Va. Democrats edge Republicans in fundraising, but Youngkin surges

[RandySF]

RICHMOND — Democrats running for Virginia General Assembly seats continued to outraise Republicans in campaign contributions during the month of September, but Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) began putting his foot on the gas for the GOP by making donations from his huge national fundraising haul, which is surging from his flirtation with a presidential bid.

Democratic candidates for the House of Delegates raised a combined $8.8 million during the Sept. 1-30 reporting period, compared with $8.3 million for Republicans, according to an analysis of state data by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. On the Senate side, Democratic candidates raised a total of almost $6.5 million for the period, compared with just over $6 million for Republicans.

The Republican totals were boosted by Youngkin and his Spirit of Virginia political action committee, which until now had used its vast reserves more on campaigning than on direct contributions to candidates. And Spirit of Virginia had another record-breaking fundraising month of its own, bringing in more than $6.4 million between Sept. 1 and Oct. 7 — a slightly different reporting period than for individual candidates.

The PAC has benefited from presidential buzz that has surrounded Youngkin since he flipped Virginia red as a political newcomer nearly two years ago. Youngkin says he is solely focused on legislative races until Election Day but has repeatedly teased the possibility of mounting a 2024 White House run, as with a two-day retreat he is hosting this week for national GOP megadonors in Virginia Beach.




https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/10/17/virginia-elections-assembly-youngkin-fundraising/