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Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan raised about $1.7 million in first year in office Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan raised about $1.7 million in first year in office
(about 3 hours later)
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) raised $1.7 million in his first year in office, a significant haul for a first-time officer holder who used public funds to get elected and was outspent during his 2014 campaign. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan raised $1.7 million in his first year in office, a significant haul for a first-time officeholder who used public funds to get elected and was outspent during his 2014 campaign.
The funds come on top of the $1.4 million Hogan collected in the two months following his election, leaving him with $2 million in his campaign coffers after paying off loans and other expenses. Maryland’s last Republican governor, Bob Ehrlich, had a similar amount on hand going into his second year, while Hogan’s Democratic predecessor Martin O’Malley had half as much available. The funds come on top of the $1.4 million Hogan (R) collected in the two months after his election, leaving him with $2 million in his campaign coffers after paying off loans and other expenses. Maryland’s last Republican governor, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., had a similar amount on hand going into his second year, while Hogan’s Democratic predecessor Martin O’Malley had half as much available.
Hogan’s political war chest will have to increase severalfold in order for him to fund a robust 2018 re-election campaign, political observers say. Most donations will come later in his term. But the early fundraising gives him a head start, and could scare off potential challengers. Hogan’s political war chest will have to increase several-fold in order for him to fund a robust 2018 reelection campaign, political observers say. Most donations will come later in his term. But the early fundraising gives him a head start, and could scare off potential challengers.
[Hogan celebrates first year in office, makes clear he wants seven more][Hogan celebrates first year in office, makes clear he wants seven more]
“He is using the benefits of incumbency and popularity to raise a lot of money,” said Donald F. Norris, director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. “He is using the benefits of incumbency and popularity to raise a lot of money,” said Donald F. Norris, director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
After years of tepid GOP fundraising while O’Malley was in office, Hogan and the state Republican Party drew staggering amounts of cash in the two months following the November 2014 election, including from some of Maryland’s top lobbyists and most prolific Democratic donors. After years of tepid Republican fundraising while O’Malley was in office, Hogan and the state GOP drew staggering amounts of cash in the two months following the November 2014 election, including from some of Maryland’s top lobbyists and most prolific Democratic donors.
About $1 million went to the state GOP, which spent most of it paying salaries and administrative and fundraising expenses and getting rid of accumulated debt. About $1 million went to the state Republican Party, which spent most of it paying salaries, administrative and fundraising expenses, and getting rid of accumulated debt.
The party has about $30,000 on hand this year for state races.The party has about $30,000 on hand this year for state races.
“Once Ehrlich lost, we were in a desert for eight years, and now we are finally out of that rut,” executive director Joe Cluster said.“Once Ehrlich lost, we were in a desert for eight years, and now we are finally out of that rut,” executive director Joe Cluster said.
[Gov. Hogan, Md. GOP now flush with cash — some from former Democratic donors][Gov. Hogan, Md. GOP now flush with cash — some from former Democratic donors]
In 2015, Maryland cracked down on contribution limits by prohibiting multiple businesses with the same owner from making separate donations to the same candidate that exceeded the permitted maximum. Last year, Maryland prohibited multiple businesses with the same owner from making separate donations to the same candidate that exceeded the permitted maximum.
Small donations of $250 or less made up 16 percent of Hogan’s total fundraising in his first year in office, compared to 2 percent of O’Malley’s $1.45 million first-year haul. Individuals donated about 60 percent of Hogan’s campaign cash, with organizations and businesses making up much of the rest. Small donations of $250 or less made up 16 percent of Hogan’s total fundraising in his first year in office, compared with 2 percent of O’Malley’s $1.45 million first-year haul. Individuals donated about 60 percent of Hogan’s campaign cash, with organizations and businesses making up much of the rest.
Records show 48 donors gave Hogan the maximum $6,000 allowed under Maryland law, including supermarket chain H Mart Inc. and Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh.Records show 48 donors gave Hogan the maximum $6,000 allowed under Maryland law, including supermarket chain H Mart Inc. and Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh.
“As a result of his popularity and overwhelming support for his policies, our fundraising goals were impressively exceeded,” said Andrew Brightwell, a political aide to Hogan. “As a result of his popularity and overwhelming support for his policies, our fundraising goals were impressively exceeded,” said Andrew Brightwell, a Hogan political aide.
Patrick Murray, executive director of the Maryland Democratic Party, says the pace of Hogan’s fundraising is slower than he expected, noting that Ehrlich raised $2.5 million in his first year in 2003.Patrick Murray, executive director of the Maryland Democratic Party, says the pace of Hogan’s fundraising is slower than he expected, noting that Ehrlich raised $2.5 million in his first year in 2003.
Democrats are expecting Hogan to raise as much as $20 million for his re-election effort, not including money from outside groups. Democrats are expecting Hogan to raise as much as $20 million for his reelection effort, not including money from outside groups.