In a year where national political vibes are already heating up ahead of the 2026 midterms, Virginia has quietly become one of the hottest battlegrounds in America—and the Democrats are making serious money moves.
Yep, we’re talking millions.
If you're keeping tabs on the road to power in Washington, all eyes are turning toward the Old Dominion. Virginia, alongside New Jersey, is holding statewide elections this year. And while it might not get as much mainstream media noise as a presidential year, these elections are shaping up to be a sneak peek of what might unfold in 2026. Will Virginians echo President Trump's push to "reshape" federal power, or will they turn to a different playbook?
🔥 Money Talks… and Democrats Are Yelling
Let’s not sugarcoat this—the Democrats are dominating the money game.
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA case officer turned political powerhouse, is leading the charge. She’s the Democratic nominee for governor, and she’s sitting on a war chest that could make any political operative drool.
Spanberger has raised a staggering $22.8 million since the beginning of 2024. That includes a cool $6.7 million between January and March, and another $6.5 million just in the last two months. More impressive? She’s still holding onto $14.3 million in her campaign account.
Her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, is in a tougher spot. Since her campaign began last September, she’s pulled in $9.2 million—but spent more than she made in the most recent quarter. As of now, she’s got just under $3 million left to work with.
Ouch.
But Earle-Sears’ campaign isn’t backing down. In a bold statement, press secretary Peyton Vogel said the race “isn’t being bought—it’s being built on a message that matters.”
🗳️ A Historic Governor’s Race
No matter who wins this election, history will be made—Virginia is poised to elect its first female governor.
And while that’s an exciting milestone, the race is also a major test of party unity. Despite securing nominations in late April, Virginia Republicans still haven’t managed a unified front. No joint campaign events, no major shows of force. According to Mark J. Rozell of George Mason University, that says a lot about the energy gap between the parties.
"Enthusiasm drives fundraising," Rozell said, "and in Virginia right now, the Democrats’ voting base has much greater enthusiasm.”
That enthusiasm? It’s spilling over into down-ballot races too.
💼 Not Just the Governor’s Mansion
Let’s take a quick detour to the other statewide contests. The Democrats’ cash advantage isn’t limited to Spanberger’s campaign.
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Lieutenant Governor’s Race:
Democrat Ghazala Hashmi raised a solid $1.8 million for her primary, with $462,000 left in her coffers. Her GOP opponent, conservative radio host John Reid, is trailing big time—he’s only raised about $312,000 and has just $116,000 remaining. -
Attorney General Showdown:
Here, the GOP has a rare fundraising edge. Incumbent Jason Miyares has $2.3 million in the bank from $4.6 million raised overall. His Democratic challenger, Jay Jones, has raised $2.7 million but was down to about $493,000 by early June.
Still, the Democrats are clearly riding a wave of momentum.
🌱 Enter Clean Virginia: The Power Behind the Power
One major player behind the Democratic surge? Clean Virginia.
This political group advocates for clean energy, often going head-to-head with Dominion Energy—the state’s largest utility company. Clean Virginia’s influence is growing, and it's backing all three Democratic candidates for statewide office this year.
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Spanberger has already received $465,000 from the group.
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Hashmi got Clean Virginia’s endorsement this week, building on their earlier donations to her Senate campaign.
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Jay Jones snagged $1.5 million from the group, while his primary opponent, Shannon Taylor, took $800,000 from—guess who—Dominion Energy.
In fact, Clean Virginia launched attack ads targeting Taylor for taking Dominion’s cash. That tells you how central energy policy and environmental lobbying have become in Virginia’s political scene.
Ironically, Dominion’s fingerprints are all over the Republican campaigns:
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Earle-Sears took $50,000 from Dominion in March.
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Miyares has pulled in a hefty $450,000 from the utility this year.
While Clean Virginia has also contributed to some Republican candidates in the House of Delegates, it’s clear their big-money bets are on the Democrats this cycle.
📣 Youngkin's Role: Backstage Support or Frontline Fighter?
Outgoing Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin—term-limited and unable to run again—hasn’t stayed totally quiet. His political action committee has funneled about $21,000 into Earle-Sears’ campaign.
When pressed about whether more support was coming, his team responded with a general nod toward boosting the entire GOP slate: “Governor Youngkin is working to elect the entire GOP ticket and is urging all Virginians to support the commonsense team this November.”
Whether that translates into more dollars remains to be seen.
Interestingly, in the last governor’s race, Democrat Terry McAuliffe outspent Youngkin heavily—but still lost by two points. So while money’s important, it’s not the only game in town.
📊 The Battle for the House of Delegates
Let’s zoom out just a little more. Every seat in Virginia’s 100-member House of Delegates is up for grabs this year, and the Democrats are working hard to protect their slim legislative edge.
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Democrats have raised $16.9 million in these races, with $3.2 million coming directly from House Speaker Don Scott.
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Republicans, by contrast, have raised just $8.8 million. Former Minority Leader Todd Gilbert pulled in over $643,000, and the new Minority Leader, Terry Kilgore, has raised around $470,000.
This money isn’t just about winning seats. It’s about defining the future of the state’s constitution—Democrats are eager to pass amendments protecting abortion rights, voting access, and marriage equality.
🎯 What’s at Stake?
So, why does all this matter?
Because Virginia isn’t just electing leaders—it’s sending a message. It’s a chance to test how President Trump’s federal vision plays on a local stage. It’s an early read on whether voters are ready to hand more power back to Democrats—or double down on the GOP’s grassroots comeback strategy.
Fundraising alone doesn’t predict victory. But the numbers don’t lie—Virginia Democrats have the cash, the momentum, and a fired-up base.
Now, it’s all about turning dollars into votes.
Stay tuned. This November, Virginia could shift the tone for 2026—and the rest of the country will be watching.
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