Maryland politics can feel like a small club sometimes. Honestly, if you live in the Free State, you've probably seen the same few names on your TV screen for decades. But things just changed in a big way.
The lineup of US senators from MD recently went through its biggest shakeup since the mid-2000s. We aren't just talking about a seat changing hands; we're talking about a massive shift in representation and seniority that will affect everything from the Chesapeake Bay's health to your federal tax bracket.
The Current Heavy Hitters
As of early 2026, the two people representing Maryland in the United States Senate are Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks. Both are Democrats. That's not surprising given Maryland’s deep-blue leanings, but the path they took to get there couldn't be more different.
Van Hollen is the veteran now. He’s been in the Senate since 2017. Before that, he spent a long time in the House of Representatives. He’s the guy who knows where all the bodies are buried in DC—basically, he’s the policy nerd who handles the high-level Appropriations stuff.
Then you have Angela Alsobrooks.
She's the "new" one, though she’s hardly a political rookie. Alsobrooks made history by becoming the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the Senate. She was sworn in on January 3, 2025, taking over for the legendary Ben Cardin.
Why Ben Cardin’s Retirement Mattered So Much
You can't talk about US senators from MD without mentioning Ben Cardin. The man was in elected office for nearly 60 years. 60! He started in the Maryland House of Delegates in 1966 when he was just 23 years old.
When he decided not to run for re-election in 2024, it blew the doors wide open.
🔗 Read more: When is the Next Hurricane Coming 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
Cardin was the go-to guy for the Chesapeake Bay. He was also a massive figure on the Foreign Relations Committee. Losing that kind of seniority is a big deal for a state. It means Maryland had to start over in a way, building up influence from scratch in certain committees. Cardin’s departure wasn't just a retirement; it was the end of an era for "Team Maryland."
The 2024 Election: Alsobrooks vs. Hogan
The race to fill Cardin’s seat was wild. Most Maryland Senate races are sleepy affairs where the Democrat wins by 20 points without breaking a sweat. Not this time.
Larry Hogan, the former Republican governor, decided to run.
Hogan was popular. Like, really popular. He left the governor’s mansion with an approval rating north of 70%. For a minute there, national pundits thought Maryland might actually elect a Republican senator for the first time since Charles Mathias in the 80s.
The Strategy
- Larry Hogan tried to run as an independent-minded bridge builder. He focused on crime and the economy.
- Angela Alsobrooks leaned hard into the stakes of Senate control. She argued that even if you liked Hogan as governor, a vote for him was a vote for a Republican-controlled Senate.
In the end, Maryland stayed blue. Alsobrooks won with about 54% of the vote. It was a hard-fought victory that proved Maryland voters might like a GOP governor for local issues, but they want Democrats representing them on the federal stage.
What Chris Van Hollen Does All Day
While Alsobrooks is still building her "brand" in the Senate, Chris Van Hollen is the workhorse. He sits on the Appropriations Committee, which is arguably the most powerful spot for a senator.
Why? Because they control the money.
💡 You might also like: What Really Happened With Trump Revoking Mayorkas Secret Service Protection
If there’s a new bridge being built in Baltimore or a federal lab in Bethesda getting a massive grant, Van Hollen probably had his hands in it. He’s also very active on the Foreign Relations Committee and the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
He’s sort of the "senior statesman" now. It’s a role that suits him. He isn't a flashy "cable news" senator who’s always looking for a soundbite. He’s the guy reading the 2,000-page bills at 3:00 AM.
Angela Alsobrooks: The Junior Senator’s First Year
Taking over for a giant like Cardin is tough. Alsobrooks had to hit the ground running in 2025. Her focus has been pretty clear from her committee assignments. She’s currently serving on:
- Environment and Public Works: This is where the Chesapeake Bay funding happens.
- Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: A huge deal for the Baltimore and PG County housing markets.
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP): This fits her background as a prosecutor and County Executive where she focused on community health and schools.
In her first year, Alsobrooks has been vocal about reproductive rights and gun safety. She’s also had to navigate the reality of being a freshman senator in a chamber that moves notoriously slow.
The "Third" Senator: Why the Governor Matters
In Maryland, the relationship between the US senators from MD and the Governor is vital. Governor Wes Moore and the two senators are basically a tripod. They coordinate on "BRAC" (Base Realignment and Closure) issues to protect Maryland’s military bases like Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground.
If these three aren't on the same page, Maryland loses out on billions in federal funding. Right now, they are very much in sync. It’s a unified front that helps the state punch above its weight class in Washington.
Common Misconceptions About MD Senators
People often think Maryland has always been this blue. It hasn't. We used to have a much more "purple" history in the Senate.
📖 Related: Franklin D Roosevelt Civil Rights Record: Why It Is Way More Complicated Than You Think
There's also a myth that senators only care about Baltimore and the DC suburbs. While it's true that's where most of the voters are, if you look at the legislative record for both Van Hollen and Alsobrooks, there’s a surprising amount of focus on the Eastern Shore’s poultry industry and Western Maryland’s infrastructure. They have to play to the whole state, even the parts that didn't vote for them.
What to Watch Next
The next big milestone for US senators from MD will be the 2028 election. That’s when Chris Van Hollen’s seat comes up again. He hasn't given any indication of slowing down, but in politics, you never know.
Alsobrooks will be up for re-election in 2030. Between now and then, her goal is simple: prove that she can deliver the same kind of "meat and potatoes" results that Ben Cardin did for half a century.
If you want to keep tabs on what they're actually doing, don't just watch the news. Check the Congressional Record or look at the list of co-sponsored bills on Congress.gov. It’s the best way to see if they’re actually working on the stuff they promised during the campaign.
You can also reach out to their local offices. Both senators maintain constituent service offices in places like Baltimore, Largo, and Hagerstown. If you’re having trouble with a federal agency—like the VA or Social Security—these offices are actually surprisingly helpful at cutting through the red tape.
Check your current voter registration status through the Maryland State Board of Elections to ensure you are ready for the upcoming 2026 primary and general elections for local and state offices.