Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszweski Jr. far outraised his Democratic opponents in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, collecting $730,000 and finishing the latest fundraising period with $500,000 on hand, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
In the Republican race, Kim Klacik reported raising just tens of thousands of dollars, instead of the millions she drew four years ago when then-President Donald Trump amplified her campaign on social media, but says she has a plan to ramp up fundraising for the 2024 primary campaign’s final month.
Six Democrats and three Republicans are competing in May 14 primaries in Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes much of Baltimore and Carroll counties and a piece of the northern part of Baltimore City.
The race has drawn less attention than other Senate or congressional races, with only a few events with candidates. Olszewski briefly paused campaigning to assist Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Gov. Wes Moore in the wake of the March 26 Key Bridge collapse.
Olszewski is considered the frontrunner in the Democratic field, with the endorsement of the incumbent Ruppersberger. He’s also been endorsed by other prominent fellow Democrats, including Scott, U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer and House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, who represents a Baltimore County district.
His campaign reported $688,000 in donations from individuals since January, when Olszewski said he had raised $400,000 after announcing he would seek higher office. Another $42,000 came from political action committees like AMERIPAC, a finance vehicle founded by Hoyer; the National Association of Realtors; labor union United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners; pro-Israel groups Citizens Organized, To Protect Our Heritage, and Sun PAC; and Hope PAC, a vehicle tied to U.S. Rep. Joseph Neguse, a Colorado Democrat.
Democratic politicians such as state Senate President Bill Ferguson of Baltimore; state senators Kathy Klausmeier of Baltimore County, Guy Guzzone of Howard County and Jeff Waldstreicher and Craig Zucker of Montgomery County, and Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen also donated to Olszewski.
Executives from real estate and law firms such as Venable, Chesapeake Realty, David S. Brown Enterprises, and logistics center Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point each donated $3,300, the maximum amount allowed for individual contributions per election. Atlas Restaurant Group CEO Alex Smith and former Baltimore State’s Attorney Gregg Bernstein also each donated the maximum amount.
Democratic Del. Harry Bhandari of Baltimore County reported about $67,000 in cash on hand to end the fundraising period that wrapped up March 31. He raised $133,500, all from individual donors. His campaign also reported an outstanding debt of $17,900.
Many of his donations were small sums from people outside Maryland, living in states such as Massachusetts, Texas and Virginia.
Bhandari has drawn upon his roots as a South Asian immigrant to portray himself as an American success story, first earning a doctorate while working nights at a gas station and later teaching in a Baltimore high school. He won election to the General Assembly in 2018, becoming the first Nepali American ever elected to a state house.
2024 voter guide: Candidates for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District
Sia Kyriakakos, a Baltimore arts educator who was Maryland Teacher of the Year in 2017, has $1,900 in cash on hand heading into the campaign’s final month. Kyriakakos reported taking in $16,600 in donations and spending $14,700.
Clint Spellman Jr., Sharron Reed-Burns, and Jessica Sjoberg have filed with the Maryland State Board of Elections as candidates, but the FEC did not have their fundraising reports as of Tuesday for the most recent period.
On the Republican side, Klacik, John Thormann and Dave Wallace are vying for the nomination.
The numbers Klacik reported Monday paled in comparison to her 2020 House campaign against U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume in Baltimore’s 7th Congressional District. She raised a total of $7 million that year after Trump boosted her campaign with words of support.
According to amended campaign finance reports, much of the money went to Republican-aligned digital advertising and media companies. Her campaign also reported carrying $170,000 in debt, which she can pay down if she raises enough money in this race.
It’s unclear whether Trump, now on federal trial for falsifying business records, will again highlight her campaign.
In Klacik’s April 2024 quarterly report for the 2nd District race, the Middle River resident finished with $8,600 in cash on hand. She reported raising $30,000, mostly from individuals. About $23,500 went towards fundraising fees and ads on WCBM-AM, where she hosts a talk show.
Klacik said via email that her campaign had only recently being fundraising in earnest. She anticipates bringing in a larger haul in the coming weeks.
“Next quarter you will see a difference,” she wrote. “We have some great ads, fundraisers and commitments planned. Should be interesting to see what we pull in 30 days.”
Wallace, a Sykesville kitchen supply store owner, had about $2,300 after taking in $6,820 in donations. His campaign is carrying $68,200 in debt from personal loans from himself that date to his 2022 run for Congress, according to filings.
Thormann, an Army veteran who lives in Sparrows Point, had not filed a report as of Tuesday.
