In at least Montgomery County primary contests, challengers have more cash on hand to spend than sitting Maryland senators.

Campaign finance reports released last week show Democrats Karen S. Montgomery (D-Dist. 14) of Brookville and Cheryl C. Kagan (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville thousands of dollars ahead of incumbents Rona E. Kramer (D-Dist. 14) of Olney and Jennie M. Forehand (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville, respectively.

Kagan, a former delegate who served eight years and might have name recognition on her side, is more than $8,700 ahead of District 17's Forehand, who has been a senator for 15 years.

Kagan has $96,996 on hand, while Forehand has $88,208.

The challenger also outraised Forehand by more than $13,000 from January to August.

With self-imposed fundraising limits, Kagan said many of her donations have come from individuals she meets on the campaign trail.

"We've raised money from people we've met at the doors," she said. "There are people who have said ‘hold on a second' and gone for their checkbook and come back."

Gail Ewing, a former County Council member and Gazette columnist, said she was surprised Kagan had collected more than Forehand.

"You would expect the incumbent to have more money," Ewing said. "The people who are the mainstay of elections usually give the incumbent more."

Montgomery, a delegate in District 14 attempting to oust Kramer, is more than $30,000 up on her opponent, with $78,000 on hand. Kramer has $44,196.

Montgomery out-raised Kramer by more than $10,000 in the last reporting period.

"At the Senate and the House level at the state, it is important to have enough money to make enough mailings, to make the mailings look good enough to be perceived as winning messages," Ewing said. "If you've got the money, you can afford to pay for the experts you need to help get you elected."

A handful of county delegates are challenging fellow party members for Senate seats.

Del. Saqib Ali (D-Dist. 39) of Gaithersburg and Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Dist. 39) of Montgomery Village are locked in a high-profile race.

While King is only $2,000 in cash ahead of Ali, with $116,635 to spend, she as a more substantial, $30,000, lead on fundraising since January.

She also has the support of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. and his Democratic senatorial slate, of which she is a member.

Miller historically supports all Senate Democratic incumbents.

Following the release of the latest campaign finance data, Ali demanded King return her money, calling contributions from alcohol, tobacco and gambling lobby groups dirty money.

"I demand, and I think the voters demand, that she separate herself from these insidious companies," Ali said. "That's the lowest of the low politics."

The senatorial slate has received money from Phillip Morris, and King's account includes contributions from the Maryland Beer Wholesalers Association and the Thoroughbred Horsemen's political action committees.

Democrat Roger Manno of Silver Spring, a delegate in District 19 vying to unseat Sen. Mike G. Lenett (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring, is not sure how much his competitor has raised, but questioned Lenett's popularity because of large loans he made to himself earlier this year.

The incumbent said he doesn't like asking for donations and prefers to fund his campaign through personal earnings from his legal practice.

"The truth is, I'm a lousy fundraiser," he said. "I just have a very hard time asking people for money in this economy. I don't take any money from developers, and I would like to stay independent of special interests."

Lenett's latest campaign finance report has yet to be published on the state's online database, but he said he has $120,642 in cash and raised almost $18,000 in the reporting period, including a $700 personal loan to himself.

"I think money is an unfortunate reality in electoral races," Manno said. "And the other reality is that campaigns are expensive. Outreach to voters is expensive."

sbreitenbach@gazette.net

The following candidates have the most cash on hand to spend in their races for Maryland Senate and House of Delegates.

District 14

-House: Craig Zucker, D, Brookville — $54,194

-Senate: Karen S. Montgomery, D, Brookville^ — $78,317

District 15

-House: Brian J. Feldman, D, Potomac — $95,563 ^

-Senate: No information available.

District 16

-House: Susan C. Lee, D, Bethesda — $132,564 ^

-Senate: Brian E. Frosh, D, Bethesda — $187,856 ^

District 17

-House: Kumbar P. Barve, D, Gaithersburg — $74,355 ^

-Senate: Cheryl C. Kagan, D, Rockville — $96,996

District 18

-House: Jeff Waldstreicher, D, Kensington — $53,019 ^

-Senate: Richard S. Madaleno Jr., D, Kensington — $28,882 ^

District 19

-House: Sam Arora, D, Olney — $85,636

-Senate: Mike G. Lenett, D, Silver Spring — $120,642 ^

District 20

-House: Heather R. Mizeur, Takoma Park — $176,416 ^

-Senate: Jamie B. Raskin, D, Takoma Park — $78,507 ^ (no opponents)

District 39

-House: Charles E. Barkley, D, Germantown — $61,897 ^

-Senate: Nancy J. King, D, Montgomery Village — $116,635 ^

^ Denotes incumbent

*Denotes only campaign finance report available in race

Source: Maryland State Board of Elections

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