In a troubling display of the outsized influence of money in politics, Maryland’s Democratic congressional candidates are amassing enormous war chests, even in districts where their victories are all but assured. This flood of cash into uncompetitive races raises serious questions about the true intentions behind such aggressive fundraising and the potential for wasteful spending.
Two newcomers to the federal stage, state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., both Democrats, are leading the charge in what some might call a money grab. Despite their primary victories in May essentially guaranteeing their seats in Congress, they continue to solicit and accumulate substantial funds from donors.
Elfreth, running for the open 3rd District seat, has managed to rake in over $2 million since announcing her candidacy late last year. In just the last quarter, she added another $278,000 to her coffers, leaving her with $116,000 in cash on hand. Similarly, Olszewski, vying for the open 2nd District seat, has amassed over $1.3 million since entering the race, including $222,000 in the most recent quarter, with $236,000 currently at his disposal.
But the real story of excessive fundraising lies with the incumbent Democrats. Rep. Jamie Raskin, representing the heavily Democratic 8th District, reported an eye-watering $907,000 raised in just three months between July 1 and September 30. His total for the 2024 election cycle exceeds $4.6 million, with nearly $4.9 million currently sitting in his campaign account. One must ask: why does a representative in a safe Democratic district need such a massive war chest?
Other Democratic incumbents are following suit. Rep. Steny Hoyer of the 5th District raised $221,000 in the same period, bringing his cycle total to $1.7 million, with $761,000 cash on hand. This pattern of accumulating vast sums in non-competitive races seems to be the norm rather than the exception for Maryland Democrats.
In stark contrast, Maryland’s lone Republican congressman, Rep. Andy Harris, has demonstrated more fiscal restraint. While still maintaining a strong financial position with $915,000 in the bank, his fundraising efforts appear more measured, having raised $140,000 in the third quarter.
The only truly competitive race in Maryland is in the open 6th District, where Republican Neil C. Parrott is facing off against Democrat April McClain Delaney. Here, we see the concerning trend of self-funding millionaires trying to buy seats in Congress. Delaney has poured $2.1 million of her personal fortune into the campaign, outspending Parrott by a factor of five. This imbalance threatens the principle of fair representation and risks turning our democracy into an auction house for the wealthy elite.
Perhaps the most egregious example of wasteful campaign spending comes from departing Rep. David Trone. In his failed bid for the Democratic Senate nomination, Trone burned through an astonishing $67 million this election cycle, mostly from his own pocket. This level of spending in a primary race is not only excessive but also raises questions about the influence of personal wealth in our political system.
Conservative analysts argue that this aggressive fundraising in non-competitive races could be a strategy to funnel money into a broader Democratic machine, potentially influencing races in other parts of the country or building war chests for future political ambitions. This approach threatens to further entrench incumbent politicians and make it even more difficult for fresh conservative voices to break through.
As the 2024 election cycle progresses, voters should be wary of the growing influence of money in politics, particularly when it flows so freely into races with predetermined outcomes. The ability of these Democratic candidates to raise millions without serious challengers underscores the need for greater transparency and potentially for campaign finance reform that levels the playing field.