Washington, D.C
Angela Alsobrooks improperly claimed tax deductions on DC, Maryland properties, records show
Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maryland, improperly took advantage of tax breaks she did not qualify for, including one meant for low-income senior citizens, saving thousands of dollars in taxes on two properties she owned in Washington, DC, and in Maryland.
A CNN review of property records and tax bills shows that for both properties, Alsobrooks claimed for more than a decade a homestead tax exemption that is meant to apply only to someone’s primary residence, violating state and local tax relief requirements.
She also improperly claimed a senior citizens’ tax break on her Washington property, cutting the tax bill in half. Alsobrooks, 53, never qualified for that tax break, but her grandparents, who owned the property before her, likely did.
A senior adviser for Alsobrooks told CNN that she was unaware of the problem and that her attorneys are working with both Washington and Prince George’s County, Maryland, to resolve the issue.
Alsobrooks saved nearly $14,000 in taxes between 2005 and 2017 on her northeast Washington property by using tax exemptions meant for the district’s primary residents, lower income residents and senior citizens, according to property tax bills reviewed by CNN.
But she did not live in Washington, according to public records. Since 1995, she has been registered to vote in Prince George’s County, where she’s been a longtime government official. She’s currently the county executive there, where she oversees the county’s budget and its tax collection division.
Connor Lounsbury, senior adviser to Alsobrooks, told CNN that after her grandmother moved out of the home in northeast Washington, Alsobrooks paid the mortgage on the property until it was sold in 2018. “She was unaware of any tax credits attached to that property and has reached out to the District of Columbia to resolve the issue and make any necessary payment,” Lounsbury said.
In 2005, Alsobrooks bought a townhouse in Prince George’s County. State records show she applied for and received a homestead exemption in 2008 for the townhouse. It’s unclear when, but she eventually began renting out the property – while continuing to take the exemption meant for primary residents.
While county records for her property tax bill on the townhouse go back only as far as fiscal year 2020, it is estimated that the exemption would have saved her at least $2,600 since then.
In 2014, Alsobrooks bought another home in an “equestrian” community in Prince George’s County. She lists the property as her primary residence on her mortgage – but does not take a homestead exemption there, something her campaign points out has actually cost her money.
“When Angela bought her new property, the homestead tax credit from her previous home was not transferred,” Lounsbury said. “This resulted in no financial gain for Angela. In fact, she ended up paying more in taxes than she would have had the credit transferred over. Nevertheless, Angela is working to repay any credits received on the old property.”
Key Senate race
After winning a contested Democratic primary earlier this year, Alsobrooks faces Republican Larry Hogan, the former Maryland governor, in the race to fill the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Ben Cardin.
In most election cycles, a Democratic nominee from deep-blue Maryland would be a shoo-in to win the general election in November. But Hogan’s entrance into the race has put the seat in play, adding to the Democratic struggle to hang on to power given that the party will need to hold seven seats in difficult races simply to keep the Senate at 50-50.
Improper use of tax exemptions has long plagued politicians running for office – at least, politically. In 2023, CNN’s KFile reported California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff claimed primary residences in California and Maryland at the same time, claiming they were categorized as such for loan purposes. And in 2022, CNN reported that Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker received a tax break on his Texas home intended for primary residence, despite running for office in Georgia.
Alsobrooks’ campaign pointed out Hogan also received a tax break on his Edgewater, Maryland, home in 2016 while living in the governor’s mansion in Annapolis. But governors and federal employees are exempt from the residency requirements.
Homestead tax exemptions are meant to shield a fraction of a home’s value from property taxes and apply to primary residencies, not rental or investment properties.
Records show Alsobrooks obtained the DC property after her grandmother transferred the deed to her in late 2003. Her grandparents likely qualified for the senior citizens’ tax break, and Alsobrooks never changed the exemption status.
DC law says the failure to cancel exemptions that no longer apply to the homeowner can result in “penalties equal to 10% of the delinquent tax and interest accruing each month at 1.5% until paid in full.” But it is up to the district to go after the homeowner for the money – and up to the homeowner to cancel the exemptions if circumstances change.
Alsobrooks continues to claim a homestead tax exemption on her Maryland townhouse, even though she no longer lives there and uses it as a rental property.
It’s unclear when Alsobrooks started renting out that property. According to state records, she applied for a license to rent out the property in 2021. In her financial disclosures that were released in August, she disclosed rental income between $15,000 and $50,000 for residential real estate.
Alsobrooks’ campaign pointed to her record advocating for local tax relief. In the summer of 2020, Alsobrooks opposed a county measure that would have raised property taxes to make up for lost revenue during the Covid-19 pandemic. And in 2022, she signed a law granting eligible elderly residents a property tax credit that would last for up to five years.
Barrier-breaking career
Alsobrooks has had a barrier-breaking career, rising in 2010 to become the first woman elected as state’s attorney from Prince George’s County before being elected in 2018 as the first woman county executive in the suburban Maryland county.
She overcame steep odds in this year’s Democratic primary to fill the Senate seat being vacated by Cardin. Her deep-pocketed opponent, Rep. David Trone, outspent her nearly 10-to-1 and dumped more than $60 million of his own cash into the race.
But despite the attacks Trone leveled against her, Alsobrooks ended up winning by 10 points, as her party sought to make her the first Black woman elected to the Senate from Maryland.
Alsobrooks has sought to nationalize the race against Hogan, a popular former governor who has sought to distance himself from former President Donald Trump. She has tried to tap into the strong Democratic leanings of the state by arguing that a Hogan victory would likely mean Republicans win back control of the Senate – and with it, the power to set the agenda and confirm judicial nominees.
On the campaign trail, Alsobrooks has pushed for a “fairer tax system” and has sharply criticized tax breaks for the richest of taxpayers.
“Too many Americans are struggling to get by and are forced to live paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet,” Alsobrooks posted on X earlier this year. “As your senator, I will fight for a fairer tax system that doesn’t deliver handouts to the top 1%.”
The U.S. celebrates 250 years since signing the Declaration of Independence July 4. D.C. will be packed with America250 events and celebrations.
This summer many of D.C.’s top museums are showing new exhibits that explore American history. There’s an activity for everyone to enjoy this summer, from a new view of the Lincoln Memorial to new exhibits at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
Most Smithsonian museums are open daily, including on July 4, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Photo by Smithsonian Institution
Air and Space Museum
The Air and Space Museum is nearing the end of the multi-year renovations that began in 2018 just in time for America 250. On July 1 the museum unveils five new exhibits:
If you’re interested in learning more about the history behind space technology and how the U.S. has used air and space tech in the past, you should check out RTX Living in the Space Age Hall and the Jay I. Kislak World War II In The Air exhibits.
If interactive exhibits are more your speed, the TEXTRON How Things Fly exhibit will feature nearly 50 interactive works. The Flight and the Arts Center is a great choice for art and space lovers alike, and the U.S National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe explores the tools that move what we know on space forward.
Admission is free, but you must get a timed ticket.
Smithsonian Castle: American Aspirations Exhibition
Although “the pursuit of happiness” is among the most well-known cornerstones of the Declaration of Independence, this exhibit at the Smithsonian Castle challenges viewers to consider the other ideals America aspires to, including liberty, new horizons, fairness, democracy and hope. Through a collection of some of America’s most notable objects, from Harriet Tubman’s Hymnal to Thomas Edison’s lightbulb, the exhibit explores how America has sought to live up to its ideals through its history.
This exhibit will be open through Sept. 7 before the castle again closes for renovations. Admission is free.
Lincoln Memorial Undercroft
Images courtesy of the National Park Service
What better way to celebrate America 250 than to explore the hidden foundations of one of its most iconic monuments? The Lincoln Memorial’s undercroft opened June 25, featuring 15,000 sq feet of structural framework and exhibits that trace the history of President Lincoln and the memorial. Viewers can learn about the construction of the building, its place in American history and its impact in the civil rights movement as they walk through the caverns of concrete columns.
It’s free to visit, but every visitor age 2 and up needs a timed-entry ticket. You can reserve tickets in advance on recreation.gov or by calling 877‑444‑6777. Note, there’s a $1 service fee for every reservation. You can also pick up same-day tickets on the National Mall.
The Undercroft exhibit will be closed on July 4, but open the rest of the holiday weekend.
Arts and Industries Building: Voices and Votes
The Arts and Industries Building houses an exhibit based off an exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. This new exhibit explores American democracy and asks visitors to engage in deeper questions about what democracy in America means. It includes photos, videos, items and interactive displays. Admission is free.
MLK Library: District Vibes/American Pride: How DC Changed American Culture
If you’re looking for a D.C. twist to America 250, look no further than D.C. Public Libraries! With art, artifacts and programming throughout the summer, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library will show how D.C. and American history are intertwined. Admission is free.
Other DCPL libraries will offer events on this theme and other America 250 events, too.
D.C. libraries will be closed on July 3 and 4.
Building Museum: THE PLAYGROUND
Daybreaker FUN HOUSE at the National Building Museum (Joy Asico/Asico Photo)
The National Building Museum’s historic Great Hall will see a fun-filled transformation this summer as they collaborate with New York-based design firm, Snarkitecture, for the third time. This collab will transform the Great Hall into an interactive playground. The playground aims to show America’s story through relationships and memories made by community.
“The Playground” brings outdoor activities indoors, giving museumgoers the rare opportunity to be a part of the art. The exhibit will open July 3 and run through Aug. 30. The events schedule includes evening hours for adults to enjoy, and special activities for kids.
To visit The Playground, book museum admission between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15.95-$18.95 (infants under 2 can visit for free).
National Gallery of Art: Dear America
The National Gallery of Art’s latest exhibit is a love letter to America, exploring what it means to be an American through 100 different works. The multimedia exhibit features drawings, photographs and prints in which artists asked, “What does it mean to be American?” It includes works by Roy Lichtenstein, Carrie Mae Weems and Tonita Peña. Admission is free, and the museum is set to be open on July 4.
National Museum of Women in the Arts: Celebrate Women Artists Throughout America 250
The National Museum of Women in the Arts is celebrating women who shaped American history and art.
Exhibits include “Ms. Americana,” which features 10 paintings from American women artists. They also will feature an exhibit on Pueblo pottery from the North American Southwest called “Burnished: Pueblo Pottery at NMWA” and another on quilts in the Second Great Migration called “Routed West: Twentieth Century African American Quilts in California.”
Tickets are $16 for adults or $13 for D.C. residents and those 65+. People under 21, visitors with disabilities and SNAP/EBY holders can go for free. There are also free community days, including on Sunday, July 5. Make sure to book those tickets in advance.
From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage
This summer, the National Museum of Natural History unveils its new exhibit focused on connections between people, places and the natural world. The exhibit will feature items from all 50 states, D.C. and the five inhabited U.S. territories. This exhibit opens on June 18, but patrons can visit until 2029. Admission is free.
American History Museum: In Pursuit
The National Museum of American History is displaying a new exhibit, highlighting 250 items spanning from the 1700s to the present day that reflect the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. The exhibit is on all three floors of the museum with pieces that aim to highlight how Americans have pursued the promise signed in 1776. The exhibit will last until the end of the year. Admission is free.
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D.C. released draft plans for the community surrounding a new Washington Commanders stadium at the former site of RFK Stadium.
Renderings included with the draft plan show the idea is to have a community with open spaces, parks, retail and housing. Walkability and access to the Anacostia River were essential for many who weighed in.
“We’ve been working throughout the development of this master plan with WMATA and the District Department of Transportation, and in this project, as all projects, having lots of ways for people to get to one place is really important, whether on foot, on bike, you’re in a vehicle, you’re taking transit, you’re taking Metrorail or the bus – all of those are provided for,” Office of Planning Director Anita Cozart said. “So, the big part of the master plan is making sure that there is space for those.”
The master plan includes space for a grocery store and as many as 6,500 new houses with 30% of those houses dedicated as affordable.
The community will develop around the stadium after it’s built, Cozart said.
The plan includes the visions and desires of thousands of people and agencies who weighed in on it, but it’s not final. The public is invited to inspect the plan and comment until Aug. 14.
“What did we get right about this master plan; what are some things that we might need to tweak,” Cozart said. “The next step after that is the master plan goes to the City Council.”
Club exercises Tamara Bolt’s 2027 option, extends Madison Haugen through end of season
Washington, D.C. (06/30/2026) – The Washington Spirit has made two midseason roster moves ahead of the resumption of the regular season early next month, the club announced today. The club has exercised its 2027 option on forward Tamara Bolt’s contract and extended short-term injury replacement (STR) player Madison Haugen through the end of the 2026 season.
“As we look ahead to kicking off the second half of the season, we’re confident in the group of players we have together and our midseason roster moves reflect that,” said Sporting Director James Hocken. “Our roster is constantly evolving to best serve the club’s aim of bringing trophies home to DC.”
Bolt signed with the Spirit in January 2025 before spending the calendar year on loan with Dallas Trinity FC of the USL Super League. Since returning to DC prior to this season, the Salvador, Brazil native has appeared in five matches for the Spirit. Bolt played three seasons with top-flight Brazilian side SC Internacional before joining the Spirit, appearing in 36 matches and tallying six goals in the process.
Haugen joined the Spirit as a short-term injury replacement player this past preseason, adding depth to the team’s roster in the absence of its players out on maternity leave. The defender has yet to appear in a match for the Spirit this season. Haugen most recently competed for Portugal’s Sporting CP, scoring five goals across 21 appearances.
The Spirit maintains ongoing conversations with all players that will be free agents following the 2026 season. Updates will be provided as they occur.
The Spirit will next take the pitch at Audi Field on Friday, July 3 when the side returns from the NWSL-wide June break to host the Houston Dash. Kicking off the holiday weekend at 8 p.m. EDT, tickets are available at WashingtonSpirit.com/tickets.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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