Pro-Elrich Super PAC Raises $131,000 in Two Weeks

Almost all of the contributions are from unions

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Progressive Maryland Liberation Alliance, a super PAC that began working to support the campaign of Montgomery County executive candidate Marc Elrich earlier this month, has raised $131,000 since Sept. 27, of which more than 90 percent is from unions, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections campaign finance database.

Elrich, the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 6 general election, has been endorsed by a number of local and regional unions that represent teachers, service employees and others, according to his campaign website. Elrich is running against independent candidate Nancy Floreen and Republican candidate Robin Ficker in the Nov. 6 general election.

The only contribution to the Super PAC that didn’t come from a union was a $10,000 check on Oct. 5 from CASA in Action, which has endorsed Elrich’s campaign.

Because Elrich is participating in Montgomery County’s public campaign financing system, he cannot accept contributions from PACs or Super PACs. But a Super PAC can support him as long as there is no coordination with the campaign. In an interview Wednesday, Elrich said he knew nothing about Progressive Maryland Liberation Alliance PAC, other than the fact that the group existed.

“I haven’t talked to anyone or seen anything they’ve produced,” he said.

According to the latest report, which was filed Wednesday, the Super PAC received contributions in support of Elrich from the following unions:

• The Baltimore-Washington Construction & Public Employees Laborers PAC gave $30,000 on Sept. 27. The PAC’s parent organization, the Baltimore/Washington Laborers’ District Council, represents more than 7,000 public service and construction workers in the Baltimore-Washington area and has endorsed Elrich’s campaign.

• The Maryland State Education Association’s PAC gave $30,000 on Oct. 9. Elrich has been endorsed by MSEA’s local affiliate, the Montgomery County Education Association.

• The Municipal County Government Employee Organization’s [MCGEO] local chapter in Montgomery County gave $25,000 on Oct. 9. Elrich has been endorsed by the union.

• UNITE HERE Local 25, the hotel union in the greater Washington, D.C. area, gave $10,000 on Oct. 15.

• A local steamfitter’s union serving workers in the greater Washington, D.C., area gave $5,000 on Oct. 10.

• Leadership With Integrity, a PAC connected to the school service employees’ union SEIU Local 500, gave $5,000 on Oct. 4. SEIU Local 500 has endorsed Elrich.

• The Plumbers and Gasfitters of Local 5 Washington, D.C., donated $5,000 on Oct. 10.

• Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 100, which represents workers in the greater Washington, D.C. area, gave $5,000 on Oct. 12.

• An Sept. 27 contribution of $6,000 from Political Action Together Political Committee is listed with the same address as the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades based in Hanover, Maryland.

Elrich’s opponent, independent candidate Nancy Floreen, also has a Super PAC that is supporting her called County Above Party. That PAC, chaired by developer Charles K. Nulsen III, had raised $155,500 through Sept. 21.

Dan Schere can be reached at Daniel.schere@bethesdamagazine.com