Elections for all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates took place on November 2, 2021. Democrats lost their majority in the chamber. Republicans regained their majority, winning 52 seats to Democrats’ 48 seats. Three of the seats that changed party hands were among the five districts with the most fundraising in the 2021 election cycle.

Heading into the election, Democrats held 55 seats and Republicans held 45 seats. There were 93 districts with both a Democratic and Republican candidate on the ballot. This was the first election cycle since 1999 with Democrats defending a majority in the chamber.

Five most expensive general elections

District	Money Raised	Pre-Election Control	Post-Election Control
District 10	$4,372,000.60	Democratic	Democratic
District 85	$2,938,036.50	Democratic	Republican
District 83	$2,768,861.30	Democratic	Republican
District 28	$2,686,629.06	Democratic	Republican
District 73	$2,573,085.71	Democratic	Democratic

#1 District 10 – $4,372,000.60

Incumbent Wendy Gooditis (D) raised $2,876,678.21 while Nick Clemente (R) raised $1,495,322.39.

Gooditis won re-election. She received 50.9 percent of the vote and Clemente received 48.9 percent.

In 2019, candidates in this district raised $2,633,438 and Gooditis won 52.3 percent to 47.6 percent.

#2 District 85 – $2,938,036.50

Incumbent Alex Askew (D) raised $2,123,593.11 while Karen Greenhalgh (R) raised $814,443.39.

Greenhalgh defeated Askew. She received 50.2 percent of the vote and Askew received 49.8 percent.

In 2019, candidates in this district raised $2,193,470 and Askew won 51.6 percent to 48.2 percent.

#3 District 83 – $2,768,861.30

Incumbent Nancy Guy (D) raised $2,041,767.36 while Tim Anderson (R) raised $727,093.94.

Anderson defeated Guy. He received 51.3 percent of the vote and Guy received 48.7 percent.

In 2019, candidates in this district raised $2,467,095 and Guy won 50.0 percent to 49.8 percent.

#4 District 28 – $2,686,629.06

Incumbent Joshua Cole (D) raised $1,742,132.53 while Tara Durant (R) raised $944,496.53.

Durant defeated Cole. She received 51.0 percent of the vote and Cole received 48.8 percent.

In 2019, candidates in this district raised $2,265,794 and Cole won 51.8 percent to 47.8 percent.

#5 District 73 – $2,573,085.71

Incumbent Rodney Willett (D) raised $1,757,744.82 while Mary Margaret Kastelberg (R) raised $815,340.89.

Willett won re-election. He received 51.9 percent of the vote and Kastelberg received 48.0 percent.

In 2019, candidates in this district raised $2,332,478 and Willett won 52.2 percent to 47.7 percent.

Fundraising in all contested elections

Across Virginia in the 2021 election cycle, the average amount raised for a general election featuring more than one candidate was $725,238. The map below shades the Virginia House districts based on the amount of money raised in that district.

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Virginia candidate political action committees (candidate PACs) submitted to the Virginia Department of Elections. It includes fundraising activity between Jan. 1, 2020, and Oct. 21, 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.

This article was published in partnership with Transparency USA. Click here to learn more about that partnership.