In a surprise announcement Saturday amidst a warm sunny day, Maryland Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore received an endorsement from Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.
Alsobrooks, who leads the state’s second biggest jurisdiction and one of the biggest majority Black counties in the country, said she met with all the candidates to determine their vision for Prince George’s.
“I met with Wes several times. It really felt his vision for our families in Maryland and here in Prince George’s County was really the vision that I also share,” she said. “One that is all inclusive. I was also really drawn to his humility, as well as his integrity. When you meet with him, you just get from him this sense that it was beyond politics. That he sees us in a way that it is unique…and has a plan to elevate every family.”
The Alsobrooks’ endorsement happened during the opening of Moore’s campaign field office in Largo, just down the street from Alsobrooks’ office inside the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building.
Alsobrooks joined Moore’s family, elected officials, supporters and Prince George’s County residents outside the suite on property owned by Keller Williams Preferred Properties.
Emerick Peace, owner of Keller Williams, compared Moore’s presence to Curry, the late county executive of Prince George’s.
“Wes Moore’s intellectual prowess allows him to command the room,” Peace said. “That’s important for a politician in this day and time. In order for us to get something different, we have to do something different.”
The field office in Largo represents the campaign’s second, which opened its first one last month in Moore’s hometown of Baltimore City.
The run for governor marks Moore’s first foray into political office.
Although he’s a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, Moore praises his start where he earned an associate’s degree at Valley Forge Military College in Pennsylvania.
Jerry Ravenell of Oxon Hill said Moore’s background, which includes serving as CEO of the anti-poverty nonprofit Robin Hood Foundation in New York City, makes him the perfect candidate for voters to choose him as Maryland’s first Black governor.
“He has everything a governor would need,” Ravenell said. “He has a presence. He has scholarship. He has experience. He has creativity and a proven track record that he is successful in his efforts.”
Although Moore has endorsements from other Prince Georgians, nine of the 11 members on County Council support Moore’s opponent and former County Executive Rushern L. Baker III. The other two council members are Tom Dernoga and Edward Burroughs III, Burroughs got sworn-in last month to replace Anderson-Walker.
Baker’s making his second stint for governor after he lost in the 2018 primary election.
Alsobrooks and Baker worked together when he served as county executive between 2010 and 2018 during her time as the county state’s attorney.
Baker released a statement Saturday to express his respect for Alsobrooks, but also “extremely disappointed in her decision to support one of our opponents at such a precarious time.”
“The great County, where I’ve raised my family and built my life, deserves a leadership team that knows how to practically get things done—not just talk in theoretical hows,” he said. “With a track record of executive experience and proven results, we’re building a true grassroots campaign because we understand the importance of people over politics.”
@WJFjabariwill