Maryland‘s open Senate seat contest is more competitive than expected, leading Democrats and Republicans from across the country to pour millions of dollars into the state.
With Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) retiring from Congress, both Democratic and Republican candidates are spending millions of dollars just a month ahead from the state’s primary.
The top contender for the Republican nomination is former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who announced his bid for candidacy just two months ago. Based upon a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll from last month, Hogan is leading potential Democratic opponents Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D) or Rep. David Trone (D-MD) by double digits. However, 55% of people polled preferred to have a Democrat in the Senate; whereas 35% wanted a Republican.
In the past two months, Hogan has raised more than $1.9 million, with an additional $1.2 million collected by two political action committees tied to his campaign.
“Our team is incredibly humbled and grateful for the overwhelming amount of support and positive reception we have received across the state since announcing mid-February, and we are just getting started,” Hogan said in a statement. “In a race where we are likely to face either the billionaire trying to buy the election or the candidate of the Democratic machine, there is no doubt we are the financial underdog too.”
Hogan’s fundraising efforts pale in comparison to Trone, who has brought in $640,168 from individual contributions and since the start of his bid had loaned his campaign $41.7 million, according to federal campaign finance records. Trone, who is a co-founder of the retailer Total Wine and More, has just $1 million left on hand.
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Meanwhile, Alsobrooks has raised the most money from individual contributions, raising more than $6.1 million. Her campaign currently has just under $3.2 million on hand. Despite her donor advantage, polling shows Trone leading Alsobrooks by 7%.
There hasn’t been a Republican senator representing Maryland since 1987, and Republicans are eager to flip a majority of the Senate in their favor.