An independent expenditure group has launched to support the Democratic gubernatorial bid of Wes Moore.
Opportunity Maryland is chaired by former first lady Jennifer Glendening. Documents establishing the group were filed with the Maryland State Board of Elections on Friday.
Glendening said her background as an early childhood educator and commitment to improving education is part of why she’s a strong supporter of Moore, a best-selling author and former CEO of an anti-poverty organization.
“From his life story to his career in public service, Wes Moore is the best candidate for governor to expand opportunity for all Marylanders so we’re proud to support him,” Glendening said in a statement.
Opportunity Maryland has not spent any money on election-related activities so far, and it is one of the first independent groups to be established in the 2022 campaign.
Independent expenditure groups are barred by law from directly coordinating with a campaign.
In the 2018 election, there were at least eight independent expenditure groups that funded election ads for or against gubernatorial candidates.
There are about 30 active independent expenditure groups in Maryland right now, many connected to local or legislative races.
There is only one other active independent expenditure group that lists support for a current gubernatorial candidate. The Mid-Atlantic Laborers Political Action Fund is associated with the Laborers’ International Union of North America, which endorsed Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot (D) for governor in February.
That group has spent more than $40,000 this year on rental video trucks that drive around town displaying messages. In January 2020, a truck from the group circled State Circle during a Board of Public Works meeting, urging Franchot and Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) to vote in favor of a measure advancing the project to reconstruct the American Legion Bridge and widen parts of Interstate 270 and the Capital Beltway.
Danielle E. Gaines
Contributor
Danielle Gaines worked for Maryland Matters from September 2018 to January 2024. She covered government and politics for Maryland Matters for two years before moving into an editing position, ultimately serving as editor-in-chief for nearly three years. Previously, she spent six years at The Frederick News-Post ― as the paper’s principal government and politics reporter for half that time, covering courts and legal affairs before that. She also reported for the now-defunct The Gazette of Politics and Business in Maryland and previously worked as a county government and education reporter at The Merced Sun-Star in California’s Central Valley.
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