Maryland Senate debate starts civilly, then veers into charges of ‘lies’

Republican Larry Hogan and Democrat Angela Alsobrooks accused each other Thursday of grossly distorting the other’s record during their race for Maryland’s open Senate seat, turning the contest’s lone debate into a volley of charges that each side was trying to mislead voters. On the stage at the Maryland Public Television studio, the candidates fought over whether Hogan could serve as an independent voice in a Senate controlled by Republicans, who would best protect abortion rights, and other far-ranging topic such as foreign policy, legalizing marijuana nationwide and how many days federal workers should be required to return to the office.