Ivey Poll Shows He Has Early Lead in CD-4 Democratic Primary

A poll conducted last week for Glenn Ivey’s congressional campaign showed him with a substantial lead over the two other Democrats who have entered the 4th District primary — but with more than half of the voters still undecided.

The poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling (PPP), a liberal-leaning firm based in Raleigh, N.C., had Ivey the choice of 31% of likely Democratic primary voters, compared to 8% who said they were supported former state Del. Angela Angel and 5% who expressed a preference for Del. Jazz M. Lewis. Fifty-six percent of voters said they were undecided.

The automated survey of 403 likely voters, taken Dec. 8 and 9, had a 4.9-point margin of error. The three are competing to replace Rep. Anthony G. Brown (D), who is giving up the congressional seat to run for state attorney general in 2022.

PPP also tested a two-way race between Ivey, the former Prince George’s County state’s attorney, and Lewis, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus in Annapolis. In that matchup, Ivey had a 35% to 7% edge, with 58% of voters undecided.

Ivey is clearly benefiting from superior name recognition at the moment. He spent two terms as state’s attorney, from 2002 to 2010, and ran unsuccessfully for the 4th District House seat in 2016. Moreover, his wife and son are currently in elective office — as a Prince George’s County councilmember and a state delegate, respectively.

Angel spent one term in the House of Delegates before running unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2018. Lewis has been serving in the House since 2017.

The poll did not test the support of former U.S. Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D), who reportedly is mulling the race. The filing deadline for the June 28 primary is Feb. 22 — and the likelihood that the district boundaries will change some could attract other late entrants.

The PPP poll also found that likely Democratic primary voters are concerned about a broad range of issues, including the cost of living and inflation (named by 16% of those surveyed), police brutality, mass incarceration, and criminal justice reform (each named by 15%), jobs, unemployment, and the economy (each named by 14%), health care cost and access (12%), COVID-19 (11%), and security, safety, and crime (10%).

Meanwhile, Lewis’ campaign announced last week that he had raised more than $100,000 in just over a month of fundraising. The other campaigns have yet to show their financial hand; the deadline for the next campaign finance reports to be filed with the Federal Election Commission, covering the period Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, is Jan. 31.

“I am incredibly grateful to all of those who donated to support this movement,” Lewis said in a statement. “Our campaign is about meeting this moment that we are in, and it is incredibly humbling to find such resonance within our district and state for the message we bring.”

Lewis said he planned to continue raising money during the 90-day General Assembly session that begins on Jan. 12. In general, state lawmakers are banned from collecting campaign contributions during that period, but the prohibition does not apply to candidates for federal office.

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