Nancy Floreen’s unsuccessful independent bid to become the next Montgomery County executive garnered strong financial backing right up until the finish line. The outgoing four-term member of the County Council raised more than $91,000 between Oct. 22 and the Nov. 6 general election, according to her final campaign finance report that was submitted Tuesday to the Maryland State Board of Elections.
Her campaign received also received a $69.68 contribution Nov. 13 from another campaign committee called Friends of Nancy Floreen.
Candidates were required to file their reports by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.
Floreen ultimately lost to Democrat Marc Elrich, her fellow council member, in the general election. She received less than 20 percent of the vote, despite raising more than $560,000 since she officially became a candidate in late August, following Elrich’s 77-vote primary victory in June over Potomac businessman David Blair.
In addition to her own fundraising, the super PAC County Above Party, which supported Floreen, raised more than $78,000 during the final few weeks, and more than $500,000 since the PAC was created in August. The PAC was started by Floreen supporter and Bethesda developer Charles K. Nulsen III.
Republican candidate Robin Ficker raised $5,880 during the final few weeks, and most of the money came in the form of matching county funds as a result of using the county’s public campaign financing system, according to the report filed by his campaign. Ficker raised a total of $260,590 during the general election campaign, with the majority of that amount coming from public financing.
Elrich had not filed his final report by Tuesday’s deadline, and has been assessed a $10 penalty, according to the state elections board’s campaign finance database.
Dan Schere can be reached at Daniel.schere@bethesdda-remix.newspackstaging.com