Wine retailer David Trone becomes "biggest self-funding House candidate ever" ($9.1 million)

[Miles Archer]

Wine retailer David Trone will report to the Federal Election Commission later this week that he has spent $9.1 million of his own money so far in pursuit of the Democratic nomination for Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, making him all but certain to become the biggest self-funding House candidate ever.

Trone, who lives in Potomac, made the disclosure in a full-page ad in this morning’s Washington Post. In the ad, he explained that as a first-time candidate running against better-known opponents, he needed to spend what was necessary to convey his positions on issues. He also said that relying on his own resources would leave him unencumbered by special interests once in office.

“I certainly could have raised enough money to fund a competitive campaign,” said Trone, who is accepting individual contributions of no more than $10. “But the PACs, lobbyists and big dollar donors who give money would expect special attention. No matter how well-intentioned, those contributions and the candidates who take them are part of the reason Washington is broken.”

Campaign finance reports covering activity from Jan. 1 through April 6 are due on Thursday. Trone did not enter the race until late January, so this week’s filing will be the first official look at how he has spent his money.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/david-trone-spends-91-million-of-his-own-money-on-md-congressional-race/2016/04/12/29f5827c-00c2-11e6-b823-707c79ce3504_story.html