Update 12.2.2024: Angela Alsobrooks resigned as county executive at 10am this morning. Tara Jackson, formerly the county’s Chief Administrative Officer, is now the Acting County Executive, until a special election is conducted to fill the seat.
Original post – Nov. 24, 2024
by JOSH KURTZ, of MARYLAND MATTERS. In Prince George’s County, the method for picking the next county executive will depend on when County Executive Angela Alsobrooks resigns, with three scenarios possible.
If Alsobrooks resigns by Dec. 5, the two-year anniversary of her being sworn in for a second term, a special election will take place to replace her.
Hyattsville polling station. Photo by Juliette Fradin.
Not all the candidates quietly — and in some cases, not so quietly — mobilizing to try to succeed Alsobrooks are terribly well known to average voters.
That’s according to a poll conducted for Blended Public Affairs, an Annapolis-based firm headed by Alexandra Hughes, the former chief of staff to two Maryland House speakers. This is the maiden public poll of a new alliance between the firm and Donna Victoria, a Maryland-based Democratic pollster, who has just become a strategic partner at Blended Public Affairs.
In Prince George’s County, the pollster tested names of five potential successors to Alsobrooks, and at least two were relatively well known.
Forty-six percent of voters said they viewed two-term State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D) favorably, while 15% viewed her unfavorably. Seventeen percent said they knew her name but offered no opinion, while 23% said they did not know her.
Former two-term County Executive Rushern Baker (D) was viewed favorably by 37% of voters and unfavorably by 21%, while 20% said they were familiar with his name but offered no opinion and 22% said they didn’t know him.
State Treasurer Dereck Davis (D), a Prince George’s resident, had a 19% favorability rating compared to 9% of voters who viewed him unfavorably. Twenty-six percent said they knew him but could not offer an opinion, while 46% said they did not know him.
Two council members who have expressed an interest in replacing Alsobrooks were also included in the poll. Councilmember Jolene Ivey (D) was far better known of the two.
Councilmember Calvin Hawkins (D) had a 22% favorability rating, compared to 9% of voters who viewed him unfavorably. Thirty percent of voters said they knew his name but could not offer an opinion, while 38% said they did not know him at all.
Asked whether they would support the state investing to build a new football stadium for the Washington Commanders, 41% of voters said yes while 39% said no and another 20% were unsure.
Asked what issues will have “the most significant impact” on their lives over the next five years, 27% of voters said inflation and the cost of living; 25% said crime overall; 15% said housing affordability; 13% said the impact of the presidential election on the county; 10% said quality of schools; and 9% said juvenile crime.
The Prince George’s County sample size was 475 registered voters, and the poll was conducted Nov. 14-16.
This article has been shortened from the original by Streetcar Suburbs staff, to focus on just Prince George’s County and on the scenario involving an Alsobrooks resignation prior to Dec. 5.
Maryland Matters, which first published this article, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: editor@marylandmatters.org. Follow Maryland Matters on Facebook and X.
