Angela Alsobrooks takes historic oath of office as new Maryland lawmakers begin session

Sam Janesch, The Baltimore Sun on Jan 3, 2025

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WASHINGTON — Angela Alsobrooks — with an oath to her country and a handshake from her mentor and friend, Vice President Kamala Harris — on Friday began her tenure as one of Maryland’s two U.S. senators, becoming the first Black woman and second woman ever to hold the role.

The Democrat from Prince George’s County was the first newly elected senator to swear in and shake Harris’ hand in a ceremony that went through the ranks alphabetically.

In an all-white suit at the front of the ornate chamber where family and friends sat in the gallery, she stood alongside U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, her predecessor U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin and former U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski while taking the oath.

“The gang’s all here,” Harris said as the four Maryland Democrats approached.

The historic moment marked a new era for both the state’s representatives in Washington, D.C., — where Alsobrooks was one of four new officials in a 10-member delegation that rarely turns over in such numbers — and for the country.

Republicans took control of the U.S. Senate for the first time in four years while keeping the U.S. House — but with a margin so narrow that House Speaker Mike Johnson only won back his role Friday afternoon after some GOP holdouts changed their votes. U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, an Eastern Shore Republican who leads the conservative House Freedom Caucus, initially didn’t answer when it was his turn to answer on the floor but then voted for Johnson when called again.

In the Senate, no such rancor ensued as South Dakota’s John Thune succeeded Mitch McConnell to become the chamber’s majority leader.

Alsobrooks, for her part, warmly greeted her new colleagues on the Democratic side and shared a one-on-one moment with Mikulski as the retired longtime senator pinned Alsobrooks’ new congressional pin on her lapel. Her pin on and Bible in hand, Alsobrooks found her seat and sat down just in time to jump again in applause as Lisa Blunt Rochester, also all dressed in white, took her oath to mark the first time two Black women served in the Senate together.

Sitting a few moments later next to U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, of New Jersey, Alsobrooks pointed out her family in the gallery, some of whom made hearts with their hands and waved. She excitedly tapped Booker and fellow freshman U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, of Michigan, on the shoulder a few moments later as she pointed to Larry Gibson, a longtime University of Maryland law professor who served as a mentor to Alsbrooks, who waved from another area.

Earlier in the day, Alsobrooks danced into a Congressional Black Caucus event to a standing ovation from many of the other 61 members who were already seated on stage.

Alsobrooks will start her tenure as a freshman in the minority party on four committees. Senate Democratic leadership announced she’ll serve on the Banking; Environment and Public Works; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; and Aging committees.

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