How Are Vulnerable State Senators Doing? Check Out Their Fundraising Here

Significant change is coming to the state Senate in 2019, and the latest fundraising numbers confirm that.

Here is a snapshot of fundraising in 17 competitive state Senate races across the state, compiled from reports that were due at the Maryland State Board of Elections Tuesday.

Incumbent lawmakers were prohibited from raising money during the three-month General Assembly session, which ran from mid-January to mid-April. But what’s noteworthy is that some legislators – even some who are vulnerable – did not aggressively resume fundraising once the session ended.

Most of the fundraising figures included here include campaign finance activity from mid-January to mid-May, though in a couple of cases, the candidates had to file financial reports in April.

Democratic incumbents targeted in primaries:

District 10 - Baltimore County

Attorney Robert E. Johnson is running an aggressive challenge to six-term Sen. Delores B. Kelley, but she has a significant fundraising edge.

Rob Johnson

Prior $13,446

Total Receipts $13,600

Total Expenditures $6,773

Cash Balance $20,272

Delores Kelley

Prior $67,987

Total Receipts $7,185

Total Expenditures $11,631

Cash Balance $63,540

District 23 – Prince George’s County

Senate Majority Leader Douglas J.J. Peters has been a fundraising machine, taking in more than a quarter million dollars for his reelection. But Timothy Adams, a wealthy government contractor, has matched him every step of the way, thanks to $300,000 in loans from his own pocket.

Tim Adams

Prior $112,833

Total Receipts $175,687

Total Expenditures $142,392

Cash Balance $146,128

Douglas Peters

Prior $228,013

Total Receipts $40,600

Total Expenditures $135,013

Cash Balance $133,600

District 40 – Baltimore City

In this generational battle, first-term Del. Antonio L. Hayes continues to outpace appointed Sen. Barbara A. Robinson on the fundraising front, though she had more money in the bank as of mid-May, thanks to a $23,000 loan – bringing her self-funding total for the cycle to $43,000.

Antonio Hayes

Prior Balance $113,725

Total Receipts $22,125

Total Expenditures $79,251

Cash Balance $56,599

Barbara Robinson

Prior Balance $62,760

Total Receipts $32,925

Total Expenditures $28,386

Cash Balance $67,299

District 41 – Baltimore City

Ex-Sen. Nathaniel T. Oaks (D) has pleaded guilty to corruption charges and is likely headed to federal prison. But while he has not campaigned actively since resigning from the Senate this spring, his name remains on the ballot for his old seat. Also running are Sen. Jill P. Carter (D), who was just appointed to the job, and educator J.D. Merrill, son-in-law of former Gov. Martin J. O’Malley (D). Carter’s campaign finance report had not been submitted as of 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Nathaniel Oaks

Prior $104,515

Total Receipts $0.00

Total Expenditures $805

Cash Balance $103,709.88

Jill Carter

Prior Balance $1,839

Total Receipts: N/A

Total Expenditures: N/A

Cash Balance: N/A

J.D. Merrill

Prior $60,656

Total Receipts $122,703

Total Expenditures $68,147

Cash Balance $115,212

District 43 – Baltimore City

This grudge match between Del. Mary L. Washington and Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Chairwoman Joan Carter Conway features two well-funded incumbents, though Conway had the cash-on-hand advantage as of mid-May.

Mary Washington

Prior $94,048

Total Receipts $37,966

Total Expenditures $37,960

Cash Balance $94,054

Joan Carter Conway

Prior $195,433

Total Receipts $20,500

Total Expenditures $57,107

Cash Balance $158,825

District 44 – Baltimore County and City

If union organizer Aletheia McCaskill is to oust Sen. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, it won’t be because of her fundraising prowess. On the other hand, Nathan-Pulliam took in exactly zero since mid-January.

Aletheia McCaskill

Prior $7,051

Total Receipts $8,606

Total Expenditures $5,081

Cash Balance $10,575

Shirley Nathan-Pulliam

Prior $44,033

Total Receipts $0.00

Total Expenditures $7,644

Cash Balance $36,388

District 45 – Baltimore City

Endangered Senate President Pro Tem Nathaniel J. McFadden picked up the pace on the fundraising front compared to previous reporting periods, but first-term Del. Cory V. McCray still has a lot more money in the bank for the home stretch. McFadden recently loaned his campaign $5,500.

Cory McCray

Prior $127,539

Total Receipts $8,410

Total Expenditures $64,984

Cash Balance $70,965

Nathaniel McFadden

Prior $31,292

Total Receipts $26,535

Total Expenditures $42,780

Cash Balance $15,047

Republican incumbent targeted in the primary:

District 29 – St. Mary’s County

Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) has expressed his displeasure with the first-term incumbent senator, Stephen M. Waugh, and endorsed his challenger, former Maryland Natural Resources police officer Jack Bailey. The result has been a financial windfall for Bailey, and the two candidates were close in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.

Jack Bailey

Prior $102

Total Receipts $43,395

Total Expenditures $11,369

Cash Balance $32,128

Steve Waugh

Prior Balance $39,271

Total Receipts $685

Total Expenditures $11,831

Cash Balance $28,124

Democratic seats that Republicans are targeting in the general election:

3rd District – Frederick County

Although other candidates are running, including Frederick County Commissioner Billy Shreve (R) and former Frederick Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty (D), this almost certainly will be a fall showdown between state Sen. Ronald N. Young (D), a veteran officeholder, and businessman Craig Giangrande (R), who owns Burger King franchises. Giangrande has loaned his campaign $56,500 so far.

Ron Young

Prior $74,430

Total Receipts $5,745

Total Expenditures $13,519

Cash Balance $66,655

Craig Giangrande

Prior $100,133

Total Receipts $5,790

Total Expenditures $4,729

Cash Balance $101,193

District 8 – Baltimore County

This is one of the marquee Senate contests of the cycle. Sen. Katherine Klausmeier (D) has a significant cash advantage over Del. Christian J. Miele (R), though she reported raising no money after mid-January.

Katherine Klausmeier

Prior $196,979

Total Receipts $0.00

Total Expenditures $4,198

Cash Balance $192,780

Christian Miele

Prior $86,452

Total Receipts $17,047

Total Expenditures $16,919

Cash Balance $86,579

District 30 – Anne Arundel County

Republicans have high hopes of flipping the seat of retiring Sen. John C. Astle (D), and their candidate, former Del. Ronald A. George (R), has a significant cash advantage. However, there is a lot of Democratic energy in the district, and his victory is not a foregone conclusion. Democratic activist Sarah Elfreth has picked up her fundraising pace considerably and is racking up big endorsements. But her nomination isn’t a sure thing: She faces a primary against business consultant and health care activist Chrissy Holt.

Sarah Elfreth

Prior $50,718

Total Receipts $40,924

Total Expenditures $6,226

Cash Balance $85,415

Chrissy Holt (since April)

Prior $19,609

Total Receipts $4,045

Total Expenditures $3,494

Cash Balance $20,160

Ron George

Prior $179,762

Total Receipts $14,320

Total Expenditures $15,140

Cash Balance $178,941

District 32 – Anne Arundel County

In the race to replace retiring Sen. James E. DeGrange Sr. (D), Del. Pamela G. Beidle (D) has a huge financial advantage over Anne Arundel County Councilman John J. Grasso (R).

Pamela Beidle

Prior $101,220

Total Receipts $6,035

Total Expenditures $13,044

Cash Balance $94,211

John Grasso

Prior $9,323

Total Receipts $14,025

Total Expenditures $0.00

Cash Balance $23,348

District 38 – Lower Shore

Another marquee race and top Republican target, with Sen. James N. Mathias (D) trying to fend off Del. Mary Beth Carozza (R).

James Mathias

Prior $249,849

Total Receipts $9,725

Total Expenditures $30,390

Cash Balance $229,184

Mary Beth Carozza

Prior $113,623

Total Receipts $5,535

Total Expenditures $9,510

Cash Balance $109,647

District 42 – Baltimore County

With Sen. James Brochin (D) running for county executive, Del. Christopher R. West (R), who loaned his campaign $200,000 earlier in the cycle, is favored to win his seat. The Democratic candidates are housing activist Gretchen Maneval and Baltimore County Democratic Chairman Robert Leonard.

Robbie Leonard

Prior $12,920

Total Receipts $11,141

Total Expenditures $9,735

Cash Balance $14,326

Gretchen Maneval

Prior $82,033

Total Receipts $11,623

Total Expenditures $15,423

Cash Balance $78,232

Chris West

Prior $243,635

Total Receipts $0.00

Total Expenditures $26,548

Cash Balance $217,086

Competitive open-seat Democratic primaries:

District 12 – Howard and Baltimore counties

The late decision by Senate Budget and Taxation Chairman Edward J. Kasemeyer (D) to retire set up a vigorous primary between first-term Del. Clarence K. Lam and term-limited Howard County Councilwoman Mary Kay Sigaty. Both have been raising money aggressively, though Lam had the cash advantage in mid-May.

Clarence Lam

Prior $83,084

Total Receipts $33,605

Total Expenditures $46,500

Cash Balance $70,189

Mary Kay Sigaty

Prior $27,263

Total Receipts $55,598

Total Expenditures $27,456

Cash Balance $55,406

District 18 – Montgomery County

A high-dollar affair featuring three-term Del. Jeffrey D. Waldstreicher, physician and political activist Dana Beyer, and business owner and activist Michelle Carhart.

Dana Beyer

Prior $114,524

Total Receipts $59,656

Total Expenditures $155,450

Cash Balance $18,730

Michelle Carhart

Prior $6,550

Total Receipts $675

Total Expenditures $109

Cash Balance $7,116

Jeff Waldstreicher

Prior $285,102

Total Receipts $2,072

Total Expenditures $62,176

Cash Balance $224,998

District 25 – Prince George’s County

With Sen. Ulysses S. Currie (D) retiring, a three-way race is under way featuring Del. Angela M. Angel, former Del. Melony G. Griffith, and veterinarian Jonathan Rosero, who has been stoking his bid with $140,000 in loans. Angel’s campaign finance statement had not been submitted as of 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Angela Angel

Prior: $38,409

Total Receipts: N/A

Total Expenditures: N/A

Cash Balance: N/A

Melony Griffith

Prior $51,835

Total Receipts $21,875

Total Expenditures $31,426

Cash Balance $42,284

Jonathan Rosero

Prior $93,102