Virginia Democrats crush GOP opponents in Q3 fundraising
Democrat Tim Kaine had almost eight times more campaign cash than Republican Corey Stewart as Virginia’s U.S. Senate race entered its final stretch, according to fundraising reports filed this week.
Democratic Party of Virginia spokesman Jake Rubenstein said, “Sen. Kaine’s war chest is helping fund our entire field and get-out-the-vote operation statewide, including for our congressional challengers. And thanks to his leadership and our party unity, we are in good shape to win.”
Virginia Democrats vying for the U.S. House outraise Republicans for the quarter (Washington Post)
All four Democratic candidates vying for competitive U.S. House seats in Virginia outraised their Republican counterparts in the latest fundraising period and had more cash on hand going into the final weeks of the midterm elections.
The Virginia numbers are in keeping with national trends as Democrats try to capitalize on President Trump’s unpopularity in suburban districts to take control of the House of Representatives.
“The unpopularity of Trump that you saw last year is present this year as well,” Farnsworth said, “and these financial numbers suggest that a lot of donors think 2018 is going to look like 2017 in Virginia.”
Democrats outraise Republican opponents in Virginia (Associated Press)
Richmond-area candidate Abigail Spanberger raised $3.6 million, the most of any congressional candidate in the state. The former CIA officer’s haul was more than triple the amount raised by incumbent GOP Rep. Dave Brat, who brought in $1 million.
In Northern Virginia, Democrat Jennifer Wexton more than doubled Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock’s third-quarter haul. Wexton raised $2.6 million to Comstock’s $1.3 million in a race that’s being closely watched nationally as one of Democrats’ best opportunities to gain a seat.
Democrat Elaine Luria raised $1.9 million to Republican Rep. Scott Taylor’s $676,000 in Hampton Roads. And Leslie Cockburn, a Democrat, raised $1.1 million compared to GOP opponent Denver Riggleman’s $695,000 in Virginia’s 5th Congressional district
In the past three months, Democrat Elaine Luria has out-raised and outspent Rep. Scott Taylor in her attempt to unseat the one-term congressman, according to new campaign finance reports.
The 2nd Congressional District has drawn national attention from both political parties because Democrats, who are seeking to win a majority in the House of Representatives, have targeted Taylor.
Luria's campaign reported taking in $1.87 million from July 1 to Sept. 30, compared to Taylor's $676,770 for the same time period, according to Federal Election Commission reports filed late Monday.
Finance reports show Dems outraising opponents (Daily Progress)
With Election Day fast approaching, the third quarter campaign finance data for races across Virginia show Democratic candidates out-raising their opponents.
In Virginia’s 5th Congressional District — which includes the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham Fluvanna, Greene, Madison, Nelson and the City of Charlottesville — Democrat Leslie Cockburn has crossed the $2 million mark in donations.
In the 7th District — which includes the Central Virginia counties of Louisa and Orange — Democrat Abigail Spanberger drastically outraised incumbent Republican Rep. Dave Brat, R-7th.
Democrat Anthony Flaccavento raised more than twice as much in campaign fundraising as Republican Rep. Morgan Griffith in the 9th Congressional District race during the most recent reporting period.
Flaccavento’s summer fundraising surge is part of a trend, as Democrats are trying to unseat four of the seven Republicans holding House of Representative seats in Virginia. Democratic candidates outraised their opponents last quarter in all four of those districts , a sign of potential Democratic momentum ahead of Election Day.
Kaine far ahead of Stewart in fundraising race (Fauquier Times)
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D) continues to outraise his Republican challenger, Corey Stewart, ahead of the Nov. 6 election.
Kaine raised more than $20 million over the course of the campaign compared to Stewart’s tally of more than $2 million, according to recent campaign finance reports.
In other key congressional races, Democrats are also ahead of their Republican opponents in campaign donations.
In the 1st congressional district, which includes much of Prince William County and part of Fauquier, Democratic challenger Vangie Williams outraised incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman $256,020 to $238,152 in the third quarter, which ended Sept. 30.