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Election 2022

Political Notes: Endorsements and Fundraising Updates

Del. Brooke E. Lierman (D-Baltimore City). Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

The news wasn’t altogether surprising, but is still potentially significant: EMILY’s List, the national fundraising powerhouse that backs Democratic women who support abortion rights, announced Friday that it has endorsed two women in Maryland elections: former Judge Catherine Curran O’Malley for attorney general and Del. Brooke E. Lierman (D-Baltimore City) for comptroller.

“Katie Curran O’Malley and Brooke Lierman are running to ensure that all Marylanders have the opportunity to thrive and are well equipped for their post-pandemic recovery,” Laphonza Butler, president of EMILY’s List, said in a statement.

These are EMILY’s List’s first Maryland endorsements of the 2022 election cycle, and they come in open seat races with competitive Democratic primaries. Lierman is running for comptroller against Bowie Mayor Timothy L. Adams, while O’Malley is in a primary against U.S. Rep. Anthony G. Brown.

“EMILY’s List is thrilled to stand with them,” Butler said.

Since it was founded in the mid-1980’s, the group has raised over $700 million to elect Democratic pro-choice women candidates. The group has over 5 million members across the U.S., and offers candidates training and campaign infrastructure in addition to fundraising help.

Lierman also received the endorsement of state Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City). It was Ferguson’s first endorsement of a statewide candidate this cycle.

“As the president of the Senate of Maryland, I have seen legislators get work done,” Ferguson said in a video endorsement. “But there is no one like Brooke Lierman who dives into the details, who looks at the cost, the impact, and finds a solution. That’s why I’ll be supporting Brooke Lierman for comptroller.”

Ferguson cited Lierman’s work to repeal the state’s farebox recovery rate, which mandated that the  Maryland Transit Administration recover at least 35% of its total operating costs from fares and other operating revenues, during the 2017 legislative session.

“She convinced legislators across the state that this one little budget issue wouldn’t have a major impact on their bottom line for MTA, wouldn’t impact service in a negative way and in fact would improve service for everyone,” Ferguson said, adding that the repeal “is improving service every single day.”

Ferguson and Lierman represent the 46th legislative district in Baltimore City. In addition to Ferguson, Lierman has racked up endorsements from scores of her legislative colleagues, including House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore City).

Ivey reports raising $277,000

Former Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said he will report having raised $277,000 for his campaign to succeed Brown, the 4th District congressman who is running for attorney general. The race to succeed Brown only began to take shape in the fall.

Candidates for Congress don’t have to turn their fourth quarter fundraising reports over to the Federal Election Commission until Jan. 31.

Ivey’s campaign said he received “over 970 donations,” including contributions from former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Ivey’s ex-boss; Prince George’s County Councilmember Tom Dernoga (D), who serves with Ivey’s wife, Jolene; state Sens. Jill P. Carter (D-Baltimore City) and Brian J. Feldman (D-Montgomery); state Del. Gabriel Acevero (D-Montgomery), who serves with Ivey’s son, Julian; former Prince George’s Sen. Victor R. Ramirez (D); former Prince George’s Board of Education Member Edward Burroughs, who is favored to win an upcoming special election for a county council seat; Hyattsville Mayor Kevin Ward; Cheverly Council Vice-Mayor Amy Fry and Councilmember Marverly Nettles; and Glenarden Council Vice-President Angela Ferguson and Councilmember Robin Jones.

“I am grateful that during these tough times, so many people invested in our campaign,” Ivey said in a statement. “…We are going to offer a positive vision and fight for bold change that lifts everyone up and leaves no neighborhood behind. I appreciate the outpouring of support we have already received and am excited about the grassroots campaign we are building.”

Ivey’s campaign did not say how much cash on hand the candidate will report on Jan. 31, which covers the fundraising period Oct. 1-Dec. 31. Ivey is competing for the Democratic nomination against state Del. Jazz M. Lewis (D-Prince George’s) and former Del. Angela Angel (D-Prince George’s). A spokesperson for Lewis said last week that the campaign wasn’t ready to talk about its fourth quarter fundraising. A spokesperson for Angel could not immediately be reached.

Former Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D), who held the seat before Brown, is reportedly also eyeing a possible political comeback ahead of the Feb. 22 candidate filing deadline. According to people with knowledge of the discussions, she is being urged to run by the aforementioned EMILY’s List, among others.

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Political Notes: Endorsements and Fundraising Updates