WASHINGTON — A recent poll commissioned by Rep. David Trone and conducted by Hickman Analytics, Inc., showed the congressman widening his lead over Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in the primary race to be Maryland’s next senator.
According to the poll obtained by WUSA9, Trone holds a 13-point lead over Alsobrooks among certain primary voters and an 11-point lead among all primary voters.
“Maryland voters have been clear: they want a senator who will stand up to the PACs, lobbyists, and special interests poisoning Washington," said Dan Morrocco, Trone's campaign manager. "There is only one candidate in the race with the independence to disrupt Washington and send the status quo packing, and that candidate is David Trone."
The well-known politicians are vying for the democratic nomination to replace Sen. Ben Cardin who retires in 2025.
"As our campaign enters the final three months, we’ll continue to build on this critical momentum by expanding our organizing efforts and opening field offices throughout Maryland while continuing to communicate with voters across the state about the issues that matter most to their families," said Morrocco.
Since announcing his campaign, Trone has inundated key media markets in Maryland and the Washington DC metro with campaign ads touting his plans to address the rising cost of prescription drug medication and his success as a business owner. The self-funded campaign has dramatically outspent fellow democratic challengers by millions of dollars, campaign records showed.
“David Trone is a one man super PAC who’s spent nearly $15 million on TV alone to try and buy this race, and we trust that voters will see this for what it is," said Gina Ford, Alsobrooks's communications director.
Alsobrooks, while not currently showing television ads in key media markets, has raised a significant amount of money. Records show her campaign raised $1.78 million in the fourth quarter – the largest amount for any candidate in Maryland history.
“[Voters] haven’t seen Alsobrooks’s ads so much. But they’re seeing David Trone everywhere. All over TV. All over the state,” explained Dr. Roger Hartley, Dean of the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore. “One of the first things I said about this race: Whoever could get out to the rest of the state well and fast is going to be in a better position. And this is clearly David Trone.”
Trone also holds an advantage over Alsobrooks in the Baltimore media market among both Black and white voters, a recent poll found. But the poll also noted 21% of voters remain undecided. That could represent an opportunity for either candidate, especially Alsobrooks.
"As Marylanders get to know Angela and her fight to improve education, close health care disparities, and defend a woman’s right to choose, she won’t only close the gap but she’ll win this thing outright. She’s the candidate who has the lived experience to best represent the people of Maryland," said Ford.
Trone has secured key endorsements from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California), and the highly coveted Maryland State Education Association with its 75,000 union members.
Hartley told WUSA9 the early advantage for Trone doesn't mean "alarm bells" for Alsobrooks, who has picked up key endorsements from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland), and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), among others.
“There's still a lot of people to reach and she needs to find a way to reach them," said Hartley. "She still has plenty of time to introduce herself. If I were on her campaign, she maybe drowned out so much at this point, they need to think about getting out there fast."