Matthew Ahn, a candidate for Cuyahoga County prosecutor, speaks at a neighborhood meeting in Cleveland's Ward 6 in October 2023.
Matthew Ahn, a candidate for Cuyahoga County prosecutor, speaks at a neighborhood meeting in Cleveland's Ward 6 in October 2023. Credit: Nick Castele / Signal Cleveland

Matthew Ahn outraised Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley in the last half of 2023 as the two prepare to face off in the March Democratic primary. 

But despite Ahn’s financial tailwinds, incumbent O’Malley still has more money on hand to spend in pursuit of a third term. 

Ahn brought in more than $146,400 between July 1 and the end of 2023, according to an unaudited report filed with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. O’Malley raised $88,700 over that period. 

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley campaigns at Cleveland's 2022 Labor Day parade.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley campaigns at Cleveland’s 2022 Labor Day parade. Credit: Mark Naymik/Signal Cleveland

O’Malley reported $264,600 on hand, compared to Ahn’s $119,600.

A former visiting assistant law professor at Cleveland State University, Ahn has challenged O’Malley over the issue of discretionary juvenile bindovers – when prosecutors opt to charge minors as adults. O’Malley has defended the practice, citing cases in which teens committed serious crimes. 

Earlier in January, O’Malley fell just short of the percentage of votes needed for the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party endorsement. Blocking the endorsement was seen as a political victory for Ahn, although O’Malley won more votes from party executive committee members. 

O’Malley does have a major endorsement to celebrate, however. On Wednesday, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown announced their backing for his campaign. 

Big donors back Matthew Ahn, Michael O’Malley 

Ahn’s largest donor was Paul Blavin, a philanthropist and co-founder of Massachusetts-based Mercy BioAnalytics. Blavin wrote a $50,000 check to the campaign. Another of Ahn’s big contributors is much closer to home. He reported a $40,000 donation from his mother, Seong-Ae Mun. 

Ahn’s next largest contribution was $5,000 from New York cryptocurrency billionaire Michael Novogratz, the CEO of Galaxy Digital Holdings. In a news release Wednesday, Ahn’s campaign said that most of his donations were less than $250. 

A formatting error in O’Malley’s disclosure mismatched the first and last names of contributors. But based on the addresses listed with the donations, O’Malley’s largest contribution appeared to be $25,000 from Robert Kanner, the CEO of Pubco, a Cleveland-based holding company. Kanner has also supported Signal Cleveland. 

The prosecutor reported a $10,000 donation from an address for Tony George, the restaurateur and business owner. In October, O’Malley held a fundraiser at Summer Place, a restaurant George runs in Lakewood, according to the campaign finance filing. 

Another $10,000 O’Malley contribution came from an address for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 18. The prosecutor also reported dozens of donations under $1,000. 

Ahn reported $88,100 in expenditures over the last six months of 2023. O’Malley spent more than $18,400. 

This story has been updated to clarify that Ahn is a former visiting assistant professor at Cleveland State University, not a current one.

Government Reporter (he/him)
I follow how decisions made at Cleveland City Hall and Cuyahoga County headquarters ripple into the neighborhoods. I keep an eye on the power brokers and political organizers who shape our local government. I am a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University with more than a decade of experience covering politics and government in Northeast Ohio.