Skip to main content
Election 2022 Government & Politics

Former Delegate Angel Makes Congressional Bid Official

Former Del. Angela M. Angel (D-Prince George’s) has joined the 4th District congressional race. Campaign photo.

One month after opening a federal fundraising committee, former state Del. Angela M. Angel (D-Prince George’s) formally announced Monday that she’s joining the open-seat 4th District race for Congress.

Angel released a video describing her journey from homelessness and victim of domestic violence to her election to the House of Delegates in 2014.

“I know what it is like to get knocked down,” she says in the 90-second video. “I also know what it takes to get back up.”

Angel, a mother of five, then offers more biographical background.

“In 2014, I went from homeless to the House of Delegates, where I authored and passed bills protecting domestic violence survivors, providing mental health services for our children, and holding companies accountable for overcharging seniors for prescription drugs,” she says. “Getting things done is what my life has been all about.”

After describing the influence her parents played in shaping her personal politics and commitment to public service, the candidate outlines some of her priorities if she’s elected to Congress.

“I’ll fight for universal pre-K, investment in our small businesses and development along the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor,” she says. “And I’ll make sure the long-promised FBI headquarters comes to our community. I will bring the resolve of a working mother, the strength of a survivor and the fight to deliver for our community, so we all get back up stronger than ever.”

Angel, who turns 42 the day after Christmas, served one term in the House of Delegates, representing District 25 in the center of Prince George’s County from 2015 to 2019. She ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 2018, losing the Democratic primary to now-Sen. Melony G. Griffith (D), 55% to 37%.

An attorney, Angel has worked in a variety of political roles, including for President Obama’s campaign, for New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D), for former Gov. Martin J. O’Malley (D), for the Prince George County’s delegation in the Maryland General Assembly, and for Prince George’s Councilmember Derrick Leon Davis (D). She also served as counsel to the Prince George’s County Department of Environment during her time in the House, and most recently was director of Black engagement for Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign.

Angel is vying for the 4th District seat that’s vacant because U.S. Rep. Anthony G. Brown (D) has decided to run for state attorney general in 2022. Del. Jazz M. Lewis (D-Prince George’s) and former Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D) are also competing in the Democratic primary.

The majority-Black district as recently redrawn by the General Assembly contains about half of Prince George’s County plus small segments of Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties — though the new congressional map will be the object of lawsuits. The 4th District has an overwhelmingly Democratic electorate and will almost certainly continue to do so regardless of the legal challenges.

Angel is clearly hoping to take advantage of the fact that there haven’t been any women in Maryland’s congressional delegation since the end of 2016.

“Angela is running to ensure that the women of Maryland see themselves in their Congressional delegation,” the campaign said in a statement. “Angela will bring the perspective of a working mother who has fought to improve the quality of life for all of our families, and the heart of a champion who will never stop fighting to protect Marylanders’ constitutional rights.”

REPUBLISHING TERMS

Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

To republish, copy the following text and paste it into your HTML editor.

License

Creative Commons License AttributionCreative Commons Attribution
Former Delegate Angel Makes Congressional Bid Official