Baltimore mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah qualifies for public funding, to receive initial $450K

Baltimore mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah has qualified for public financing to assist his campaign, giving him $450,000 in public funds as he and the rest of the mayoral field enter the final stretch ahead of the Democratic primary May 14.

Vignarajah, who is vying to oust Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott, is the first mayoral candidate to hit the qualifying mark, which requires participating candidates to receive at least 500 donations from city residents of no more than $150 each, totaling at least $40,000.

Reaching that threshold qualified Vignarajah, a former prosecutor, for a $200,000 one-time boost in public funds. Additional matching funds are also set to be paid out to Vignarajah, making the total he will receive thus far $450,610, according to a letter sent by the Maryland State Board of Elections to Vignarajah’s campaign Thursday.

The fair election fund, which is available for the first time to city candidates this year, pays out matching funds based on a ratio for money raised beyond the first $40,000. Vignarajah could potentially receive up to $1.7 million in public funding, although he would need hundreds more small-dollar donations to achieve that. A candidate can accept no more than $150 from each donor.

That money is needed for Vignarajah to be competitive in a field of Democrats that includes not only Scott but former Mayor Sheila Dixon and businessman Bob Wallace. Candidates have not had to file campaign finance reports since January, but Scott had $835,788 on hand in his campaign account at that time. Dixon had $370,136 available while Wallace had $229,468. Updated figures will be available April 9 when candidates are next required to file.

Dixon has also had the benefit of spending by a political action committee in support of her campaign. Better Baltimore PAC, an effort backed chiefly by real estate developer John Luetkemeyer of Continental Realty Corp. and David Smith, chairman of Sinclair Broadcasting Group and co-owner of The Baltimore Sun, has spent $568,910 so far in support of Dixon, according to periodic filings to the Maryland State Board of Elections. Most of that spending has funded a television ad attacking Scott, that has been airing since early March.

A separate PAC, known as the Working for Baltimore PAC, was formed this week in support of Scott. It has reported no donations since being created on Tuesday.

The total amount Vignarajah has on hand is not required to be reported until April 9. He has said publicly he expects his campaign to cost at least $1 million. A past candidate for mayor and Baltimore state’s attorney, Vignarajah has been a prolific fundraiser in the past, raising numerous high-dollar contributions from well-known donors and benefitting from PACs. Candidates using public financing cannot take money from campaign committees or PACs.

In a news release Friday, Vignarajah cast himself as an anti-establishment candidate.

“For the first time, Baltimore will have a candidate for mayor who is fueled by people, not developers, lobbyists, PACs, and corporations,” he said.

The 2024 election cycle marks the first time that Vignarajah and others are able to tap public resources for campaign purposes in Baltimore. The money, distributed by the Baltimore City Fair Election Fund, became available following the approval of a ballot question in 2018. That question, favored by 75% of voters, authorized the creation of the fund, which now has been financed primarily from the city’s budget. Grants and donations are accepted, too.

The fund operates by matching donations, so candidates must raise their own money to take money from the fund. They are limited, however, in how much they can raise. A candidate can accept no more than $150 from each donor, and donors need to be city residents for a candidate to receive matching funds.

After the boost, funds are matched based on a ratio spelled out by the Baltimore City Fair Election Fund. The first $25 of each contribution is matched with $9 for every $1. The next $50 is matched on a $5-to-$1 ratio. Any money over $75 is matched on a $2-to-$1 ratio. For every $150 donation made after the qualification boost, mayoral candidates stand to receive $625 in public funds.

Other city candidates have already qualified for the funds and some have even drawn the maximum amount allowable from the fund. Candidates for City Council president can receive $425,000 from the fund. Comptroller candidates max out at $250,000 while council candidates can get no more than $125,000.

Zac Blanchard, who is running for the City Council in District 11 against Councilman Eric Costello, has received the maximum $125,000. Shannon Sneed, a former councilwoman running for council president, has qualified and drawn down some public funds. Steven T. Johnson, a candidate for city council running against Council Vice President Sharon Green Middleton, has also qualified. All are Democrats.