Angela Alsobrooks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Angela Alsobrooks
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Alsobrooks in 2025
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| United States Senator from Maryland |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2025 Serving with Chris Van Hollen
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| Preceded by | Ben Cardin |
| 8th Executive of Prince George's County | |
| In office December 3, 2018 – December 2, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Rushern Baker |
| Succeeded by | Tara Jackson (acting) |
| State's Attorney of Prince George's County | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – December 3, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Glenn Ivey |
| Succeeded by | Aisha Braveboy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Angela Deneece Alsobrooks
February 23, 1971 Suitland, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Duke University (BA) University of Maryland, Baltimore (JD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
Angela Deneece Alsobrooks (born February 23, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician. She has been a U.S. Senator for Maryland since January 2025. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Before becoming a senator, Alsobrooks served as the top prosecutor for Prince George's County from 2011 to 2018. She then became the county executive for Prince George's County from 2018 to 2024. She was the first woman to be county executive there and the first Black woman to hold that position in Maryland.
Angela Alsobrooks grew up in Prince George's County. She studied at Duke University and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She started her career as a lawyer, working on cases involving domestic violence. She was elected as the state's attorney for Prince George's County in 2010 and 2014. She was then elected as Prince George's County Executive in 2018 and 2022.
In 2024, Alsobrooks was elected to the U.S. Senate. She won against U.S. Representative David Trone in the Democratic primary and Republican Governor Larry Hogan in the main election. She is Maryland's first African-American senator and the third African-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. She is also the second woman to represent Maryland in the Senate, after Barbara Mikulski.
Contents
- Angela Alsobrooks's Early Life and Education
- Early Steps in Politics
- Serving as Prince George's State's Attorney
- Leading Prince George's County as Executive
- Becoming a U.S. Senator
- Angela Alsobrooks's Political Views
- Personal Life
- Images for kids
Angela Alsobrooks's Early Life and Education
Angela Deneece Alsobrooks was born in Suitland, Maryland, on February 23, 1971. Her father, James Alsobrooks, worked for The Washington Post and sold cars. Her mother, Patricia Alsobrooks, was a receptionist.
Alsobrooks grew up in Camp Springs, Maryland. She went to Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Washington, D.C. In 1993, she earned her bachelor's degree from Duke University. She then earned her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1996.
After law school, Alsobrooks worked for law firms and judges. In 1997, she became an assistant state's attorney in Prince George's County. She focused on cases involving domestic violence. In 2002, she worked for Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson as an education liaison. In 2003, she became the executive director of the county's revenue authority.
Early Steps in Politics
Angela Alsobrooks first got involved in politics when she was in high school. She was the president of her school's student government. She also interned for U.S. House Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.
She attended the 1992 Democratic National Convention as an intern. She also volunteered for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign. In 2000, she worked on Al Gore's presidential campaign. In 2008, she supported U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton and later Barack Obama. She was also a delegate for Clinton at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
In 2009, Alsobrooks decided to run for Prince George's state's attorney. She was inspired by District Attorney of San Francisco Kamala Harris. Harris supported Alsobrooks's campaign.
Serving as Prince George's State's Attorney
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Angela Alsobrooks was first elected as Prince George's state's attorney in 2010. She was reelected in 2014. She was the first woman and the youngest person to hold this job in the county. She had support from many leaders, including Glenn Ivey and Rushern Baker.
As state's attorney, Alsobrooks focused on being tough on crime. However, she also supported programs to help young people in the justice system. During her time, violent crime in the county went down by 50%. She also increased prosecutions for car break-ins and burglaries.
She worked with Kamala Harris, who was then California Attorney General. They started a program to help reduce people returning to crime in Prince George's County. This program was similar to one Harris had in California.
Leading Prince George's County as Executive
Becoming County Executive
Alsobrooks announced she would run for county executive on July 28, 2017. Her main goals were to increase school funding, grow local businesses, and make public safety better. She wanted to hire more police officers.
She won the Democratic primary election with 61.8% of the votes. She defeated eight other candidates. In the general election, her opponent dropped out and supported her. This meant she ran without formal opposition and won with 98.9% of the vote.
Alsobrooks was sworn in on December 3, 2018. She became the first woman and the first Black woman to be elected county executive in Maryland.
Key Actions as County Executive
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During her time as county executive, Alsobrooks supported Kamala Harris in her presidential campaign. She was also a delegate for Joe Biden at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Some people criticized Alsobrooks for not appointing enough Latino officials to her team. Latinos make up a significant part of the county's population. She said her office was working to include more Latino people. Later, she stated that Latino representation in the county's workforce increased from 6% to 23% during her time.
Alsobrooks resigned as county executive on December 2, 2024, after being elected to the U.S. Senate.
Handling the COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 9, 2020, Alsobrooks announced the first COVID-19 case in Prince George's County. She quickly ordered county buildings to close. She also opened the first COVID-19 testing site at FedExField. Prince George's County was hit hard by the pandemic.
She worked with Governor Larry Hogan to get test kits. Alsobrooks also provided $8 million for a rent assistance program to help people affected by the pandemic. She created a task force called "Prince George's Forward" to help the county recover.
In July 2020, she created a team to make sure businesses followed COVID-19 rules. In January 2021, she reset vaccination appointments to ensure local residents got their vaccines. She also launched a "Proud to be Protected" campaign to encourage vaccinations. Most county COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in May 2021. However, she brought back the indoor mask mandate in August 2021 due to the Delta variant. This mandate was lifted on February 28, 2022.
Becoming a U.S. Senator
The 2024 Election
On May 9, 2023, Alsobrooks announced she would run for the U.S. Senate. Her campaign focused on everyday issues like community safety and health care. She also highlighted her experience as a prosecutor and county executive.
She received many endorsements from Maryland's Democratic leaders. Her main opponent in the primary was David Trone, who spent a lot of his own money on the campaign. Alsobrooks focused on meeting voters directly and running ads closer to the election.
She won the primary election on May 14, 2024, with 54% of the vote. Her support came mostly from the larger cities and her home county. She then faced Governor Larry Hogan in the general election. Alsobrooks won the election on November 5, 2024, with 54.6% of the vote.
Serving in the Senate
Angela Alsobrooks was sworn into office on January 3, 2025. She is the first Black senator from Maryland. She is also the first woman to represent Maryland in Congress since 2017. She is the third Black woman ever elected to the Senate.
Senate Committees and Groups
Alsobrooks serves on several important Senate committees:
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and and Urban Affairs
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
- Special Committee on Aging
She is also a member of:
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues
Angela Alsobrooks's Political Views
The Baltimore Banner newspaper has described Alsobrooks as a center-left politician. She looks up to Jack B. Johnson and Kamala Harris as her political mentors.
Views on Crime and Policing
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As state's attorney, Alsobrooks supported keeping police officers in schools. She also wanted strong sentences for young people who committed violent crimes.
She has supported reforms for police departments. After the death of George Floyd in 2020, she announced that the county would invest in a public health facility instead of expanding a police training center. She also created a Police Reform Task Force.
In March 2022, after crime rates increased, Alsobrooks suggested increasing police funding. She also created a task force to prevent violent crimes among young people. In September 2022, she set a 30-day curfew for young people.
Views on Development and Economy
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Alsobrooks has worked to keep the Washington Redskins football team's stadium in Prince George's County. She supported developing a sports and entertainment venue near FedExField.
She also supports moving the Federal Bureau of Investigation's headquarters to Prince George's County. In November 2023, it was announced that the new FBI headquarters would be in Greenbelt, Maryland. However, in March 2025, President Donald Trump blocked the move. Alsobrooks and other Maryland lawmakers are fighting against this decision.
Alsobrooks supported a law to temporarily limit rent increases to 3 percent. She also supported a bill to cap rent increases at 6 percent per year.
In 2015, Alsobrooks supported a bill requiring businesses in Prince George's County to offer paid sick leave. She also supported raising the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour. As a senator, she supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
She has opposed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. She supports raising the tax rate for corporations. She also wants to expand the child tax credit and limit childcare costs for low-income families.
Views on Education
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Alsobrooks wants to increase funding for early childhood education and career training in schools. She aims for all children to have access to preschool.
In 2019, she announced that Prince George's County would use public-private partnerships to build and maintain schools. This was a new approach in the U.S. She also supported funding school construction projects with money from casinos.
She supported the "Blueprint for Maryland's Future," a big education reform plan. However, she was concerned about how much it would cost the county.
As a U.S. Senator, Alsobrooks supports expanding the federal Pell Grant program. She also wants to work with the Biden administration to help with student loan debt.
Views on Elections and Ethics
Alsobrooks has criticized a state law that stopped politicians in Prince George's County from taking money from developers. She called it "racially biased." She supported bills to change this law.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alsobrooks asked Governor Larry Hogan to offer more ways to vote, like mail-in voting. She also asked to combine polling places into fewer, larger vote centers.
She supports giving voting rights to undocumented immigrants and 16-year-olds. She also supports expanding the U.S. Supreme Court and setting term limits for its judges.
Views on the Environment
As county executive, Alsobrooks started a composting program. She also spent over $1 billion on programs to manage stormwater. She set a goal for the county to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030.
As a U.S. Senator, she supports the Inflation Reduction Act. She wants to make electric vehicles more affordable. She also supports increasing federal funding to reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.
Views on Foreign Policy
Alsobrooks believes that protecting democracy is the most important foreign policy issue for the U.S. She supports expanding NATO. She does not support sending U.S. troops to fight in the Russo-Ukrainian War or in a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
She opposed tariffs (taxes on imported goods) that the previous Trump administration placed on Canada and Mexico. In March 2025, she introduced her first bill, the Tariff Transparency Act. This bill would study how tariffs affect consumers and businesses.
Iran
Alsobrooks supports building stronger relationships with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates to counter Iran. She supports the Iran Nuclear Deal to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
In June 2025, after the U.S. attacked Iranian nuclear sites, she criticized the strikes. She said they were unconstitutional and would endanger U.S. service members. She also urged President Trump to find a peaceful solution to the Iran–Israel war.
Israel
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Alsobrooks supports Israel's "right to defend itself." She sees herself as an ally in maintaining good relations between Israel and the U.S. She supports a two-state solution for the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. She opposes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
In October 2023, she supported Israel in the Gaza war. She also spoke out against hate crimes targeting Jewish and Muslim people. She later supported a ceasefire in the war, along with the release of hostages.
Ukraine
Alsobrooks supports Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She supports providing aid to Ukraine and allowing Ukraine to join NATO. She has called Russian President Vladimir Putin a dictator.
In February 2025, she criticized President Donald Trump for blaming Ukraine for Russia's invasion. She said it showed he was more interested in helping Putin than U.S. allies.
Views on Gun Control
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Alsobrooks supported the Firearm Safety Act of 2013. This law limited gun purchases and magazine sizes for certain rifles.
As a U.S. Senator, she believes gun violence is linked to a lack of mental health resources and weak gun laws. She supports "red flag" laws. These laws allow temporary removal of guns from people who might harm themselves or others. She also supports federal laws for universal background checks for gun sales. She wants to ban assault weapons.
Views on Health Care
As a U.S. Senator, Alsobrooks supports capping the price of insulin at $35. She wants to protect Social Security. She also supports expanding the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid to ensure everyone has health coverage. She believes Medicare should be able to negotiate drug prices.
In 2025, Alsobrooks opposed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s role as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). She criticized his views on vaccines and his promotion of conspiracy theories. She voted against his confirmation.
Views on Immigration
In 2012, Alsobrooks supported the Maryland's Dream Act. This law allowed undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition for college.
She has supported limiting cooperation between local jails and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In 2019, she signed a bill that stopped county police from working with ICE in non-criminal deportation cases.
As a U.S. Senator, Alsobrooks supports a full immigration reform. This includes creating a way for undocumented immigrants to become citizens. She also supports programs like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Views on National Politics
Alsobrooks opposed the 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown. She called it "wicked" and President Donald Trump "ruthless." She announced a relief package for federal workers affected by the shutdown.
After the January 6 United States Capitol attack, Alsobrooks condemned Trump's role in it. She also expressed support for the U.S. justice system after the verdict in the Trump hush money trial.
She opposes the Trump administration's efforts to fire and reclassify federal workers. She noted that these layoffs would affect Maryland, which has many federal workers. Alsobrooks supports statehood for Washington, D.C..
Views on Social Issues
Alsobrooks supported the law that legalized same-sex marriage in Maryland in 2012. As county executive, she recognized Pride Month. She also expanded health services for people with HIV/AIDS. She hired the county's first government liaison for the LGBTQ community.
As a U.S. Senator, she promised to support the Women's Health Protection Act.
In 2019, Alsobrooks called for a state delegate to resign after she used an inappropriate term to describe a district in Prince George's County.
In April 2023, Alsobrooks supported a pilot program for universal basic income in Prince George's County. This program provides monthly payments to seniors.
She has expressed concerns about proposals to ban TikTok in the United States.
In October 2024, Alsobrooks's campaign stated she supported studying proposals for reparations for African-Americans.
Views on Transportation
Alsobrooks opposed a plan to build a high-speed "maglev" train connecting Washington, D.C., to Baltimore. She said it would harm the environment and property values in Prince George's County.
She has launched programs to develop areas around the Blue Line and Purple Line metro projects. She also supports restarting the Red Line in Baltimore.
After the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in March 2024, Alsobrooks supported the federal and state response. She also supported President Biden's promise to cover most of the costs to replace the bridge.
Personal Life
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Angela Alsobrooks has a daughter named Alex, who was born in 2005. Alsobrooks raised her as a single mother. She owns two homes in Prince George's County. Her second cousin is Leslie Gray Streeter, a columnist for The Baltimore Banner.
Alsobrooks attends First Baptist Church of Glenarden. She is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She also works to raise awareness about breast cancer. She is a fan of the Washington Commanders football team.
When she was eight years old, Alsobrooks was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Her daughter also has ADHD.
In September 2024, it was reported that Alsobrooks had received some tax breaks she might not have qualified for. Her Senate campaign stated she was unaware of any issues and would pay back any taxes owed. As of December 2024, Alsobrooks had paid the taxes she owed.
Images for kids
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Alsobrooks in 2025
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Angela Alsobrooks's signature
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Alsobrooks as Prince George's County State's Attorney in 2015
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Alsobrooks being sworn in as county executive, 2018
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Alsobrooks (center) tours the Six Flags America mass vaccination site with Governor Larry Hogan, 2021
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Alsobrooks speaks at a campaign rally in August 2024
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Alsobrooks being sworn in as senator from Maryland by Vice President Kamala Harris, with her daughter Alex
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Alsobrooks testifies in support of legislation to protect domestic violence victims, 2014
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Alsobrooks speaks at a press conference to support building the new FBI Headquarters in Prince George's County, 2023.
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Alsobrooks speaks at a press conference announcing funds for school construction, 2018
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Alsobrooks attends services at Beth El Congregation on the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, 2024
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Alsobrooks testifies for the Firearm Safety Act with Governor Martin O'Malley, 2013
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Alsobrooks and her daughter at her Senate Welcome Reception, 2025
