Worcester's $468K Election: See 2023 Fundraising Trends Before Election Day

WORCESTER, MA — The nearly two dozen candidates in the 2023 Worcester City Council and mayoral races raised about $468,000 combined ahead of Election Day on Nov. 7.

And that's not county money some candidates already had, and two opposing "super PACs" boosting candidates.

Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty, facing four challengers this year, was the fundraising leader by far, taking in over $91,000 in donations through the end of October after beginning 2023 with just under $3,000. Petty spent almost $52,000 in October, leaving him with nearly $13,000 before Election Day, according to state records.

But Petty was just one of 10 candidates who raised more than $20,000 this year. District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson raised the second-most at nearly $53,000 as she faces a challenge this year from Rob Bilotta — who raised over $23,000 in his first run for office.

Some candidates this year got a boost from two super PACs that are backing some candidates.

The pro-business Progress Worcester PAC — who's three biggest donors gave $10,000 each: the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, developer Winn Companies, and the Worcester Business Development Corp. — spent to support Petty, Carlson, District 5 candidate Jose Rivera and District 1 candidate David Peterson.

The Worcester Working Families PAC — whose two biggest donors were the Deborah Hall Committee and philanthropist Patty Eppinger, who supplied $5,000 on Oct. 25 — is supporting a slate of candidates including District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, District 1 candidate Jenny Pacillo, At-large candidates and incumbents Johanna Hampton-Dance, Khrystian King, Guillermo Creamer, Maydee Morales, Thu Nguyen and Domenica Perrone. The PAC is also spending to oppose candidates including Petty, Carlson and At-large incumbents Moe Bergman, Kate Toomey and Donna Colorio.

Here's a look at how each candidate raised money this year in order of most to least. These figures are for 2023 fundraising between January and November; totals do not include sums candidates carried with them into this election from previous years.

An (i) means an incumbent, an (m) means they are also running for mayor.

At-large/Mayor

Joseph Petty (i) (m)
Total: $91,167.51
Worcester donations: 59.7%
Share of donations above $500: 21.1%
Share of donations below $100: 51.2%
Average donation: $234.51

Khrystian King (i) (m)
Total: $38,646.23
Worcester donations: 71.7%
Share of donations above $500: 5.7%
Share of donations below $100: 86%

Domenica Perrone
Total: $30,700
Worcester donations: 51%
Share of donations above $500: 1.6%
Share of donations below $100: 94.1%
Average donation: $57.55

Moe Bergman (i)
Total: $21,077.59
Worcester donations: 77.2%
Share of donations above $500: 6.5%
Share of donations below $100: 74.8%
Average donation: $126.21

Kate Toomey (i)
Total: $20,358.58
Worcester donations: 69.9%
Share of donations above $500: 4.1%
Share of donations below $100: 76.1%
Average donation: $105.48

Maydee Morales
Total: $18,550
Worcester donations: 74.6%
Share of donations above $500: 2.6%
Share of donations below $100: 90.3%
Average donation: $71.35

Donna Colorio (i) (m)
Total: $17,380.54
Worcester donations: 67.1%
Share of donations above $500: 5.7%
Share of donations below $100: 73.5%
Average donation: $124.15

Thu Nguyen (i)
Total: $15,682
Worcester donations: 68.2%
Share of donations above $500: 3.7%
Share of donations below $100: 89.7%
Average donation: $73.27

Guillermo Creamer (m)
Total: $14,963.49
Worcester donations: 27.1%
Share of donations above $500: 21.1%
Share of donations below $100: 51.2%
Average donation: $92.37

Johanna Hampton-Dance
Total: $4,891.15
Worcester donations: 84.8%
Share of donations above $500: 1.1%
Share of donations below $100: 97.6%
Average donation: $56.87

District 1

Jenny Pacillo
Total: $26,254.21
Worcester donations: 72.5%
Share of donations above $500: 2.5%
Share of donations below $100: 67.1%
Average donation: $74.37

David Peterson
Total: $8,639
Worcester donations: 72.6%
Share of donations above $500: 3.5%
Share of donations below $100: 78.5%
Average donation: $102.85

District 2

Candy Mero-Carlson (i)
Total: $52,396.76
Worcester donations: 66.4%
Share of donations above $500: 13.8%
Share of donations below $100: 56.2%
Average donation: $177.62

Robert Bilotta
Total: $23,341.50
Worcester donations: 71.1%
Share of donations above $500: 4.5%
Share of donations below $100: 89.4%
Average donation: $82.19

District 3

George Russell (i)
Total: $17,800
Worcester donations: 72.5%
Share of donations above $500: 15.9%
Share of donations below $100: 65.4%
Average donation: $157.52

Feanna Jattan-Singh
Total: $1,096
Worcester donations: 66.6%
Share of donations above $500: 11.1%
Share of donations below $100: 77.7%
Average donation: $121.78

District 4

Luis Ojeda
Total: $7,975
Worcester donations: 77.5%
Share of donations above $500: 5.1%
Share of donations below $100: 81%
Average donation: $137.50

Katia Norford
Total: $2,219.14
Worcester donations: (data missing in campaign finance reports)
Share of donations above $500: 7.1%
Share of donations below $100: 78.5%
Average donation:$158.51

District 5

Etel Haxhiaj (i)
Total: $26,951.17
Worcester donations: 82.2%
Share of donations above $500: 3%
Share of donations below $100: 90.3%
Average donation: $74.66

Jose Rivera
Total: $24,149.59
Worcester donations: 62.2%
Share of donations above $500: 10.6%
Share of donations below $100: 69.8%
Average donation: $151.88