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Government & Politics

Here’s a Look at Fundraising by Every State Senator

The tote board in the state Senate at the start of the 2021 legislative session. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

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

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Here’s a Look at Fundraising by Every State Senator