Follow the Money: Inside the January 2026 Washington County Campaign Finance Report

Elections are often defined by speeches, debates, and door-knocking, but the story of any campaign is also written in its ledger. As Washington County moves into the heart of the 2023-2026 Election Cycle, understanding the financial landscape is critical for every voter who wants to know not just who is running, but how they are running, and who is funding their campaigns.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some candidate totals appear to be incorrect on the Campaign Finance website. For example, Derek Harvey is listed as having $0.00 in contributions, but clearly contributions exist. This report provides information as presented by the Maryland Campaign Finance website, and the State Board of Elections has been notified of the issue. We will issue an updated report once the issue has been corrected.

Radio Free Hub City is proud to release “Follow the Money,” a comprehensive analysis of the January 2026 Campaign Finance Reports. We didn’t just look at the bottom line; we dug into the filing data to answer the questions that matter: Who is funding our local candidates? Where are campaign dollars being spent? And which candidates are building the “war chests” necessary to compete in the primary?

Key Highlights: The Financial State of the Race

Our analysis of the January reports reveals stark contrasts in campaign activity, from well-funded incumbents to challengers who have yet to spend a dime.

Sheriff’s Race: The Battle of the War Chests

The race for Sheriff is already proving to be financially active.

• Brian Albert (Republican) reports $24,066.20 in total contributions and has spent $11,524.87 so far.
• Chuckie Johnson (Republican) is keeping pace with $21,298.32 in contributions and $10,630.47 in expenditures

County Commissioners: A Wide Financial Gap

The financial disparity in the County Commissioner race is significant.

• Jeff Cline (Republican) leads the fundraising pack with a massive $58,332.00 in contributions, spending $19,006.89. His campaign is heavily investing in digital strategy, with over $5,700 paid to Datachieved Digital.
• Derek Harvey (Republican) stands out for a different reason. His campaign reports a staggering $95,786.55 in total expenditures.

Why This Matters

Whether it is an incumbent Sheriff defending a record or a new challenger for the Board of Education, money trails reveal priorities. High expenditures on consultants versus community events can tell you how a candidate plans to win your vote.

Download the full report or view it below to see the complete itemized lists of top contributors and vendor expenses for every candidate.

DISCLAIMER: The data presented in this report is derived directly from public records available through the Maryland Campaign Finance Database. Radio Free Hub City is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies that may exist within the original reports filed by candidates or committees.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors.

---