By Staff Reporter
Posted on 10/27/20
| News Source: WBAL TV
Independent Bob Wallace outspends Democrat Brandon Scott in Baltimore mayor's race, reports show
It is an unusual development in a city where the winner of the Democratic primary rarely has much of any competition in the general election. The mayor's race is usually a sleeper on the November ballot as Democrats in Baltimore have that much of an edge in registered voters.
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Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens: https://bit.ly/3aYxo4vBut this year, the city is seeing something a little different. New reports filed in the Baltimore mayor's race show, at least in fundraising, Wallace has been taken seriously.
The reports show what Scott and Wallace have raised and spent since mid-August. Wallace has raised $307,377 while Scott has raised $211,526. Wallace has spent $411,504, which is more than double the $150,587 spent by Scott.
Wallace has also self-financed his campaign with $343,000 in personal loans.
Scott had to raise money earlier in the year to run in a crowded Democratic primary. Wallace avoided a primary race by running as an Independent, allowing him to focus solely on the general election.
"This is the first time in memory you have an Independent candidate who is really well funded and is really well qualified, and that is perhaps why Bob Wallace has received such a larger share of media attention than a non-Democratic challenger in this election normally would," said Mileah Kromer, director of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center at Goucher College.
Except for the 2016 mayoral election when Democrat Sheila Dixon mounted a robust but unsuccessful write-in campaign against former Mayor Catherine Pugh, the candidate opposing the Democratic nominee in races for Baltimore mayor barely registers in November elections. In at least the past 30 years, no non-Democratic challenger has gained even 30% of the vote in the general election. Read more at WBALTV