By Erin Cox and Ovetta Wiggins
Author and former nonprofit chief Wes Moore raised nearly $5 million over the past seven months, his campaign for Maryland governor said Thursday — a sizable sum that offers a first peek at how the money game will shape the state’s wide-open Democratic primary.
Moore, a first-time candidate, raised $4.8 million and had $3.1 million on hand to spend in the 10-way race for the Democratic nomination, according to his campaign, which has not yet released his full campaign finance report ahead of next week’s deadline.
But the top-line numbers far exceed the $1.2 million that the eventual 2018 Democratic nominee, Ben Jealous, raised ahead of that primary race. And early reports from other candidates suggest Moore may be leading the sprawling field.
“I am so humbled by the grassroots Army of supporters we have seen grow so quickly,” Moore said in a statement.