Maryland Gov. O’Malley to attend DC fundraiser for same-sex marriage

By Kevin Bogardus - 09/20/12 12:52 PM ET

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) is expected to be in Washington next month for a fundraiser to support same-sex marriage in his state.

O’Malley is listed as a “special guest” alongside Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray at an Oct. 2 fundraiser to support Marylanders for Marriage Equality, according to an invitation obtained by The Hill. The group is campaigning in support of Maryland’s law to allow same-sex marriage, which is subject to a referendum this November.

“We expect the governor to attend the fundraiser in D.C.,” said Kevin Nix, a spokesman for Marylanders for Marriage Equality. “The governor has been a steadfast champion of marriage equality and was a big reason on why the bill passed earlier this year.”

The fundraiser will put the governor, who’s considered a potential 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, in the room with several powerful players in his party.

The event will be held in the home of Steve Elmendorf, founder of Elmendorf Ryan, a well-connected lobbying firm. Elmendorf is heavily involved in Democratic Party politics and was deputy campaign manager for Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) 2004 presidential campaign.

In an email to The Hill, Elmendorf confirmed that O'Malley is expected to attend the fundraiser and that the event will be held in his home.

Other hosts listed on the invitation include Jeff Trammell, a lobbyist who was a senior adviser to the 2000 Gore-Lieberman presidential campaign and the 2004 Kerry-Edwards campaign, and James D’Orta, a bundler for President Obama’s reelection bid this year.

The Human Rights Campaign, the prominent gay-rights group, is also listed on the invitation.

Tickets to the fundraiser are going for $250 to receive “bronze” status, $500 for “silver” and $1,000 for “gold,” according to the invitation.

O’Malley has supported legalizing same-sex marriage in his state. Earlier this year, the Maryland governor signed a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in 2013.

Same-sex marriage opponents, however, gathered enough signatures to have a referendum on the law this November, when voters will decide whether or not to overturn the law.

O’Malley is expected to attend another fundraiser for same-sex marriage later next month.

The governor is slated to attend a Monday Night Football party on Oct. 8 with Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who has attracted headlines for his support of same-sex marriage, to raise money to support the cause in Maryland.

“This November, we have the opportunity to be the first state ever to defend marriage equality and fairness at the ballot box. With supporters like you and Brendon, I know we will. But we have to fight for it,” O’Malley said in a fundraising email for the event.