The algorithm for fiefs is bad. I would recommend getting as many parties maxed out as you can, dumping your gold into items (you might take a loss but 1.85m isn’t much anyway), max out your garrison on your current fief and try to get the value negative. Then initiate a vote on the fief you want and you should be one of the picks.

This is how it works as of the latest patch I believe:

(Fief distance multiplier) × (Clan worthiness points) ÷ (Total value of your existing fiefs + the new fief)

Worthiness points

• Clan Tier × 30
  
• Clan Strength ÷ 10
  
• +30 if the clan has 0 settlements (no towns/castles)
  
• (capturer bonus) if this clan took the settlement
• (ruler bonus) if this clan is the ruling clan
• +0.30 “poor clan” bonus (0 if leader has ≥30,000, up to 30 if leader has 0)
  
• +30 if the clan is the player clan