Candidates for Maryland’s June primary had to file campaign finance statements April 21 if they had not already filed in January. We took a look at the filings of county council candidates seeking to represent Hyattsville residents.
Victor Ramirez, a long-time area politician who lives in the City of Hyattsville, had $73,000 in his political campaign account Jan. 14. He is running as a Democrat to represent District 2 on the county council, which includes Hyattsville.
His challenger Daniel Armando Jones, also a Democrat, had about $4,600 in his account on the same date. At that time, out of about 25 donors, Jones had five with Prince George’s County addresses, including three who gave his address. Donors included Pamela Boozer-Strother, school board representative for the area that includes Hyattsville.
Ramirez raised $62,000 from Jan. 9, 2025, to Jan. 14, 2026, from 88 donors, about 50 of whom have addresses in Prince George’s County. Organized labor and Latino small businesses contributed significantly to his campaign. Joseline Peña-Melnyk, the speaker for the Maryland House of Delegates, and Jimmy Tarlau, a former state delegate and former Mount Rainier councilmember contributed, as well.
Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his fundraising after Jan. 14. Both candidates have held fundraising events in recent weeks.
For the at-large position, representing the whole county, only four of eight Democratic candidates have done significant fundraising reflected in filed reports.
Jolene Ivey, an incumbent at-large councilmember, had by far the most money in the bank and had raised the most, as well. A longtime Prince George’s County politician, she had more than $120,000 in her campaign account as of Jan. 14 — a lot, but not surprising considering she raised more than $364,00 in 2024 for a special election at-large campaign and a brief run for county executive.
Between June 11, 2025, and Jan 14, 2026, Ivey raised $23,000 from 49 donors. Roughly half of those donors had addresses in Prince George’s County, and seven had addresses out of state. Daniel Carrillo, a real estate agent and investor, gave the largest donation: $6,000, the maximum allowable.
Councilmember Sydney Harrison (District 9), who represents the county’s southernmost district, is also seeking an at-large seat. He had the second-highest level of funds at his disposal, with $42,000 in his campaign bank account as of Jan. 14. He did not raise any money between June 11 and Jan. 14.
The two other at-large candidates who have raised a significant sum per state reports are Jeana Jacobs, a Bowie attorney who had almost $19,000 in the bank as of April 7, and Jennifer Rios, who raised $5,650 between Feb. 12 and April 7.
Jennifer Rios has 38 contributions of $200 or less,13 from out-of-state donors. Donors include Ron Oliver, who is running for sheriff, and Daniel Armando Jones, the District 2 county council candidate. There are only three donors who gave more than $300, including Rios herself and her son.
Nearly all of Jacobs’ campaign contributions over the past few months are from two sources: a $6,000 donation from the Construction and Public Employees Laborers PAC based in Upper Marlboro, and $250 from Karl Granzow, an area developer who does business in the county and was convicted of extortion in 2012 for bribing officials to support developments.