Herb McMillan's Campaign Finance Pedantry

McMillan makes an accurate, albeit somewhat misleading, claim about campaign funds

Former Delegate Herb McMillan has been posting the following graphic in various groups on Facebook highlighting fundraising in the race for Anne Arundel County Executive.

McMillan’s graphic, above, claims that his primary opponent, County Councilwoman Jessica Haire, only leads McMillan in campaign funds because of a $500,000 loan made on the last day of the campaign filing period. McMillan’s point is accurate: Haire did loan the campaign $500,000 to the campaign on January 12th, the last day of the reporting period.

But McMillan’s graphic also glosses over the fact that Haire outraised McMillan in campaign donations during the same time period.

During the period, from January 13, 2021-January 12, 2022, McMillan raised $241,331.71. No doubt a healthy sum. But Haire raised $303,200.00 in donations, with another $12,850 from slates and committees.

Jessica Haire outraised Herb McMillan last year. But McMillan’s graphic is focused solely on which candidate has more cash-on-hand not counting any candidate loans.

While McMillan’s graphic is technically correct, it also does not tell the entire story. But what I do know is that a discussion of who has more campaign funds is not going to help either candidate beat Steuart Pittman in November.