Harry Browne’s, across the street from the State House in Annapolis, will be the center of gravity in Maryland politics over the next several days. Photo by Brycia James/Getty Images.
Thanks to the way the 2025 calendar is aligned, this year’s General Assembly session is opening on the earliest date possible, Jan. 8 — which means the annual pre-session scramble by lawmakers and statewide elected officials to raise money before a three-month fundraising ban goes into effect is more condensed and intense than ever.
State legislators and the governor, lieutenant governor, state comptroller and attorney general are prevented from soliciting and collecting campaign cash during the 90-day session. And every year, between New Year’s Day and the session kickoff, there are a mind-numbing number of fundraising events on tap, mostly in Annapolis, as politicians scurry to fill their campaign coffers just as lobbyists, special interest groups and political donors begin to pay attention to the policymakers’ work in the State House.
In the days leading up to the session, a constellation of restaurants and bars near State Circle becomes Ground Zero for Maryland’s political community, and an enormous amount of cash changes hands. The events are so numerous that no one even blinks anymore, and suggestions that there might be an element of pay-to-play at work have long ago been cast aside.
This year, at least 72 fundraisers were scheduled for lawmakers, statewide elected officials and political committees between Thursday and Jan. 7, according to invitations obtained by Maryland Matters and lists of fundraising events provided by lobbying firms, the political parties and political consultants. Purchasing the cheapest ticket for each event would cost a donor a total of $24,015.69 during the course of the week.
Before the U.S. Supreme Court lifted many restrictions on political fundraising through its 2010 Citizens United decision, donors in Maryland could give no more than $10,000 collectively to candidates during an election cycle, but those limits no longer apply.
Who’s raising money between now and next Wednesday? A better question might be: Who isn’t?
The fundraising solicitations have been fast and furious over the past several weeks.
New campaign finance reports show last-minute spending on Md. elections
“When you give to Wes, you are contributing to a mission that uplifts Marylanders and their surrounding communities,” said one recent email solicitation for Gov. Wes Moore (D), who has at least four fundraisers scheduled between Sunday and Tuesday, including one near Richmond, Virginia.
“Your generosity enables me to continue to advocate for meaningful legislation that improves our community,” Del. Kent Roberson (D-Prince George’s) wrote in his holiday greeting to constituents, which included an invitation to his fundraising event on Monday in Annapolis.
In an online solicitation, Sen. Brian J. Feldman (D-Montgomery), chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Energy and the Environment, wrote of his forthcoming fundraiser in Annapolis Monday that, “Attending this event will be a great opportunity to discuss my priorities and other critical issues facing the General Assembly during this important upcoming session.”
The post-New Year’s Day fundraising carousel begins Thursday evening, with an event for Sen. Cory V. McCray (D-Baltimore City) at 16 on the Park in his hometown, an event for Del. Kym Taylor (D-Prince George’s) at The Lab in Bowie, and an event for Del. Andrew Pruski (D-Anne Arundel) at Metropolitan Kitchen and Lounge in Annapolis with House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) as the featured speaker.
The presiding officers both have fundraisers on the docket.
Jones is raising money at a breakfast Friday at Latitude 38 near the Annapolis waterfront. Ticket prices start at $500.
Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) has a fundraising dinner on Monday evening in his district, at the trendy Rye Street Tavern in the emerging Baltimore Peninsula neighborhood. Tickets for this event, which appears to be sold out, started at $5,000, according to an online invitation.
All four Senate committee chairs have fundraisers scheduled, starting with Budget and Taxation Chair Guy J. Guzzone (D-Howard), with a $500-and-up breakfast on Friday morning at the Calvert House in Annapolis. Feldman’s is Monday evening at Harry Browne’s in Annapolis, with tickets starting at $250, followed by Senate Judicial Proceedings Chair William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery), who also has an event scheduled Monday evening, at Acqua al 2 in Annapolis, with ticket prices starting at $250. Senate Finance Chair Pamela Beidle (D-Anne Arundel) is raising money Tuesday afternoon at Red Red Wine Bar in Annapolis.
Sen. Craig J. Zucker (D-Montgomery), chair of the Capital Budget Subcommittee and chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, also has a fundraiser on Monday evening at Acqua al 2, with ticket prices starting at $250.
Republicans are also shaking the tin cup this week.
Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) has a $500-and-up fundraiser scheduled for Monday evening at the Parley Room in Annapolis, while Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready (R-Carroll and Frederick) is raising money that morning with a $250-and-up event at the Calvert House.
Five of the six House committee chairs are also raising money in Annapolis this week, starting with Economic Matters Committee Chair C.T. Wilson (D-Charles) at the Federal House Bar and Grill in the Market House along the Annapolis waterfront. Ticket prices start at $250.
House Ways and Means Chair Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard) has a Monday evening fundraiser scheduled for Harry Browne’s, with ticket prices beginning at $250. Environment and Transportation Chair Marc Korman (D-Montgomery) will be greeting guests on Monday evening at the Calvert House, for $250 and up. Appropriations Chair Ben Barnes (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel) has a Tuesday evening happy hour at Harry Browne’s, with tickets starting at $500.
There are two fundraisers for House Health and Government Operations Chair Joseline Peña-Melnyk, (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel) this week: One, on Monday evening, is sponsored by the Maryland Hospital Association and taking place at Blackwell Hitch in Annapolis, with tickets starting at $250.The other is Tuesday evening at Harry Browne’s, with tickets also starting at $250.
Del. Luke Clippinger (D-Baltimore City), who heads the Judiciary Committee, is the only House chair who does not appear to have a fundraiser scheduled this week.
Neither do the top House Republicans. But the seven GOP members of the powerful House Economic Matters Committee — Christopher Adams (Middle Shore), Steve Arentz (Upper Shore), Mark N. Fisher (Calvert), Seth Howard (Anne Arundel), Jesse T. Pippy (Frederick), April Rose (Carroll) and William Wivell (Washington) — are raising money together, at a breakfast event Monday at the Parley Room. Pippy is the House minority whip.
The most intense day of fundraising will be on Monday, when at least 31 fundraisers are on the docket, and all but four — Ferguson’s hometown event, a $3,000-a-ticket breakfast for Moore at the Maryland Club in Baltimore, a breakfast for Sen. Michael Jackson (D-Prince George’s) at Rip’s in Bowie, and a happy hour at Flock in Baltimore for Sen. Antonio Hayes (D-Baltimore City) — are in Annapolis. From 8 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., with just a couple of short breaks, lawmakers will be collecting money at every hour of the day. An intrepid individual trying to hit every Annapolis event would have to run this gantlet:
Morning
- 8-9:30 a.m. Sen. Ben Brooks (D-Baltimore County), Harry Browne’s
- 8-10 a.m. House Economic Matters Committee Republicans, Parlay Room
- 8:30-10 a.m. Sen. Karen Lewis Young (D-Frederick), Harry Browne’s
- 9-11 a.m. Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George’s), Maryland Inn
- 9:30-11 a.m. Ready, Calvert House
Afternoon
- Noon-1:30 p.m. Sen. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles), Acqua al 2
- 1-2:30 p.m. Del. Marlon Amprey (D-Baltimore City), Red Red Wine Bar
- 3-4:30 p.m. Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City), Red Red Wine Bar
Happy hour
- 4-5:30 p.m. Del. Andrea Fletcher Harrison (D-Prince George’s), Red Red Wine Bar
- 4:30-6 p.m. House Majority Leader David Moon (D-Montgomery), Game On Bar and Arcade
- 4:30-6 p.m. Del. Stuart Schmidt (R-Anne Arundel), Parley Room
- 5-6 p.m. Del. Kris Valderrama (D-Prince George’s), Harry Browne’s
- 5-6 p.m. Del. Jheanelle K. Wilkins (D-Montgomery), chair, Legislative Black Caucus, Harry Browne’s
- 5-6 p.m. Del. Regina T. Boyce (D-Baltimore City), Harry Browne’s
- 5-6 p.m. Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore City), Harry Browne’s
- 5-6 p.m. Feldman, Harry Browne’s
- 5-6:30 p.m. Attorney General Anthony Brown (D), Harold Black
- 5-6:30 p.m. Peña-Melnyk, Blackwall Hitch (hosted by the Maryland Hospital Association)
- 5-7 p.m. House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George’s)
Evening
- 6 p.m. Korman, Calvert House
- 6-7:30 p.m. Sen. Dawn Gile (D-Anne Arundel), Dry 85
- 6-7:30 p.m. Del. Emily Shetty (D-Montgomery), chair of the House Democratic Caucus
- 6-8 p.m. Hershey, Parley Room
- 6-8 p.m. Smith, Acqua al 2
- 6:30-7:30 p.m. Del. Kevin Harris (D-Prince George’s), Red Red Wine Bar
- 7-8 p.m. Atterbeary, Harry Browne’s
- 7-8:30 p.m. Zucker, Acqua al 2
Twelve hours later, the money chase starts again. Tuesday afternoon traditionally features a big event for the Maryland Democratic Party in Annapolis, where Moore, Ferguson, Jones and other party luminaries give pep talks. That event begins at high noon at the Westin Hotel.
Most years, the final fundraiser before session begins is for the Women Legislators of Maryland, which had been, until recent years, a bipartisan organization but is now being boycotted by the Republicans. The women’s caucus does have a fundraiser scheduled for Tuesday evening at the Calvert House.
But the final event of the pre-session scramble appears to be an event for Del. Dana Stein (D-Baltimore County), the House speaker pro tem. While several lawmaker fundraisers feature guest speakers, Stein’s features a guest of a different sort: Former Del. Kumar P. Barve, now a member of the state Public Service Commission, who will reprise his role as Kumar the Magnificent — a takeoff of Johnny Carson’s Carnac the Magnificent, which Barve used to perform at the Maryland Legislative Follies of yesteryear.
Which just goes to show that in political fundraising, as the burlesque performers sing in the musical “Gypsy”: “You gotta get a gimmick.”