Since launching his campaign in January, Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol Police officer who defended the building during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot, has surged ahead of his opponents with high-dollar fundraising and spending in the race to fill the seat being vacated by Rep. John Sarbanes in Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District.
Though his top two Democratic challengers — state Sens. Sarah Elfreth and Clarence Lam — had a headstart in fundraising last year, Dunn, 40, has raised over $3.7 million in the three months since entering the race and has spent over $2 million, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission Monday night. At the close of the reporting period, which spanned Jan. 1 to March 31, Dunn had more than $1.6 million in the bank.
A newcomer to politics, Dunn said in January that serving in Congress would give him a seat at the table in conversations about protecting democracy — a top priority in his campaign. He is among more than two dozen people vying for the seat.
Elfreth, who represents parts of Anne Arundel County, including Annapolis, has raised $513,109 since Jan. 1 and spent $317,780. The senator, who launched her campaign in November, ended last year with more than $373,000 in the bank and now has $568,660 on hand. Lam, who represents portions of northern Anne Arundel and Howard counties, raised $283,763 in the same time period and spent $107,867.
Most of Dunn’s donors are individual contributors, though he’s also received donations from left-leaning political action committees, such as ActBlue, Remedy PAC and the Democracy Defense Fund, among others. Dunn has also taken money from right-leaning groups, including $2,000 from Republicans in Congress Empowering America.
A notable difference between Dunn and his challengers, however, is that he lives outside the district. It’s not a requirement for a U.S. House member to live in the district they represent, though Dunn said he looks forward to moving to the district, which encompasses all of Howard County and parts of Anne Arundel and Carroll counties. He did not specify whether that would happen during the campaign or after a potential victory.
Juan Dominguez, an Anne Arundel County businessman and Gulf War veteran whose parents emigrated from Cuba, has raised $74,793 as of March 31. A Democrat, who started the year in the race for a U.S. Senate seat, Dominguez had $29,571 on hand to start his congressional campaign — funding left over from the $291,203 he raised in his Senate run — but has spent $95,020 since, leaving him with $9,344 in the bank.
Three other Maryland lawmakers are seeking the Democratic nomination next month: Dels. Mike Rogers and Mark Chang, both of Anne Arundel, and Del. Terri Hill of Howard County.
Rogers, a retired Army colonel, has raised $203,598 since the start of the year, spending $115,203. Chang, the child of Korean immigrants and a lifelong Glen Burnie resident, has garnered $61,321 this quarter and spent $16,666, leaving him with $104,346 on hand. Hill, a surgeon and the only Black woman in the race, has $70,983 remaining in her campaign coffers after raising $59,316 and spending $61,046 since January.
Other Democrats who remain in the race include John Morse III, Abigail Diehl, Aisha Khan, Don Quinn, Lindsay Donahue, Malcolm Colombo, Mark Gosnell, Matt Libber, Kristin Anne Lyman Nabors, Jake Pretot, Dan Rupli, Gary Schuman, Stewart Silver and Jeff Woodard.
Michael Coburn suspended his campaign in late February, according to an FEC document.
Nine Republicans have also filed in the race, though their funding totals fall short of their Democratic counterparts. Berney Flowers, a Howard County resident and Air Force veteran, has raised $22,438 this quarter, adding to the $9,845 in his campaign. He’s spent $24,124 since Jan. 1. Rob Steinberger, an attorney who lives in Arnold, raised $8,792 this year, spending just $1,722.
Republican candidates include Arthur Radford Baker, Ray Bly, Thomas “Pinkston” Harris, Jordan Mayo, Naveed Mian, Joshua Morales and John Rea.
The primary election takes place on May 14. Early voting runs from May 2 to 9. Mail-in ballots have begun arriving in voters’ mailboxes and may be requested until May 7.
The winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries will face off in the Nov. 5 general election.
The next FEC reporting deadline is July 15.
