VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Democratic Maryland U.S. Senate Nominee Angela Alsobrooks On First Meeting With Kamala Harris, Her Policy Agenda

In an exclusive interview with uPolitics, Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from Maryland, discussed her relationship with Vice President Kamala Harris, her plans if elected and her GOP opponent, Larry Hogan.

Alsobrooks, who spoke in prime time at last week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, was elected Prince George’s County, Maryland Executive in 2018, after serving two terms as the county’s state attorney.

Alsobrooks recalled being first influenced by Harris in 2009, after reading an Essence article about the vice president’s book, Smarter on Crime.

“I loved the strategy she discussed in that book…So after that, I was talking about her on the campaign trail because I was running for state’s attorney at the time. And two days after I won the election, I got a call and picked up the phone and it’s Kamala Harris,” Alsobrooks told uPolitics founder Erik Meers.

She continued, “We have since then been friends. She’s been a wonderful mentor. She’s obviously a tremendous role model and it’s just been really great to have known her over these last 14 years.”

The Senate nominee also outlined her policy priorities if elected, naming “economic opportunity” and “freedom” as her top two issues.

“The Women’s Health Protection Act is probably the first piece of legislation I’d like to co-sponsor to codify into federal law a women’s right to choose,” said Alsobrooks.

“And also we’ll be working really hard as well to make sure we are increasing access to health care and making sure our communities are safe,” she added.

Alsobrooks discussed her plans to address gun violence by advocating for sensible legislation to ban assault weapons and ghost guns.

“I cannot tell you how many mothers I have held in my arms whose children have been killed, and so this is a very personal issue,” she said, adding that she has a 19-year-old son.

Alsobrooks also outlined her plans to build on Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, highlighting that every Senate Republican voted against it.

She contrasted her policies with those of her opponent, Hogan, criticizing his stances as not truly moderate and pointing to his vetoes of legislation protecting abortion and gun safety when he was Maryland’s governor.

“He would be joining a caucus of people that are led by Donald Trump that includes Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell. These are the people who if they were given the majority they would control the agenda for our country,” said Alsobrooks. “Maintaining the majority is going to be the most important to align with people whose values are most reflective of Maryland.”

“Republicans have been there to block and to otherwise cause all kinds of gridlock, and I’ll be there trying to move us forward and not going backward,” Alsobrooks concluded.

Find out more about Alsobrooks here.