Baltimore mayor’s race: Brandon Scott leads in cash on hand, Sheila Dixon bolstered by PAC spending
Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun
Updated 6 min read
The leading Democratic candidates for Baltimore mayor each reported having at least $450,000 on hand in their campaign accounts Tuesday with just five weeks remaining until the May 14 Democratic primary.
Mayor Brandon Scott, a first-term incumbent, led the pack with $907,000 available, having raised $231,000 since reports were last due in January. Former Mayor Sheila Dixon reported $497,000 in her campaign fund. She raised $272,954 between January and the end of March, campaign finance records show.
Thiru Vignarajah, a former prosecutor who was a late entrant to the mayoral race, reported having $548,000 available in his campaign account, a sum that he said will increase with a $150,000 contribution that is owed to him by the Baltimore City Fair Election Fund. Vignarajah is taking advantage of public campaign financing which is available for the first time in 2024. He has raised more than $700,000 since January with a combination of small-dollar donations and public contributions.
Bob Wallace, a business owner, reported having $409,000 in his campaign account. Wallace, a Democrat, loaned himself $94,000 in March, campaign finance records show. His campaign fund is still carrying an additional $600,000 in debt from loans that Wallace and his wife made to the fund when he ran for mayor in 2020 as an independent.
The hotly contested race for mayor has grown even hotter in the last few weeks as high-profile endorsements have flowed in and candidates and PACs have begun to air television commercials. On Monday, U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, both Democrats, announced they were backing Scott, while State’s Attorney Ivan Bates cast his support behind Dixon. An ad characterizing Scott as a “nice guy, bad mayor” funded by the Better Baltimore PAC aired for much of March. The PAC has been funded in large part by John Luetkemeyer of Continental Realty Corp. and David Smith, chairman of Sinclair Broadcasting Group and co-owner of The Baltimore Sun.
Scott made the first foray into candidate-funded ads with the purchase of an ad earlier this month that has aired on cable, radio and online. Dixon began airing a new ad Tuesday where she appears alongside Bates, who says that he needs “a partner” in the mayoral office.
Scott, who topped fundraising efforts last cycle, raised substantially less money from January to early April. The mayor took in maximum $6,000 donations from seven contributors including former Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. Scott began his political career working for Rawlings-Blake. Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman’s campaign also contributed $5,000 to Scott.
Top donations were also received from several labor unions. Metropolitan Baltimore Council AFL-CIO, Laborers District Council PAC in Philadelphia and Anne Arundel Fire PAC all gave maximum donations. Last month, Scott was endorsed by two Baltimore firefighter unions during an event where members were critical of Dixon. Scott’s previous campaign finance report showed $4,500 donations from IAFF Local 734 and IAFF Local 964 President Josh Fannon.
Two PACs have been formed in support of Scott. One, Working for Baltimore, filed an affidavit saying it intended to raise and spend no less than $1,000. The other, Baltimore Forward, did not file a report Tuesday.
The reports filed Tuesday by candidates included funds raised and spent between Jan. 11 and April 2. The final week ahead of the filing, typically a busy one for campaigns, was sidelined by the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. The collapse, caused by a strike from a massive cargo ship, killed six men working on the bridge. Much of the city’s campaign activity was paused as were fundraising efforts for many candidates.
Dixon took in maximum $6,000 donations from 21 contributors including J. Mark and Joseph Schapiro, both of Continental Realty Corp. The donations came in addition to support Dixon had already received from the company’s John Luetkemeyer and his politically connected family made during previous reporting periods. Luetkemeyer gave $300,000 to the Better Baltimore PAC, campaign finance records show. Four members of his family contributed directly to Dixon, each giving $6,000 during a previous fundraising period.
The former mayor also benefited from several contributions from principals with La Cite Development, a New York-based firm that has a deal with the city to revitalize the Poppleton neighborhood. The controversial development struck two decades ago was to include 30 buildings but has only yielded two in one of the city’s oldest Black neighborhoods. Dixon, who was Baltimore City Council president when the deal was arranged, was a vocal supporter of La Cite.
Dixon received a maximum donation from Daniel W. Bythewood, the company’s president. Ian Arias, a co-founder and executive vice president of the group, gave $4,500. Bythewood has also given Scott $6,000 divided over the last two reporting periods.
Dixon was also the recipient of several donations from the politically connected family of David Smith. Devon, Matthew and Blake Smith, all adult children of David Smith, each gave $6,000 to Dixon’s campaign. David Smith previously gave $200,000 to the Better Baltimore PAC, campaign finance records show.
Like Bythewood, other donors have contributed to both Dixon and Scott since the campaign began. Baltimore Recycling Center, which operates from a post office box in Westminster, and Halp Development Corp. of Owings Mills made the maximum contribution to both Scott and Dixon during the previous reporting cycle. Developer Mark Sapperstein and his wife each gave $6,000 to Dixon, while he gave Scott a $5,000 donation. Insulator Drive LLC and Refinery Canton LLC, two businesses listed at the same address as Sapperstein’s 28 Walker Street Development, also gave Scott $6,000 donations. Those donations were all made during the previous reporting cycle.
Vignarjah, a past candidate for mayor and Baltimore state’s attorney, is participating in the city’s public campaign finance program, which is available to candidates for the first time in 2024.
The program pays matching funds to candidates who qualify by receiving at least 500 donations from city residents of no more than $150 each, totaling at least $40,000. Additional donations are also limited to $150 each. They must be received by city residents to receive matching funds.
Vignarajah’s report filed this week shows he has received $450,610 in matching funds and has requested an additional $160,488. He received donations from about 800 donors in Baltimore.
Baltimore Sun reporter Lia Russell contributed to this article.
