House incumbents and front-runners are raising funds heavily in Maryland, easily outdistancing their opposition in most cases. Stock.adobe.com photo by RCP.
Although their primary victories in May essentially cinched that they would be joining Congress in January, two Maryland Democrats, state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel) and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D) continue to raise and spend money at a rapid clip.
They’re following the lead of veteran House members in the Free State.
Campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission last week showed that both candidates raised more than $200,000 over the previous three months, even though they don’t have to much to sweat in the general election. Elfreth has raised more than $2 million since becoming a candidate for the open 3rd District seat late last year, while Olszewski has raised more than $1.3 million since joining the open seat 2nd District race earlier this year.
Of Maryland’s eight congressional seats, only the open 6th District, where Republican Neil C. Parrott and Democrat April McClain Delaney are competing to replace U.S. Rep. David Trone (D), is competitive.
Like Elfreth and Olszewski, the heavily favored incumbents in each of the other districts has a huge financial advantage over their challengers. And even without competitive races, some are raising money at a mind-bending pace.
In his latest FEC report, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th) reported raising $907,000 between July 1 and Sept. 30 alone — and more than $4.6 million for the 2024 election cycle. Raskin spent $475,597 during that three-month period, and $87,000 went out to other candidates and political committees — including $50,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and $25,400 to the Maryland Democratic Party.
National Dems add Delaney race to their priority list
In all, Raskin has spent more than $2.8 million this cycle, and finished September with more than $4.9 million in his campaign war chest.
Raskin’s Republican opponent in the heavily Democratic 8th District, public relations consultant Cheryl Riley, reported raising $8,500 between July 1 and Sept. 30 and spending $3,400 during that period. She finished the quarter with $7,100 in the bank.
In the 3rd District, Elfreth raised $278,000 over the last three months, including $95,000 from political action committees and other politicians. She spent $280,609 in that period and finished September with $116,000 in the bank.
Overall, Elfreth has raised more than $2.1 million and spent almost $2 million on the race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D) — though most of it went to her competitive Democratic primary, which featured more than 20 candidates. Elfreth’s Republican opponent, attorney Rob Steinberger, reported just $5,300 in his campaign fund as of Sept. 30.
In the 2nd District, Olszewski reported raising $222,000 in the third quarter of 2024, including $66,000 from political action committees and other candidates, and spending $217,000 during that time. He raised more than $1.3 million on the campaign overall and has spent $1.1 million. He finished September with $236,000 on hand.
Olszewski is heavily favored to win the seat over Republican radio host Kim Klacik. Klacik is making her third bid for Congress — she ran in the 2020 special election and then in the regular election in the nearby 7th District. But buoyed by endorsements from then-President Trump and other members of his family, she raised a stunning $9 million for her losing races four years ago.
This year, Klacik is raising and spending considerably less. She pulled in $66,000 from July 1 to Sept. 30, spent almost $69,000 during this period, and finished the quarter with $12,000 on hand. In all, she’s raised $152,000 this election cycle and spent $317,000.
Other well-funded incumbents
Maryland’s lone Republican congressman, U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st), raised $140,000 over the past three months and had $915,000 in the bank after spending $223,000 — including sending almost $150,000 to Republican candidates and committees. He’s raised more than $1.1 million this election cycle and spent over $1 million.
Harris’ Democratic challenger, Navy veteran Blane Miller, has not filed a campaign finance statement with the FEC, suggesting he has raised and spent less than $5,000 on the election.
Tens of millions pour into Maryland Senate race in past three months alone
In the 5th District, Maryland’s senior member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D), raised $221,000 over the past three months and $1.7 million overall this cycle. He had $761,000 in the bank after spending $247,000 since July 1. Hoyer during this period has given $35,400 to the Maryland Democratic Party, $25,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and $25,000 to the Delaney Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee benefiting Delaney’s campaign in the 6th District.
Hoyer’s Republican challenger, businesswoman Michelle Talkington, raised $8,000 from July 1 to Sept. 30, and $18,000 overall, and finished September with $9,600 on hand.
In the 4th District, U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D) reported $298,000 in his campaign account as of Sept. 30, after raising $156,000 in the previous three months and spending $121,000 during that period. Overall, he has raised $887,000 this election cycle and spent $774,000. Ivey’s Republican challenger, George McDermott, a frequent candidate for political office, has yet to raise or spend the $5,000 required to file a campaign finance statement.
In the 7th District, U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D) had stockpiled $618,000 on Sept. 30 after raising $55,000 in the previous three months and spending $142,000. He has raised $391,000 this election cycle and spent $379,000.
The Republican running in the 7th District, Scott Collier, has not filed an FEC report.
The departing incumbents and a few tidbits in the 6th
Maryland has three open congressional seats — in the 2nd, the 3rd and the 6th districts.
In the 2nd, Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D) is retiring after 11 terms. He retained $449,000 in his campaign account as of Sept. 30 after handing out $32,000 to Democratic candidates and committees over the past three months and spending $77,000 overall during that period.
In the 3rd District, Sarbanes, who is leaving after nine terms, had $363,000 in the bank as of Sept. 30.
Trone’s campaign finance report is something else entirely.
The self-funding multimillionaire lost the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate this year in a contest that set all records for campaign spending in Maryland.
In his latest FEC report, Trone reported dropping another $300,000 of his own money into his campaign account over the past three months and spending $566,000 during that time, bringing his political spending this election cycle to $67 million, with more than $62 million of that coming from his own pocket.
In the election to replace Trone, Delaney, a former U.S. Commerce Department official, had dropped $2.1 million of her own money into the campaign as of Sept. 30 — and had spent more than five times as much as Parrott, a former state delegate who is the GOP nominee for the third straight time.
Republicans were crowing over a report Friday in Punchbowl News that some Democrats in Washington, D.C., and in Maryland are starting to fret about Delaney’s prospects.
“Democrats are freaking out because they’re reaping what they’ve sown — opening the border and spiking inflation,” said Delanie Bomar, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). “Marylanders are fed up with the direction Democrats are taking them.”
Inside Elections reported Friday that a poll conducted Oct. 14-16 for Parrott and the NRCC showed the Republican ahead, 45% to 41%. But the nonpartisan election handicapper continues to rate the race as “likely Democratic.”
“Parrott also won 45 percent of the vote in 2022 and may have a name ID advantage from his two previous runs in the district,” Inside Elections wrote. “It’s not obvious how he gets the last five percent to go his way, though.”