A bill reforming public financing of gubernatorial campaigns — raising the amount of matching money a campaign can get from $250 to $800 per donor, but eliminating corporate donations — continues to advance in the Legislature, but time is running short.
SB0415, sponsored by Sen. Paul Pinsky, D-Prince George’s, would allow the state government to match more funding for qualifying gubernatorial campaigns that only take donations from individuals, and of $250 or less.
Maryland is one of five states in the nation that has a program in place to match donations of certain qualifying candidates, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures — a policy intended to minimize the influence of corporations on elections.
Jared DeMarinis, director of candidacy and campaign finances for the Maryland State Board of Elections, said Pinsky’s bill keeps the program intact, for the most part.
“It’s really about modernizing what we currently have,” he told the Capital News Service.
There are two main updates to the program that the bill would establish, according to DeMarinis.
The bill would expand how much the state can match donations of under $250, from a simple 1-to-1 ratio to matching the first three $50 donations from an individual by 8 to 1, 6 to 1, and 2 to 1. The final $100 would not be matched.
The bill would only allow the donations of $250 or less to be made by individuals, meaning candidates qualifying for these funds could no longer take these small donations from corporations or PACs, which are currently allowed but not matched.
The program would be available for two candidates in the primary election and one candidate in the general election.
The matched funds from the state for a candidate would be capped at $3 million, but candidates could continue to take the small donations from individuals.
To qualify for the updated program established in the bill, candidates must raise at least $120,000 through 1,500 donations of $250 or less from individuals.
DeMarinis said the bill is modeled after local reforms to campaign financing in the state.
The public financing program has rarely been used in recent decades — most notably being successfully utilized by Gov. Larry Hogan in his campaign.
The bill passed through the Senate 39-6 and now must be passed by the House of Delegates before Hogan allows for it to become a law. The House delayed advancing the bill on Thursday; it was expected to be on the chamber’s agenda on Friday evening.
The House version of this bill, HB0424, passed that chamber but has not advanced in the Senate.
The state Legislature must pass the bill by Monday, its last day of the 2021 session.
