Democrats see bright future

Despite Hogan win, party has plenty of gains in election

The drinks had barely stopped flowing at Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s re-election celebration Tuesday when the speculation about the future of Maryland’s two major political parties began.

Democrats in Prince George’s County were buzzing about their newly elected County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, 47, a top prosecutor and rising star seen as so formidable her Republican opponent dropped out and endorsed her as the best person to lead the county.

Baltimore County, long a seesaw jurisdiction, had chosen Democrat Johnny Olszewski Jr., 36, a Dundalk native with progressive views who also appeals to centrists.

And Howard County had ousted its moderate Republican executive in favor of Calvin Ball, 43, who had proven he could overcome polling and fundraising deficits to win a swing jurisdiction whose mood often reflects the state’s.

Tuesday’s election results mean that in 2019 Democrats will hold the top job in seven of Maryland’s eight largest jurisdictions, seven of eight congressional seats, and super-majorities in both the state Senate and the House of Delegates. Both U.S. senators, the Maryland attorney general and state comptroller are all Democrats, too.

“We fell short in the governor’s race but otherwise it was a blue tsunami in Maryland,” says Kathleen Matthews, chairwoman of the Maryland Democratic Party. “I think we have a constellation of rising stars. The election is ushering in a new generation of leadership in the Democratic Party.”

Meanwhile, Republicans — still riding high from Hogan’s historic win over Democrat Ben Jealous — looked around the state to see their bench had been decimated.

Ball had bested Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman, a moderate Republican seen by many as best positioned to run for governor in 2022 after Hogan’s term See DEMOCRATS, page 22