By Pamela Wood and Bryn Stole
First-time political candidate Wes Moore’s campaign raked in a little more than $4.8 million worth of donations and campaign contributions over the past year, topping a large field of Maryland gubernatorial hopefuls, according to newly filed campaign finance reports.
Moore, a Democrat from Baltimore, raised just over $4 million, while his lieutenant governor running mate, Aruna Miller, tallied about $773,000 in contributions. After spending money on campaign staff and salaries, consultants, lawyers, media, travel and other expenses, the Moore-Miller team heads into the thick of the primary campaign season with $3.1 million in the bank.
Moore’s campaign promoted the numbers as a sign of enthusiasm for the author, veteran and former nonprofit executive.
“This may be a crowded field, but there is only one campaign with the momentum, the energy, the vision, the path, and now very clearly the resources to win both in June and in November,” campaign manager Ned Miller said in a statement.