By KIT SLACK
Early voting starts today in the special primary election that will likely determine who will be the next Prince George’s County Executive. For more information on how to vote and on all candidates, see our voter guide.
Some businesses and residents have already voted with their wallets.
Four Democratic candidates, out of 11 candidates total, have raised significant campaign funds, based on contributions disclosed since Dec. 1 and reports due to the state Feb. 21.
Our prior campaign finance article gives detail on large campaign contributions prior to Jan. 29.
Aisha Braveboy, the state’s attorney for Prince George’s County, had the largest campaign bank account balance, $236,000, on Feb. 14. Since Dec. 1, she has raised more than $469,000 from about 550 contributors.
Braveboy continues to enjoy support from labor unions. We Are Labor 2, a political action committee, contributed $18,000 to Braveboy’s campaign on Feb. 19. Braveboy also continues to receive large donations from the private healthcare sector, particularly nursing and home healthcare companies, and has received $10,500 from county-based donors in that industry between Jan. 29 and Feb. 14.
Over the past month, Braveboy’s campaign has attracted more large donations from the local real estate and construction industry, including $12,000 from two employees at RISE Investment Partners and a total of $6,000 total from entities at a Lanham address associated with Kady Construction Company. On Feb. 22, the Greater Capital Association of Realtors disclosed spending $7,600 in support of Braveboy’s campaign.
County-based vendors who provide tech services to local government have also contributed to Braveboy’s campaign recently. These vendors include NGEN LLC, ExeQut, and Logical Technology and Research, who gave a total of $9,500. Local solid-waste contractors Goode Companies and Bates Trucking and Trash Removal chipped in too, giving a combined $7,000.
Calvin Hawkins, an at-large county council member, had $176,000 in his campaign bank account on Feb. 14. Over the past few months, he has raised more money from more contributors than any other candidate. Between Dec. 1 and Feb. 14, he raised over $488,000 from about 760 contributors.
Hawkins continues to lead other candidates in large contributions from the real estate and construction industries, receiving $43,500 from nine such contributors between Jan. 29 and Feb. 14.
Alonzo T. Washington had a campaign bank account balance of $65,000 as of Feb. 14. He has raised close to $44,000 from about 200 contributors since Dec. 1. His largest donor is Jacob Van Wingerden, a cannabis grower in Earleville, who has given $2,000 in total through Feb. 14.
Rushern Baker, who served as county executive from 2010 to 2018, had $49,000 in his campaign finance account on Feb. 14. He has raised about $189,000 from 360 donors between Dec. 1 and Feb. 14.
One of Baker’s largest contributions in this reporting period is $6,000 from Prince George’s County Professional Firefighters.
Baker disclosed four contributions of $2,500 each, made on Feb. 13, from four businesses that share an address in The Landow Building, an office complex in Bethesda owned by the Landow & Company real estate investment firm. The names of the businesses appear to be associated with large apartment complexes in College Park, Bowie, Cheverly and Hyattsville.
Like Braveboy, Baker received $3,000 from Bates Trucking and Trash Removal on Feb. 13. He also received another $3,000 on the same date from a company that shares a Bladensburg address with Bates Trucking but is listed as BAB Enterprises LLC. (That company is listed at a different address on a state business registry, which notes that the business is not in good standing.)
Other candidates have not made significant gains in fundraising since the prior report was filed on Feb. 4.
There are over 600,000 registered voters in Prince George’s County; it remains to be seen how many will turn out for this countywide election. While nearly 379,000 people voted in the county council at-large race during the November 2024 election, only 65,000 voted in the countywide primary in August 2024.
Prince George’s County Administrator Wendy Honesty-Bey told Maryland Matters that the special primary and the special general election will cost the county $4.2 million.
For more information on how to vote and on all the candidates, see our voter guide. Read our Feb. 10 campaign finance article for a fuller picture of how county executive candidates have financed their campaigns.
