Belmont residents have contributed approximately $414,880 toward statewide campaign efforts and ballot questions in 2023, with around $117,266—30% of that total—designated for the re-election campaign of state Senator William Brownsberger. The majority of these contributions occurred in the months leading up to this fall’s primary, which Brownsberger narrowly won against challenger Daniel Lander, a former senior aide to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
Following his primary win on September 11, fundraising for Brownsberger has significantly decreased, with only about $3,710 reported to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) from then until October 21. He is now gearing up to face independent candidate Brandon C. Wood in the upcoming election.
In the same electoral cycle, Belmont residents have notably backed Governor Maura Healey, who is challenging Republican candidate Mike Minogue in the midterm elections scheduled for November 3. Minogue’s fundraising efforts reached $13.5 million as of October 21, including $11.8 million from his own funds. By contrast, Belmont contributors have provided about $6,950 to Minogue’s campaign. In contrast, Healey has received $62,271 in individual donations, with no self-funded contributions reported during the same timeframe.
Additionally, Belmont raised $27,950 for the Democratic State Committee. Former Select Board member Elizabeth Dionne, a Republican candidate challenging incumbent state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, raised $22,070 from Belmont residents. Dionne has also contributed $250,000 of her own money to her campaign. In comparison, Goldberg has only secured $2,000 from Belmont residents.
Dionne has committed to avoiding donations from industries that her office would oversee, such as alcohol, school construction, and the lottery. Her financial backing primarily comes from individual contributions, including notable supporters like retired businessman Ernie Boch Jr., former Market Basket CEO Arthur Demoulas, and Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton. Additionally, the Norfolk County Republican Committee PAC donated $500 to her campaign.
On the Democratic side, Healey’s largest contributions stem from the state Democratic Committee and donations from the biotech, medical, and housing industries. Brownsberger’s campaign has attracted support from the tech sector, including several donations from employees at Anthropic, an artificial intelligence research company.
Belmont residents have also contributed to various ballot questions, donating $5,117 to the Coalition for a Healthy Democracy, $1,175 to the Committee to Protect Cannabis Regulation, $100 to Yes for a Safe Massachusetts, and $5,000 to Vote Yes for Water and Nature, which advocates for a favorable outcome on Question 6.
As the calendar moves toward the general elections, the U.S. Senate race features incumbent Democrat Ed Markey, Republican John Deaton, and independents Joseph Tache and Shiva Ayyadurai. According to the Federal Election Commission, Markey has raised $8.7 million, while challenger Deaton has raised $1.7 million. Tache and Ayyadurai have raised $285,402 and $245,728, respectively.
