Well-heeled independent shakes up US Senate race

  Democratic U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin and Republican opponent Dan Bongino face an unusual challenge this year: Rob Sobhani, a self-funded independent who has elbowed his way into the Maryland Senate race by spending more than $4 million of his own money in a contest he entered just last month.

 

   Sobhani, an entrepreneur, got a big jump in television advertising ahead of the two main party candidates. 

 

   Bongino has raised about $1.2 million. Cardin has raised about $6.3 million so far over the six-year cycle.

 

   Cardin underscores his record on the environment and reaching across party lines in Washington. Bongino is backing tax cuts to boost the economy. Sobhani says he would get companies and nonprofits to make big investments in Maryland.