A report released today by Maryland PIRG Foundation finds that the Montgomery County Public Election Fund is working as intended, and is encouraging more small donor participation. The report finds that individual donors participated at a higher rate when candidates participated in the small donor program.
CANDIDATES WHO QUALILFIED FOR THE PROGRAM RECEIVED MORE THAN 96% MORE INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAN CANDIDATES WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. (850 VS 434)
The fundraising data from the 2018 election also revealed that the small donor matching program is reducing the influence of big money and enabling people to run for office based on support from the community instead of access to large donors.