Face-to-face fundraising returns, with a heavy dose of Democratic Gubernatorial campaigning – WTOP

One of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the absence of large-scale political events in Maryland for a year and a half. No schmoozing. No glad-handing. No speechifying.

One of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the absence of large-scale political events in Maryland for a year and a half. No schmoozing. No glad-handing. No speechifying.

But that changed dramatically and emphatically on Thursday night, when seven of the eight Democratic candidates for governor gathered together in the open air outside Olney Theater in Montgomery County and spoke, one by one, to a crowd of politicians, party activists, donors and State House lobbyists.

Officially, it was a fundraiser for House Majority Leader Eric G. Luedtke (D-Montgomery), a consequential figure in Annapolis. But Luedtke had the presence of mind to invite all the declared and likely Democratic candidates for governor.

Much to my surprise, most of them decided to show up, Luedtke said.

And suddenly, a nice political gathering on an unusually pleasant late spring evening became a happening.

This is my first actual, real-life campaign event, marveled one of the gubernatorial candidates, Michael Rosenbaum, a Baltimore tech entrepreneur and first-time candidate.

The evening was divided into four parts: First came the preliminary schmoozing, snacking and alcohol-free sipping, mostly maskless and featuring some awkward handshakes, fist bumps and hugs along with some more emphatic greetings.

Were shaking hands now? one campaign operative asked a man who extended a hand.

Then came the more traditional fundraising program: House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) and U.S. Rep. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Md.) extolling Luedtkes virtues, Jones calling up every House member present, maybe 20 in all, to join her and Luedtke in front of the crowd. Then Luedtke spoke, sending praise Jones and Raskins way.

Luedtke quickly shifted gears and became the moderator of an impromptu gubernatorial forum. Of the candidates in the Democratic field, only former attorney general Douglas F. Gansler, who was attending a Democratic Attorneys General Association conference, did not appear.

Luedtke, like other party stalwarts, stressed the importance of electing a Democrat in 2022 after eight years of Republican Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R).

Weve had a governor who in my opinion doesnt have a vision for this state and doesnt work well with others, Luedtke said. We need a governor who believes in people, in helping people.

Each candidate then made his pitch. The crowd, used to talking through speeches at political events because theyve heard all the lines before, was remarkably respectful, sizing up the candidates seriously, mindful that this was the publics first significant exposure to the Democrats who would be governor. They were dead silent when Wes Moore, the former foundation executive and best-selling author spoke.

In all, it was a useful barometer of where the candidates think they are and the messages they want to transmit to this small core of Democratic activists, the few who are actually paying attention to the contenders one year and 11 days before the primary:

I value results over rhetoric, he said. I want to restore Marylanders faith in the ability of government to deliver for them.

Franchot, who spent the better part of the Hogan administration cozying up to the governor, criticized Hogan for the delays in getting unemployment checks out to struggling Marylanders, and also laid out some aspects of his biography that voters may not know, including his work in opposition to the Vietnam War, his campaigning for presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy in 1968, his anti-nuclear activism, and his time as director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group.

King talked about struggling as a youth after both his parents died, but also about his faith in the redemptive powers of education. And he described his work with a new progressive advocacy group, Strong Future Maryland, that worked on race and equity issues, climate change and tenant protections during the recent General Assembly session.

I didnt just talk about problems, he said. I didnt just tweet about problems. I didnt wax poetic on cable television about problems.

Baker said his career as a legislator and as county executive and now running an institute at the University of Maryland College Park that trains incoming public officials shows that he is prepared to tackle the challenges of the future.

It is in my DNA to run toward a problem and to stay there until the problem is solved, Baker said. He also name-checked the late House Appropriations Committee chairman Howard P. Pete Rawlings (D-Baltimore City), who, he said, taught him how to influence colleagues and become a more effective leader.

I took on these systems in business and won, he said. What we need to do as a state is take on these systems and win.

Baron also pledged: I wont take a dime of money from corporations or special interests.

Perez, who presided over the DNC during the 2020 presidential election cycle, joked about the size of the Democratic gubernatorial field. Theres a lot of people thinking about running for governor. But Im here to tell you, its 18 less than were running for president.

He outlined his familys history his parents moved from the Dominican Republic to Buffalo, N.Y., because of the similarities in the weather between Buffalo and the Dominican Republic and his philosophy about governments role to help others.

My parents taught me to make sure the ladders down, Perez said, adding, If you want to get to heaven, youve got to get letters of reference from the folks in the shadows.

In the Army, the first thing we learn is, we dont leave people behind, he said. In fact, we send a battalion in to get them. We dont leave people behind. Why as a state are we OK with that?

Moore said he has dedicated his life to fighting inequality and would bring the same resolve to the governors office.

Moore, more than the other candidates, was mobbed by well-wishers as the fundraiser concluded. Maybe that was a function of him not being present for the preliminaries. Maybe it was because he was less well-known to this particular political crowd than some of the other candidates. Or maybe its because he has a dash of celebrity that the other candidates do not possess.

But if there was a winner among the candidates on the audience applause-o-meter, it was none of the gubernatorial contenders. That distinction belonged to Del. Brooke E. Lierman (D-Baltimore City), a candidate for comptroller and the lone Democratic woman running for statewide office as of now.

Liermans quick speech, outlining the ways the comptrollers office can be a force for progressive change and exhorting the crowd to be bold and to think big, got the biggest cheer of the night.

jkurtz@marylandmatters.org

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Face-to-face fundraising returns, with a heavy dose of Democratic Gubernatorial campaigning - WTOP