Cash doesn’t win elections, but it surely undoubtedly makes it simpler for candidates to speak with voters, canvas people of their districts, and extra. September’s marketing campaign finance experiences for Virginia’s Normal Meeting races have dropped, and the information is usually good for Democrats, with one governor-sized caveat.
The most up-to-date spherical of experiences covers the months of July and August – an extremely vital stretch for candidates attempting to fund their GOTV, paid media, and different efforts within the closing two months of Virginia’s Home of Delegates and state Senate elections.
On the entire, Democrats operating for the state legislature outraised their Republican counterparts.
Particular person Democrats operating for the Normal Meeting raised a mixed $15 million, whereas particular person GOP candidates raised about $10.6 million.
Along with outrasing Republicans total, Democrats raised extra money than Republicans in each Home and Senate contests.
Democrats operating for the state Senate raised $7.5 million over the earlier two months; their GOP counterparts raised $4.9 million.
4 of the highest 5 particular person Senate candidates by way of fundraising have been Democrats, all operating in a few of the state’s best seats.
Particular person Democrats operating for the Home of Delegates raised about $7.5 million; Republican Home candidates raised $5.8 million.
Once more, 4 of the 5 high Home fundraisers for the interval have been Democrats operating in a few of the chamber’s best districts.
Whereas that is all optimistic information for Democrats, there’s one Republican fundraiser within the combine who might dramatically alter the marketing campaign finance math within the closing weeks of the marketing campaign.
It’s Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who has translated his nationwide political profile into vital funds he’s free to donate to Republican legislative candidates within the dash to Election Day.
Youngkin’s “management PAC,” Spirit of Virginia, raised $3.8 million within the earlier two months.
A major chunk of this cash got here from exterior of the commonwealth; Floridian Thomas Peterffy donated $1 million throughout that interval (on high of one other $1 million he donated to the PAC again in April).
Youngkin’s flirtation with a presidential run has fueled a lot of his PAC’s success. On condition that his White Home ambitions are moot if Republicans don’t maintain management of the state Home and flip the Senate, he’s more likely to spend vital cash on GOP candidates in aggressive races within the closing dash to Election Day.
The subsequent spherical of marketing campaign finance experiences is due on Oct. 16.
