State lawmakers, Klacik put mark on Georgia runoffs
Two Maryland lawmakers have contributed to candidates in the Georgia elections that will decide control of the U.S. Senate, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
A third Marylander, Kimberly Klacik — who raised $8.3 million in an unsuccessful bid for a Baltimore-area congressional seat — said Friday that she planned to donate to both Georgia Republicans on the ballot and was headed to that state this weekend to rally GOP supporters.
The Georgia runoff elections on Jan. 5 will determine the balance of power in the Senate.
Democrat Jon Ossoff is challenging Republican incumbent David Perdue, and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, is trying to unseat Republican Kelly Loeffler.
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, the only Republican in Maryland’s eight-man congressional delegation, earmarked $2,000 Nov. 20 for
Loeffler, according to his just-filed Federal Election Commission report covering activity from Oct. 15 to Nov. 23.
Harris, who was elected Nov. 3 to his sixth term, represents the Eastern Shore and parts of Baltimore, Carroll and Harford counties.
Harris made the contribution through the Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund, which finances anti-abortion candidates.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Southern Maryland Democrat, donated $2,000 each Nov. 17 to Warnock and Ossoff, his FEC report said.
Democrats would need to win both Georgia races to get to 50 Senate seats. If that happens, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, a Democrat, would vote to break any ties over legislation, effectively giving her party control.
Klacik lost her 7th Congressional District race to Democratic Rep. Kweisi Mfume of Baltimore but reported raising $8.3 million after being promoted on social media by President Donald Trump and his supporters, and speaking at the Republican National Convention.
She suggested on Twitter last month that there were irregularities with mail-in ballots in her race, adding: “Luckily, we raised enough money to investigate.” However, there were no expenditures related to investigations in her FEC report, and she confirmed in a text to The Baltimore Sun that she hadn’t used any of the money for that purpose.
The State Board of Elections has said it’s found no credible evidence of voter fraud at any point during the election process, and it certified Mfume’s re-election Friday.
Klacik’s listed spending was mostly for fundraising, canvassing, advertising, videos and mailers.
Klacik has traveled out of the state often this year to support other conservatives.
“I will be going to Georgia tomorrow morning,” she texted a Sun reporter Friday. “I will be donating to both candidates.”