Campaign finance requirements govern the raising and spending of money for political campaigns. While not the only factor in an election’s outcome, successful fundraising can provide a candidate with advantages, such as the ability to boost name recognition and promote a message. In addition, fundraising can indicate enthusiasm for candidates and parties.
This article lists the top individual fundraisers in Virginia by their party affiliation as well as the top ten fundraisers overall. It is based on campaign finance reports that active Virginia candidate political action committees (candidate PACs) submitted to the Virginia Department of Elections. It includes activity between Jan. 1, 2021, and June 30, 2021. Candidate PACs represent individuals who have run for state or local office at any point, including past and present officeholders. This article does not include non-candidate PACs.
Top Virginia Fundraisers
The top fundraisers in Virginia elections are shown below. For the purpose of this article, fundraisers may include individuals who are on the ballot this election cycle as well as those not currently running for office but who have received contributions during this reporting period. Individuals are listed with the office that they held at the time of publication, if applicable.
In the Democratic party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were:
- Terry McAuliffe – $14,533,842
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy – $3,165,715
- Mark Herring (Attorney General) – $2,470,520
- Jennifer McClellan (State Senate, District 9) – $1,900,651
- S. Rasoul (House of Delegates, District 11) – $1,363,459
In the Republican party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were:
- Glenn Youngkin – $7,559,517
- Pete Snyder – $1,836,891
- Kirk Cox (House of Delegates, District 66) – $1,093,890
- Jason Miyares (House of Delegates, District 82) – $982,538
- Winsome Sears – $750,351
Fundraising Totals
Overall, the top Virginia Democratic candidate PACs raised $23.43 million in this period. The top Republican candidate PACs raised $12.22 million. Virginia candidate PACs in the Jan. 1, 2021, through June 30, 2021, filing period raised a total of $67.51 million. Combined, these Virginia candidates account for 53% of total fundraising.
Contributions to the top five Democratic candidates made up 54% of the total amount reported by their party’s campaigns. Contributions to the top five Republican fundraisers comprised 59% of the total amount reported by Republican campaigns.
The table below provides additional data from the campaign finance reports from the top ten fundraisers. For more information on fundraising and spending for Virginia races on the 2022 ballot, click here.
| Name | Party Affiliation | Raised this period | Spent this period |
| Terry McAuliffe | Democratic Party | $14,533,842 | $10,861,811 |
| Glenn Youngkin | Republican Party | $7,559,517 | $16,651,994 |
| Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | Democratic Party | $3,165,715 | $4,038,851 |
| Mark Herring | Democratic Party | $2,470,520 | $2,240,487 |
| Jennifer McClellan | Democratic Party | $1,900,651 | $1,592,850 |
| Pete Snyder | Republican Party | $1,836,891 | $7,423,876 |
| S. Rasoul | Democratic Party | $1,363,459 | $1,836,946 |
| Jerrauld Jones | Democratic Party | $1,303,124 | $1,942,452 |
| Hala Ayala | Democratic Party | $1,142,895 | $847,828 |
| Kirk Cox | Republican Party | $1,093,890 | $1,725,601 |
Campaign Finance Reporting Periods
The reports filed with the Virginia Department of Elections cover Jan. 1, 2021, through June 30, 2021. Candidate PACs in Virginia must file semiannual financial reports of their fundraising and campaign spending. During election years, candidate PACs also file additional financial reports before primary and general elections.
The next semiannual campaign finance reporting deadline for Virginia legislators and candidates will include activity between July 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2021.
This article was published in partnership with Transparency USA. Click here to learn more about that partnership.