Maryland Home To Nation's Most Expensive Race For House Seat

Maryland is home to the nation's most expensive race for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

New figures from the Federal Election Commission show that nearly $14 million has been spent on campaigns for the seat being left open by Rep. Chris Van Hollen's decision to run for the U.S. Senate.

Democratic businessman David Trone has spent about $9 million of his own money, which by itself would be enough to make the race the country's priciest. Ohio's 8th Congressional District is a distant second with just over eight-million-dollars spent this election season.

On the Democratic side, the race also includes state Sen. Jamie Raskin, Del. Kumar Barve and former journalist and Marriott public affairs head Kathleen Matthews (wife of MSNBC host Chris Matthews). On the Republican side, contenders include attorney Dan Cox, pastor Jeff Jones and entrepreneur Liz Matory.

The Democrat Van Hollen has held the seat since 2003, when he unseated eight-term Republican Connie Morella in what had been recently redrawn as a more Democratic district.