Posted on 10/12/24
| News Source: FOX45
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 11, 2024 - Former Governor Larry Hogan and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks faced off in the first, and only, Maryland Senate debate at Maryland Public Television on Thursday.
Chuck Todd was the moderator, with MPT’s Jeff Salkin, NBC Washington’s Tracee Wilkins and WBAL’s Deborah Weiner as the panelists.
Alsobrooks began her opening statements by introducing herself to the voters. Hogan started saying he “likes and respects” Alsobrooks.
During his introduction, Hogan started to talk about the reason he decided to run for governor, before quickly correcting himself by saying he’s running for senate.
Abortion
The first question of the night focused on abortion and control of the Senate.
Alsobrooks responded by saying Hogan is running to give the GOP control of the Senate.
"I do not believe having a majority controlled by Republicans is in the best interest" of the country, Alsbrooks said.
Hogan responded that we’re going to hear a lot about party control but that he’s not concerned with “red vs. blue” but rather the “red, white, and blue.” A phrase he’s used multiple times during his campaign.
“I will support – and sponsor – to codify Roe,” Hogan said.
Hogan independent of Republican Party?
Hogan was asked if voters can really believe that he can be independent if the Republican Party is paying for his ads.
“I’m not a MAGA, Mitch McConnell” type of person, that he says Alsobrooks says he is.
Alsobrooks commented that if Hogan wanted to be an independent, he should have run as one.
She also said it doesn’t matter what Hogan says he would do regarding Roe in the Senate because “if the Republicans have a majority in the Senate, there will be no vote on Roe.”
Alsobrooks changes to Democratic Party?
Alsobrooks was asked if there was anything she would push back on in the Democratic Party. She said she stood up to President Biden when he “looked like he was waffling” on the FBI.
Alsobrooks tax controversy
The debate then shifted to a question to Angela Alsobrooks on her taxes after a recent controversy.
Alsobrooks said she has “always paid” her taxes, and says she didn’t know about the senior tax credit on her grandmother’s house.
“I paid back the amount of the tax creditand I’m working to pay off the interest,” she said when pressed.
Support of Israel
The conversation then turned to Israel. Alsobrooks was asked if she is a Cardin Democrat or a Van Hollen Democrat.
“Neither. I’m Angela Alsobrooks.”
“We recognize a horrific attackwe have an obligation” to bring home hostages, Alsobrooks said. “We’ve got to get to a two-state solution.”
Hogan said he will be more like Sen. Cardin and maintains his support of Israel.
“Moments like this, people have to stand up and be counted,” Hogan said, calling Israel one of the most important allies the U.S. has.
Taiwan security
The candidates were then asked if Taiwan’s security so important that it’s worth the U.S. getting involved on the ground if China invades?
Hogan said he hopes it doesn’t get to that point and Alsobrooks said she didn’t believe in boots on the ground.
Ukraine support
The candidates were asked about Ukraine support and whether they think Ukraine should be admitted to NATO.
Alsobrooks believes funding to help Ukraine defeat Putin is important and says Ukraine being admitted into NATO “should be explored.” Hogan mostly agreed on the topic saying he believes support is necessary and he supports allowing Ukraine to join NATO.
Supreme Court
The conversation switched to the candidate’s thoughts on the Supreme Court.
“I believe they no longer represent the will of the people,” Alsobrooks said. She said she supports SCOTUS reform including expansion or term limits.
Hogan said he doesn’t think SCOTUS should be politicized, which he says both parties have done.
Abortion
The debate returned to how the topic it started with, discussing abortion.
Hogan claimed that Alsobrooks’ “campaign is based on lies” and said he is committed to codifying Roe.
“His party doesn’t agree with him” on his stance on abortion, Alsbrooks said. She also said that the GOP has “declared war” on women.
The candidates were asked if they would support getting rid of the filibuster to codify Roe.
Alsobrooks said she would, which Hogan highly opposed and said was a terrible idea.
“She and Donald Trump agree that we should get rid of long-standing rules” to jam things through on a party-line” vote.
Gun violence
Moving on to gun violence, the candidates were asked if they believe the federal government has a role in reducing gun violence, especially when it comes to schools.
“Absolutely there is a role,” Hogan responded. He said he supports universal background checks and a “common-sense” bipartisan assault weapons ban.
When asked to clarify what a “common-sense” assault ban means, Hogan said, “I would support an assault weapons ban.” He said it’s important for it to be bipartisan.
Alsobrooks replied that her opponent “did not have the courage” to sign ghost gun ban legislation.
Hogan defended his move by saying his opposition to a long-gun bill is because nobody is using hunting rifles to shoot people.
Legalizing recreational marijuana
Regarding legalizing recreational marijuana at the federal level, both candidates had some concerns.
Hogan said he is not ready to legalize on a federal level but said he supports medicinally. Alsobrooks pointed out Maryland legalized it and would support it federally, but she has some concerns about kids having access to it.
Federal workers ability to work from home
The debate changed to a unique question, whether federal workers should be allowed to still work from home one to two days a week.
Alsobrooks said she supports work from home a few days a week. Hogan said certainly some things can be done remotely, but says most public-facing jobs should be done in person.
Hogan was not asked during the debate about the TIME Magazine article that came out today regarding Hogan’s votes on contracts for developers.