Here’s a Look at Fundraising by Every State Senator
Nearly half of Maryland’s 47 state senators entered their third year in office with at least $100,000 in their campaign accounts, a Maryland Matters analysis of the latest campaign finance figures shows.
Campaign finance reports for state elected officials were due at the state Board of Elections last Wednesday. They represent fundraising activities from Jan. 9, 2020 to Jan. 13 of this year.
Unsurprisingly, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) had far and away the biggest campaign war chest among senators on Jan. 13 ― $1,071,992. That’s more than double the bank account of the runner-up, Budget and Taxation Chairman Guy J. Guzzone (D-Howard), who reported $423, 927 in the bank.
Two other senators reported campaign treasuries over $300,000: Sen. Brian J. Feldman (D-Montgomery), the Finance Committee vice chair who had $346,319 on hand, and Sen. J.B. Jennings (R-Harford), who showed $322,795. Jennings was the Senate’s top-ranking Republican until the fall.
In a year dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, some lawmakers didn’t raise much money at all. The smallest take for the past year belonged to Sen. Ronald N. Young (D-Frederick), who reported raising just $500. Sen. George C. Edwards (R-Garrett) pulled in just $1,300.
But some senators didn’t seem to break stride when it came to fundraising: Six reported raising at least $100,000 in the past year.
That group including state Sen. Mary L. Washington (D), who was a candidate for mayor of Baltimore last year ― though she pulled out of the Democratic primary in March, as the coronavirus was hitting the state full force. Because of her citywide bid, Washington’s fundraising numbers are skewed compared to many of her Senate colleagues.
The same can be said, in the opposite direction, for Sens. Jill P. Carter (D-Baltimore City) and Johnny Ray Salling (R-Baltimore County), who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in the 2020 election cycle. Both spent more time raising money for their congressional bids than for their state campaign accounts. Legislators who run for Congress in presidential election years do not have to sacrifice their legislative seats to do so.
Robust campaign treasuries can mean an incumbent is well-armed for a potentially tough reelection battle. Or that a lawmaker is at least pondering running for higher office sometime down the line.
A smaller take could mean any number of things ― including a looming retirement.
What follows are the top-line fundraising numbers for all 47 senators. Three members were new to the Senate in 2020 ― all appointed from the House to replace senators who resigned: Sens. Paul D. Corderman (R-Washington), Shelly L. Hettleman (D-Baltimore County) and Charles E. Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County).
Sen. Michael A. Jackson (D-Prince George’s) was sworn into the Senate on Jan. 13 ― after being appointed to replace the legendary late Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D).
District 1 — Sen. George C. Edwards (R-Garrett)
Previous total: $28,530
Raised: $1,300
Spent: $7,354
On hand: $22,476
District 2 — Sen. Paul D. Corderman (R-Washington)
Previous total: $248
Raised: $30,650
Spent: $7,119
On hand: $23,778
District 3 — Sen. Ronald N. Young (D-Frederick)
Previous total: $26,917
Raised: $500
Spent: $5,508
On hand: $21,909
District 4 — Sen. Michael J. Hough (R-Frederick)
Previous total: $109,163
Raised: $113,511
Spent: $23,044
On hand: $199,690
District 5 — Sen. Justin Ready (R-Carroll)
Previous total: $88,424
Raised: $81,655
Spent: $23,821
On hand: $146,259
District 6 — Sen. Johnny Ray Salling (R-Baltimore County)
Previous total: $2,924
Raised: $8,262
Spent: $5,984
On hand: $5,201
District 7 — Sen. J.B. Jennings (R-Harford)
Previous total: $268,699
Raised: $70,904
Spent: $16,808
On hand: $322,795
District 8 — Sen. Katherine A. Klausmeier (D-Baltimore County)
Previous total: $70,028
Raised: $12,025
Spent: $13,496
On hand: $68,557
District 9 — Sen. Katie Fry Hester (D-Howard)
Previous total: $66,790
Raised: $64,986
Spent: $19,177
On hand: $112,598
District 10 — Sen. Delores C. Kelley (D-Baltimore County)
Previous total: $95,493
Raised: $28,050
Spent: $50,872
On hand: $72,670
District 11 — Sen. Shelly L. Hettleman (D-Baltimore County)
Previous total: $105,742
Raised: $27,855
Spent: $15,496
On hand: $118,101
District 12 — Sen. Clarence K. Lam (D-Howard)
Previous total: $90,376
Raised: $17,384
Spent: $6,486
On hand: $101,243
District 13 — Sen. Guy J. Guzzone (D-Howard)
Previous total: $302,848
Raised: $210,720
Spent: $89,642
On hand: $423,927
District 14 — Sen. Craig J. Zucker (D-Montgomery)
Previous total: $63,471
Raised: $50,650
Spent: $25,899
On hand: $88,221
District 15 — Sen. Brian J. Feldman (D-Montgomery)
Previous total: $242,482
Raised: $132,251
Spent: $28,423
On hand: $346,319
District 16 — Sen. Susan C. Lee (D-Montgomery)
Previous total: $232,882
Raised: $3,452
Spent: $5,993
On hand: $230,341
District 17 — Sen. Cheryl C. Kagan (D-Montgomery)
Previous total: $118,102
Raised: $44,872
Spent: $33,910
On hand: $129,063
District 18 — Sen. Jeffrey D. Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery)
Previous total: $122,964
Raised: $122,184
Spent: $9,800
On hand: $235,348
District 19 — Sen. Benjamin F. Kramer (D-Montgomery)
Previous total: $41,828
Raised: $37,110
Spent: $16,621
On hand: $62,317
District 20 — Sen. William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery)
Previous total: $66,111
Raised: $99,126
Spent: $42,434
On hand: $122,803
District 21 — Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Prince George’s)
Previous total: $190,099
Raised: $47,851
Spent: $30,769
On hand: $207,180
District 22 — Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince George’s)
Previous total: $160,588
Raised: $54,340
Spent: $24,952
On hand: $189,975
District 23 — Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters (D-Prince George’s)
Previous total: $233,961
Raised: $32,700
Spent: $28,345
On hand: $238,315
District 24 — Sen. Joanne C. Benson (D-Prince George’s)
Previous total: $47,267
Raised: $46,701
Spent: $17,403
On hand: $76,564
District 25 — Sen. Melony G. Griffith (D-Prince George’s)
Previous total: $63,806
Raised: $119,550
Spent: $22,863
On hand: $160,492
District 26 — Sen. Obie Patterson (D-Prince George’s)
Previous total: $55,350
Raised: $18,130
Spent: $1,526
On hand: $71,954
District 27 — Sen. Michael A. Jackson (D-Prince George’s)
Previous total: $49,026
Raised: $35.107
Spent: $1,118
On hand: $82,924
District 28 — Sen. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles)
Previous total: $109,066
Raised: $17,196
Spent: $82,008*
On hand: $44,254**
*Includes $75,000 payment to repay a personal loan
**The campaign is carrying a $112,000 debt
District 29 — Sen. Jack Bailey (R-St. Mary’s)
Previous total: $97,007
Raised: $80,783
Spent: $8,894
On hand: $168,896
District 30 — Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel)
Previous total: $57,153
Raised: $57,693
Spent: $4,863
On hand: $109,983
District 31 — Sen. Bryan W. Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel)
Previous total: $45,524
Raised: $33,939
Spent: $3,207
On hand: $76,255
District 32 — Sen. Pamela G. Beidle (D-Anne Arundel)
Previous total: $110,497
Raised: $18,575
Spent: $10,145
On hand: $118,927
District 33 — Sen. Edward R. Reilly (R-Anne Arundel)
Previous total: $37,729
Raised: $42,985
Spent: $19,088
On hand: $61,626
District 34 — Sen. Robert G. Cassilly (R-Harford)
Previous total: $61,861
Raised: $43,466
Spent: $6,840
On hand: $98,487
District 35 — Sen. Jason C. Gallion (R-Harford)
Previous total: $23,706
Raised: $13,433
Spent: $854
On hand: $36,285
District 36 — Sen. Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore)
Previous total: $121,503
Raised: $35,775
Spent: $6,837
On hand: $150,440
District 37 — Sen. Adelaide C. Eckardt (R-Middle Shore)
Previous total: $51,761
Raised: $14,210
Spent: $5,622
On hand: $60,348
District 38 — Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-Lower Shore)
Previous total: $51,446
Raised: $58,307
Spent: $28,245
On hand: $81,507
District 39 — Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Montgomery)
Previous total: $133,379
Raised: $52,815
Spent: $5,150
On hand: $181,044
District 40 — Sen. Antonio L. Hayes (D-Baltimore City)
Previous total: $73,532
Raised: $65,060
Spent: $39,689
On hand: $98,903
District 41 — Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Baltimore City)
Previous total: $5,921
Raised: $37,404
Spent: $9,574
On hand: $33,751
District 42 — Sen. Christopher R. West (R-Baltimore County)
Previous total: $53,122
Raised: $41,486
Spent: $2,346
On hand: $92,622*
*The campaign is carrying a $282,000 debt
District 43 — Sen. Mary L. Washington (D-Baltimore City)
Previous total: $114,216
Raised: $167,141
Spent: $243,724
On hand: $37,636
District 44 — Sen. Charles E. Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County)
Previous total: $24,259
Raised: $40,258
Spent: $9,345
On hand: $55,173
District 45 — Sen. Cory V. McCray (D-Baltimore City)
Previous total: $109,021
Raised: $106,732
Spent: $36,754
On hand: $178,998
District 46 — Sen. Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City)
Previous total: $750,933
Raised: $416,569
Spent: $95,958
On hand: $1,071,992
District 47 — Sen. Malcolm L. Augustine (D-Prince George’s)
Previous total: $96,375
Raised: $75,932
Spent: $6,513
On hand: $165,794