By Adam Pagnucco.
Council at-large candidate Jeremiah Pope has claimed that he has qualified for public matching funds. If he’s right, it’s a mark of strength for his campaign.
Let’s get technical on this. Candidates in the county’s public financing program may qualify for public matching funds that are disbursed on a sliding scale related to their number of in-county contributors and the size of those contributions. But they don’t automatically get the matching funds. To qualify for them, they have to collect at least minimum thresholds of the number of in-county contributors and the amount of contributions they have collected. (Candidates in the program may only receive contributions from individuals up to a maximum level of $500.) For a council at-large candidate like Pope, the qualifying thresholds are 250 contributions from county residents of up to $250 each totaling at least $20,000. The State Board of Elections is responsible for certifying those totals from reports submitted by candidates and authorizing the expenditure of public matching funds from the county government. The distribution of matching funds may only begin 365 days before the primary election.
If that sounds complicated, it is! And I should have noted all this when county executive candidate Evan Glass claimed that he qualified for public matching funds. (It’s the State Board of Elections that decides whether a candidate has qualified, not the candidate.) I’m not going to screw that one up again, folks. There is a difference between a candidate claiming qualification and a candidate actually receiving certification from the State Board of Elections.
Candidates who qualify for public matching funds can usually get enough money to be competitive. This is particularly true for candidates who receive enough contributions to receive the maximum amount of matching funds available for their race (which in the case of at-large candidates is $290,060 in this cycle). Candidates in public financing who don’t qualify for matching funds are not financially viable. That’s right, all you candidates – if you’re in public financing and don’t qualify for matching funds, you’re done. And don’t bug me for coverage!
All of that said, if Pope’s claim is accurate (and I have no reason to contest it), this is an important sign of strength for his campaign – especially if he hits the mark this early. He won’t be the only candidate in his race to qualify. The two incumbents (Gabe Albornoz and Laurie-Anne Sayles) as well as Scott Goldberg, who is running at-large this year, qualified for matching funds in 2022. And Fatmata Barrie, who is running at-large this year, qualified for matching funds in a 2022 district race that had lower thresholds than an at-large race. County Executive Marc Elrich, who is running at-large, will certainly get matching funds.
This is going to be a very competitive race. And Pope is going to play.
Pope’s press release is reprinted below.
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For Immediate Release:
June 25, 2025
For More Information: press@popeforcouncil.com
Jeremiah Pope Qualifies for Public Financing in Campaign for Montgomery County Council At-Large
[Silver Spring, Maryland] Today, Jeremiah Pope proudly announced that his campaign for Montgomery County Council At-Large qualified for public financing — a major milestone for this grassroots movement.Residents from every corner of the county — including Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Burtonsville, Wheaton, Rockville, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Gaithersburg, Poolesville, and beyond — have stepped up to support a new kind of leadership. Their donations and belief in this campaign send a clear message: the people of Montgomery County are ready for change.
“Our community is tired of the same old politics. Montgomery County is at a crossroads,” said Pope. “We face a housing crisis, an under-performing local economy, a school system where the quality of education too often depends on your ZIP code, and an attack on our federal workforce.” Pope emphasized that his campaign is about more than just policy — it’s about people. “Our campaign listens to the community. It’s grounded in compassion and driven by common sense. We fully support our educators, police officers, and small businesses. It’s time to reset, renew, and rebuild Montgomery County into a place where everyone can be proud to call home.”
To qualify for public financing, candidates for County Council At-Large must raise at least $20,000 from a minimum of 250 individual Montgomery County residents. Jeremiah Pope has met and surpassed this threshold — thanks to broad-based community support.
A twenty-year resident of Montgomery County, Jeremiah Pope has lived, worked, and served in our community and believes he can continue to better serve it as a member of the County Council.
His campaign continues to build momentum as he fights for a future that works for everyone.
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By Authority: Pope For Council, Angie Logan-Pope, Treasurer