David Trone
David John Trone (born September 21, 1955)[1][2] is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative for Maryland's 6th congressional district. The district includes most of the western third of the state, but the bulk of its population is in the outer northern suburbs of Washington, D.C. Trone founded and co-owns Total Wine & More with his brother, and served as the company's president until December 2016.[3]
David Trone
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In 2016, Trone spent more than $13 million of his own money on his unsuccessful Democratic primary campaign to succeed Chris Van Hollen in Maryland's 8th congressional district, setting a record for the most expensive self-funded House campaign. In 2018, Trone was the Democratic nominee for the 6th district and won the general election to succeed John Delaney. Trone has made mental health issues and fighting addiction a top priority during his tenure in Congress, where he co-chairs the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force.
Trone is a candidate for the United States Senate in the 2024 election to succeed Ben Cardin. He has spent over $41.8 million of his own money on his campaign during the Democratic primary alone, setting a record for the most expensive self-funded Senate primary campaign[4] and the fourth most expensive self-funded Senate campaign overall.[5]
Political positions[edit]
Abortion[edit]
Trone has a 100% pro-choice voting record in Congress, according to Planned Parenthood Action and NARAL.[30][106] Both organizations have endorsed him in all of his general election efforts.[107] In July 2022, he criticized the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, calling the demise of Roe v. Wade "devastating" and saying that the decision would "impact the lives of millions of women across this country". Trone later voted for measures to codify Roe v. Wade and to protect patients traveling to receive abortion services[108] and provided funding toward an abortion clinic in Cumberland, Maryland.[30] At the opening of the clinic, located in an "abortion desert," Trone stated that "abortion rights are human rights" in a speech celebrating its opening.[109][110] During his 2024 U.S. Senate campaign, he said that he would be a "reliable vote for abortions rights" in the Senate.[30]
Criminal justice reform[edit]
Trone opposes the death penalty.[111] Trone co-sponsored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a police reform bill aimed at preventing brutality and racial discrimination in policing, in 2020.[112] In the same month, he also introduced the Workforce Justice Act, which would remove the requirement to inform employers of a job applicant's criminal history.[113] In 2023, Trone founded the Second Chance Task Force in an effort to promote policies that improve reentry outcomes and reduce employment barriers for returning citizens, a disproportionate number of whom are people of color. The Task Force includes an equal number of Democrats and Republicans.[114]
Cryptocurrency[edit]
In October 2023, Trone signed onto a letter written by Senator Elizabeth Warren calling on the Biden administration to crack down on the use of cryptocurrency in terrorist financing. During his 2024 U.S. Senate campaign, Trone noted the need for the United States to establish a reasonable regulatory framework for digital currencies so the country can maintain its leading position with technological innovation, highlighting the progress already made by other countries.[115]
Education[edit]
During his 2016 campaign, Trone proposed a plan to make college free in return for five years of public service in government. He also supports making vocational schools more affordable, but opposes tuition freezes, calling them "nothing more than a marketing tool".[116] In January 2020, Trone voted for a resolution to overturn revisions made by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to the Borrower Defense Program.[117] In May 2020, he signed a letter to DeVos criticizing her decision not to extend emergency federal aid grants provided by the CARES Act to undocumented students.[118]
Electoral reform[edit]
During his campaigns, Trone refused to accept campaign contributions from corporations, lobbyists, or special interests.[119] He supports bipartisan redistricting reform, including the creation of an independent redistricting commission, and has blamed Republican strategist Karl Rove for "inventing gerrymandering".[120][121]
Trone called on the Maryland State Board of Elections to make their electronic voting machines more accessible for disabled voters in March 2016, saying that the machines were not programmed to show all candidates on a single screen.[122]
In November 2018, the day following his election win, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Benisek v. Lamone struck down Maryland's redistricting plan as unconstitutionally gerrymandered.[123] Trone later defended Maryland's congressional map during an appeal of the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, submitting an amicus brief to the court in February 2019.[124] In March 2019, Trone criticized Governor Larry Hogan's proposed redraw of Maryland's congressional maps—which saw Maryland's sixth congressional district redrawn to include Frederick and Carroll counties, thereby making it more favorable to Republicans—calling his proposal "not germane".[125] After Maryland's congressional maps were redrawn following a court ruling in March 2022 that struck down the state's previous maps, Trone praised the court ruling as "moving the state away from partisan gerrymandering" and again called for national redistricting reform.[126]
During his 2024 U.S. Senate campaign, Trone indicated that he would support extending voting rights to undocumented immigrants and 16-year-olds.[127] He also expressed support for imposing a term limit of two six-year terms on U.S. Senators, three two-year terms on U.S. Representatives, and 18-year terms for federal judges and U.S. Supreme Court justices; and pledged to only serve two terms if elected.[128][129] He also expressed support for expanding the Supreme Court.[130]
Filibuster[edit]
In an interview with Meet the Press in May 2023, Trone said he would support eliminating the filibuster in the United States Senate, but stressed the need to work with Republicans.[131]
Foreign policy[edit]
In March 2016, Trone said he supported the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement and blamed Republican lobbyists for preventing it from passing.[132] In 2020, he voted for the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, a successor to NAFTA.[133]
Personal life[edit]
Trone chairs the Trone Private Sector and Education Advisory Council at the ACLU Trone Center.[39][186] He has served on the Bullis School's board of trustees since 2006.[187]
In 2012, Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) Greater DC gave Trone the Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the organization, which provides recreational programs for children with developmental and physical disabilities.[188] He was honored at the 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Greater Washington, in the "large company" category.[189] In 2015, Trone was invited by the American University's Kennedy Political Union and the Kogod School of Business to speak to students and faculty about entrepreneurship and business leadership.[7] He was awarded the Anti-Defamation League's annual achievement award in 2016.[190] In 2016, Trone joined the boards of American University and the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.[191][192]
In 2017, Trone received Furman University's Carl F. Kohrt Distinguished Alumni Award, which is presented "to an alumnus in recognition of significant professional or personal accomplishments and in gratitude for continued loyalty".[48] He served on Furman University's board of trustees from 2010 to 2016.[48]
During his 2018 campaign, Trone was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy and surgery to remove a kidney; he was declared cancer-free by October.[193]
In January 2023, Trone underwent scheduled surgery on his right shoulder and voted from the House floor that afternoon.[194]
As of 2016, the Trones live in Potomac, a suburb of Washington.[40][195][196] His home is just outside the 6th's borders. Members of the House are required to live in the state they represent, not the particular district.[197]
Trone was raised Lutheran. His wife and all four children are Jewish and attend Temple Beth Ami in Rockville.[198][199] His nephew, Ian, died of an overdose from fentanyl in 2016 after battling a heroin addiction, leading to Trone's focus on the issue in Congress.[167]