The race to determine which Democrat will likely face off against Republican Larry Hogan for Maryland’s open Senate seat is quickly escalating after a contender blurted out a racial slur.
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks is gaining ground in polls against Rep. David Trone and scored a flurry of high-profile endorsements after Mr. Trone used the term “jigaboo” at a congressional hearing.
Mr. Trone later said he intended to say “bugaboo” when disparaging Republicans at the hearing.
The Democratic primary race was a sleeper until recently. The winner was expected to glide to victory in November in liberal-leaning Maryland.
Then came the Democrats’ worst nightmare: a popular two-term governor.
Mr. Hogan’s eleventh-hour entry instantly made the contest one of the nation’s most competitive as Senate Democrats fight to maintain their one-seat majority.
Longtime Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, a Democrat, is vacating the Maryland seat.
Mr. Trone, a wealthy businessman and founder of the Total Wine & More chain, made his racial gaffe last week as White House budget office director Shalanda Young, who is Black, testified about President Biden’s 2025 spending request.
“This Republican jigaboo that it’s the tax rate that’s stopping business investment, it’s just completely faulty by people who have never run a business,” Mr. Trone said at the House Budget Committee hearing. “They’ve never been there. They’ve not a clue what they’re talking about.”
Mr. Trone apologized after the slur was brought to his attention. He said he didn’t know he had used the term.
“While attempting to use the word ‘bugaboo’ in a hearing, I used a phrase that is offensive,” he said. “That word has a long, dark, terrible history. It should never be used anytime, anywhere, in any conversation. I recognize that as a White man, I have privilege. And as an elected official, I have a responsibility for the words I use — especially in the heat of the moment. Regardless of what I meant to say, I shouldn’t have used that language.”
The apology failed to prevent a series of notable endorsements for Ms. Alsobrooks, a Black county executive for Prince George’s County, which borders the District of Columbia. Neither she nor her campaign has publicly addressed Mr. Trone’s episode.
Reps. Barbara Lee of California, Gregory Meeks and Yvette Clarke of New York, Joyce Beatty of Ohio and Jasmine Crockett of Texas, all Congressional Black Caucus members, endorsed Ms. Alsobrooks over the weekend.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat who was an impeachment manager against President Trump, endorsed Ms. Alsobrooks on Monday after saying he would stay out of the primary race.
In a campaign video, Mr. Raskin hailed Ms. Alsobrooks for “defending democracy and freedom against Donald Trump and the MAGA right.”
“If Larry Hogan were to go to the Senate, he’d be another brick in the wall for Donald Trump and his party,” Mr. Raskin said. “This is not a time when anybody can afford to sit on the sidelines.”
Ms. Alsobrooks has secured the endorsements of most of Maryland’s congressional delegation, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Reps. Steny Hoyer, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume and Glenn Ivey. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller are also backing her.
Mr. Trone also has a long list of high-profile Democratic endorsers, including Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell of California, Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota and Maryland Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger.
Ms. Alsobrooks and Mr. Trone have flexed their liberal credentials on issues such as abortion, gun control, climate change and immigration.
A Washington Post/University of Maryland survey last week showed Ms. Alsobrooks narrowing Mr. Trone’s double-digit lead to a 7-percentage-point split, with Mr. Trone at 34% and Ms. Alsobrooks at 27%.
“While Trone has spent more than $38 million on his campaign to date — which includes significant TV and digital advertising — Angela has narrowed the gap with Trone to just 7 points after just a month of advertising, as voters continue to see and hear more about Angela,” Ms. Alsobrooks’ campaign said.
The poll suggested trouble for Mr. Trone and Ms. Alsobrooks against Mr. Hogan in the general election.
Mr. Hogan led 49% to 37% over Mr. Trone and 50% to 36% over Ms. Alsobrooks.