Angela Alsobrooks confidently approached the podium at the United Center in Chicago on Tuesday night, wearing a white suit and prepared to passionately advocate for Kamala Harris, her friend and mentor, as the next president of the United States.
For a full eight minutes, Alsobrooks, who currently serves as the Prince George’s County executive and is vying for a vacant U.S. Senate seat representing Maryland, captivated the attention of the political sphere. During her address, she shared snippets of her personal journey while also lending support to Harris’ presidential campaign.
Highlights from Alsobrooks’s impactful speech included:
Reflecting on Her Connection to Harris
Alsobrooks reminisced about her first encounter with Harris approximately 14 years ago. At the time, Alsobrooks was running for state’s attorney in Prince George’s County and was inspired by Harris’ policies featured in Essence magazine, particularly her commitment to aiding nonviolent offenders while ensuring that violent criminals are held accountable.
“After reading about this incredible district attorney, I couldn’t stop talking about her on the campaign trail,” Alsobrooks remarked, expressing admiration for accomplished women.
Following her successful election as state’s attorney in 2010, Alsobrooks received a phone call from Harris, who had just been elected attorney general of California. Harris offered her assistance, leading to a lasting friendship and mentorship that has greatly influenced Alsobrooks’s career. She credited Harris with helping to implement post-prison reentry programs in Prince George’s County, which contributed to reduced recidivism rates.
The two have consistently supported each other’s endeavors and campaigned side by side throughout the year. Alsobrooks emphasized that Harris’s experience as a former prosecutor makes her the optimal candidate to take on Donald Trump in the upcoming general election.
“Let me be clear: Kamala Harris knows how to keep criminals off the streets,” Alsobrooks stated. “With your help, she will ensure that one stays out of the Oval Office come November.”
“Not Going Back”
It was expected that the Maryland delegation at the convention, seated prominently near the stage, would enthusiastically cheer for Alsobrooks. However, she really energized the crowd with a series of passionate statements ending with the refrain “not going back,” aimed at Trump. The audience quickly caught on and echoed her final words, growing in volume with each declaration.
“This is our moment to confine Donald Trump to America’s past,” Alsobrooks declared. “We stand with Kamala Harris because as a nation, we are not going back.”
She continued with poignant statements:
“For the ancestors who fought for our voting rights: We are not. Going. Back.”
“For the women who marched for bodily autonomy: We are not. Going. Back.”
“For the hardworking parents striving for a better future for their children: We are not. Going. Back.”
While these remarks were primarily aimed at critiquing Trump, they could equally apply to Alsobrooks’ rival in the Senate race, former Governor Larry Hogan. The powerful phrase has become a rallying cry for Harris—will Alsobrooks adopt it as well?
A Personal Legacy
Throughout her campaign, Alsobrooks frequently shares the story of her grandmother, Sarah, a housekeeper who aspired to work for the federal government. However, lacking access to a typewriter for the civil service exam, Alsobrooks’ grandmother cleverly created a makeshift typewriter model on paper to practice for the typing test.
She successfully passed the exam and secured the job, elevating her family’s socioeconomic status.
“I am her legacy,” Alsobrooks proclaimed to a cheering audience. “And tonight, I stand before you as a candidate for the United States Senate representing the great state of Maryland!”
Alsobrooks expressed her admiration for trailblazing women like her grandmother and Harris, who envision a better future and possess the determination to actualize it.
What Was Overlooked
Ahead of Alsobrooks’s speech, Hogan shared a five-point agenda of topics he expected her to address. Unsurprisingly, Alsobrooks remained focused on her own narrative.
Among Hogan’s requested subjects was crime statistics. On the campaign trail, Alsobrooks often highlights how crime rates dropped during her tenure as state’s attorney in Prince George’s County. However, she typically does not acknowledge that some crime rates have risen since her transition to county executive.
Hogan, in a statement, cited a 30% increase in violent crime in the county, including a dramatic 95% spike in homicides. He failed to mention that much of Alsobrooks’s time as county executive, from late 2018 to the present, coincides with Hogan’s term as governor, from January 2015 through January 2023, during which he had substantial influence over state criminal justice policy.