The special primary election to finish Sen.-elect Angela Alsobrooks’ term as Prince George’s county executive has been set by the county council for March 4, with a loaded group of contenders vying for an opportunity to lead one of America’s wealthiest Black counties.
With a filing deadline of Dec. 20, former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker (D) and state Sen. Alonzo Washington (D) recently joined Prince George’s State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D), County Council Chair Jolene Ivey (D-At-Large), County Council member Calvin Hawkins (D), and attorney Tonya Sweat (D) in confirming their interest in seeking the county executive seat.
Tara Jackson will serve as acting county executive into June and does not plan to run to officially fill the role.
“I believe I’m here to maintain the stability of the government and help us transition smoothly,” said Jackson during a Dec. 4 press conference to outline her plans to keep the Washington Commanders in Prince George’s County, improve health care, and ensure the FBI headquarters is built in Greenbelt.
Rushern Baker Pledges to Address Challenges That Can Worsen During Trump Administration
As the former county executive, Baker said he’s witnessed a transition in Prince George’s.
“A lot of our residents have moved to the south, to Charles County. We were once the most affluent and educated African American county in the nation and probably the world. People have left the county because of public safety issues, crime and jobs, economic development and job creation,” said Baker, as he announced his campaign.
The former county executive’s campaign is pledging to address kitchen table issues that will likely become more salient as the Trump administration’s agenda of cutting federal jobs and government spending, enacting mass deportations, and enacting tariffs against trading partners will likely worsen the regional economy.
“Those are things I can bring back here to the people. It’s always about the economy and jobs and job security. That’s what residents of Prince George’s County said to me: that they’re concerned with jobs and public safety.
Baker also stated his experience makes him a candidate that will be ready to serve on his first day back in office.
“We don’t have time for any of the candidates who’d have to learn to be county executives. They’ve never done that job, and it’s completely different from being a legislator, which I was, being a lawyer, which I am, it’s a whole different animal, and you have to be able to do that job immediately,” Baker explained. “You need somebody on day one who understands the budget in the county, the agencies, and also understands the crisis we’re going to go through – the state has a budget crisis, the county has a $170 million deficit, we have crime issues that are arising,”
Baker was first appointed to the House of Delegates in 1994 and served in Annapolis until 2002, when he ran in a wide-open primary to replace Wayne Curry, Prince George’s first Black county executive, ushering the area into a new era of African American leadership.
He lost in the 2002 primary and unsuccessfully challenged then-County Executive Jack Johnson in 2006. After winning in 2010, Baker pledged to clean up political corruption and he added appointees to the Board of Education, a measure that was ended earlier this year.
Because he was formerly county executive, if Baker wins the primary, he would be the only candidate that wouldn’t trigger a special election or appointment, a point he noted in his announcement.
“If I’m elected, I’m the only person that’s running that I know of so far, that would not trigger a special election,” he said. He said this prior to the announcements of Washington and attorney Tonya Sweat, however.
Alonzo Washington Launches Campaign Focused on ‘Integrity and Accountability‘
State Sen. Alonzo Washington (D-District 22), who served on the Kirwan Commission, which established the Blueprint for Education, is known for being an education advocate in Annapolis, and on Dec. 11 he announced his hopes to further his efforts, but this time as a county executive.
While legislators in Annapolis are generally prohibited from fundraising, Washington will be allowed to as county executive is not a state office.
“I’m very proud here today, to announce to you all, on behalf of myself, my family, my wife and my baby daughter standing right in front of me, I announce my candidacy for county executive of Prince George’s County,” Washington said. “The responsibility of leading Prince George’s County is profound and consequential, and I’m excited to lead a grassroots campaign that focuses on integrity and accountability. Our residents deserve nothing less.”
Jolene Ivey Prioritizes Affordable Housing, Schools, Businesses, Crime, County Budget
Ivey’s policies include new economic development, maintaining the county’s balanced budget, and hiring more police officers.
“The next county executive must tackle the housing affordability crisis, improve our schools, support our businesses, and work with the community and police to reduce crime,” said Ivey, who officially announced her bid for the seat on Dec. 17 in Lanham.
During this critical time of transition for the county and nation, Ivey said the budget is a major priority.
“It’s a really important time, and I’m just so focused on the budget,” Ivey said when asked about her ongoing priorities in the at-large seat, which she was sworn into on Dec. 5.
State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy: ‘Voters… Need to Know That I Am Their Voice’
Braveboy said she would prioritize housing costs, senior care, and public safety.
“Voters in Prince George’s County need to know that I am their voice. I grew up in this county, went to public schools here, and I am someone who not only is from here, but have the values of the community. The community will always be first in my administration,” said State’s Attorney Braveboy.
She emphasized her pulse on residents’ needs and touted countywide improvements since she’s served as state’s attorney.
“I know there are concerns around crime, I have been working collaboratively with law enforcement partners and I can tell you as of today, crime is down and carjackings, which has been a major focus of my administration, are down more than 30% — so we are headed in the right direction,” Braveboy said.
Candidate Support, Early Polling Shows Ivey and Braveboy in the Lead
Early polling placed Ivey and Braveboy in the lead for both existing support and name recognition, although previous polls did not include Washington as a candidate.
State Sen. Nick Charles (D-District 25) is supporting Hawkins, and attended his announcement, speaking favorably of the former council chair, who is his fraternity brother and longtime friend.
Delegate Ashanti Martinez (D- District 22) announced he is “all in” for Washington, his district’s senator.
