Assembly candidates raking in the money
Reports show hopefuls head into June primary with
$2.4 million cash on hand
Candidates running to represent Anne Arundel County in the General Assembly have more than $2.4 million cash on hand and have raised $332,306 this year, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
State Senate candidate Sarah Elfreth, a first-time politician running for the Democratic nomination in District 30, has since January raised $36,674, the most of any candidate running in the county, including incumbents. Sen. Ed Reilly, a Crofton Republican, is second to Elfreth with $31,090 raised.
County Councilman Jerry Walker, a Republican running for delegate in District 33, raised the most among House candidates. Several incumbents, including delegates Sid Saab and Seth Howard, both Republicans, and Ted Sophocleus, a Democrat, did not report raising any money since January, though they did raise money throughout 2017.
The state’s primary election is June 26.
Money raised does not entirely reflect the cash candidates have on hand. Some spent most of what they’ve raised, while others have cash stockpiles built up over years of fundraising and campaigning.
House Speaker Michael E. Busch, a Democrat who has served in the House of Delegates for 31 years, outpaces his fellow candidates with $503,678 on hand.
Sen. Jim Rosapepe, a Democrat and also a 31-year member of the General Assembly, follows Busch with $341,489.
Busch’s hefty sum makes the race in District 30A the one with the most cash on hand. But his Democratic opponents — Aron Axe, Alice Cain and Mary Reese — have been raising money since last year.
The four are vying for two seats in the general election, one of which Busch has secured for three decades. Axe raised $18,263 in the last five months, coming close to Busch’s $18,750. Though Cain raised just under $4,000 this period, she reported $56,986 cash on hand. Cain raised more than $80,000 in 2017, a good portion of it coming from out of state.
Reese, since January, raised $7,490.
Candidates in the race for delegate in District 21 raised $61,230, the most money of any race. The 10 candidates were led by Prince George’s County Councilwoman Mary Lehman, a Democrat, who raised $19,466 since January. Incumbent Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk, another Democrat, raised the second-most at $11,927.
Elsewhere, candidates are drawing attention to the sources of their fundraising.
Chrissy Holt, a Democrat and a District 30 candidate for state Senate, touted a “small money” certification from Represent Maryland, a nonpartisan grassroots organization aimed at eliminating “big money” from politics. The group this year started analyzing Maryland campaign finance reports with the goal of identifying candidates accepting big-money donations.
Represent Maryland disqualifies candidates for certification if they accept money from corporations, developers or real estate firms, lobbyists and out-of-state political action committees.
“We’re trying to bring representation back to people,” said Represent Maryland founder Cristi Demnowicz.
Of Anne Arundel County candidates, the group has certified Republican Lee Havis, running in Senate District 21; Eve Hurwitz, a Democrat running in Senate District 33; Derek Kent, a Democrat running in House District 32; Del. Mark Chang, the Democratic incumbent in House District 32; and Holt.
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