue Maryland, however Trone has enlisted some common Democrats to assist him.
Chicago congressman Jonathan Jackson (D) has a cable business operating advert nauseam. Whereas Jackson shouldn’t assist Alsobrooks solely as a result of she is a Black girl who would add to Senate range and experience, if he’s true to the mission of his dad’s Rainbow Coalition, Alsobrooks must be a simple selection. Equally, Home Minority Chief New York’s Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Trone on December 18, a lump in Alsobrooks vacation stocking. Whereas most Maryland congressional Democrats and Governor Wes Moore assist Alsobrooks, the very best rating Democrat within the Home selected to oppose the endorsement of most of his Maryland members to curry to a liquor magnate
Many Alsobrooks supporters are, at greatest, disenchanted by Jackson and Jeffries. One has to marvel what sorts of incentives Trone supplied to safe their endorsements. However the end result of the Los Angeles mayoral race, the place Mayor Karen Bass was outspent by an element of ten by her billionaire opponent Rick Caruso, means that Trone’s cash could not purchase him a Senate seat. Alsobrooks has already visited every of Maryland’s 22 counties and Baltimore Metropolis (a part of Baltimore County however with a separate governmental construction) and has assist in each county. Trone has the money and might rack up some endorsements, however votes inform the story on the finish of the day.
This is likely to be a neighborhood story, however for the disrespect that Trone has proven to Angela Alsobrooks and the rising development of black ladies being compelled to handle disrespect. Trone had the temerity to criticize Alsobrook’s “expertise,” touting his skinny Congressional file. It jogs my memory of Malcolm X saying, “Probably the most disrespected particular person in America is the Black girl. Probably the most unprotected, essentially the most uncared for particular person in America is the Black girl.
Additionally, Brooks is juggling difficult information and monetary challenges. Nonetheless, she is buoyed by Black men and women who assist her experience, intelligence, and accomplishments. Can you purchase a Senate seat? Not when tens of millions of voters say “no.”
Written by Julianne Malveaux
Official web site; https://www.juliannemalveaux.com
