RICHMOND, Va. — Democratic candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates continue to hold a lead in the money race over their Republican counterparts as they seek to expand their 51-49 majority in November.
House Democrats raised a combined $2.3 million between June 5 and June 30 — $670,229 more than Republicans, who raised $1.6 million, according to campaign finance reports filed this week. Democrats more than doubled Republican totals in April and May.
Over 35% of Democrats’ $2.3 million June total was raised in 11 of the most competitive House districts, as well as 44% of Republicans’. Some of those districts were decided by margins of only a few hundred votes in 2023.
A look at the competitive districts
A close rematch is shaping up in House District 82, where Republican incumbent Del. Kim Taylor is catching up to her Democratic opponent Kimberly Pope Adams. Taylor raised $120,895 and reported $122,960 in cash on hand, while Adams raised $77,161 with $347,020 cash on hand. Taylor defeated Adams by a razor-thin margin of 53 votes in 2023.
Republican Del. Carrie Coyner is outraising Democratic challenger Lindsey Dougherty in House District 75 by significant margins. Coyner raised $86,400 and has $384,409 cash on hand, while Dougherty raised $41,918 and has $49,552 on hand. Coyner won by nearly six points in 2023 despite being outspent by over $200,000. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris won this district by six points in 2024, according to VPAP.
Democrat Lily Franklin is outraising incumbent Republican Del. Chris Obenshain in another close rematch for House District 41. Franklin raised $107,727 and has $380,203 cash on hand, while Obenshain raised $84,768 with $155,069 on hand. In 2023, Obenshain defeated Franklin by less than 200 votes despite being outspent by nearly $400,000.
In House District 97, Democratic Del. Michael Feggans is outraising Republican challenger Tim Anderson, who is seeking to reclaim his seat after resigning and unsuccessfully running for Senate in 2023. Feggans raised $77,165 and has $141,359 cash on hand, and Anderson raised $70,000 with $120,062 on hand. Feggans won by nearly five points in 2023.
In House District 65, Democratic Del. Joshua Cole raised $38,794 and has $208,941 cash on hand, while Republican challenger Sean Steinway raised $48,109 with $71,555 on hand. Cole beat his Republican opponent in 2023 by a margin of six points.
In House District 75, Republican Del. Carrie Coyner has a significant financial advantage over her Democratic challenger, Lindsey Dougherty. Coyner raised $86,400 and has $384,409 in cash on hand, while Dougherty raised $41,918 and has $49,552 on hand. Coyner won by nearly six points in 2023 despite being outspent by over $200,000. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris won this district by six points in 2024, according to VPAP.
In House District 57, incumbent Republican Del. David Owen raised $33,592 and has $198,545 in cash on hand, while Democrat May Nivar raised $125,089 with $128,524 cash on hand. Owen won by two points in 2023 against Democrat Susanna Gibson, who was facing a scandal at the time.
In House District 73, incumbent Republican Del. Mark Earley, Jr raised $37,383 with $112,434 cash on hand, and Democrat Leslie Mehta raised $59,740 with $85,393 on hand. Earley won in 2023 by a margin of nine points.
In House District 22, Republican Del. Ian Lovejoy raised $129,103 and reported $149,292 cash on hand, whereas former Democratic Del. Elizabeth Guzman raised $95,961 with $273,445 cash on hand. Lovejoy won by over four points in 2023.
Del. Geary Higgins, R-30, raised $36,182 and reported $250,346 in cash on hand, as opposed to Democrat John McAuliff, who raised $133,885 with $298,691 cash on hand. Higgins won by six points in 2023, despite being outspent by more than $800,000.
In House District 71, Del. Amanda Batten is being outraised by her Democratic opponent, Jessica Anderson. Batten raised $9,804 and reported $271,950 in cash on hand, while Anderson raised $69,419 and has $280,004 on hand. Batten outspent Anderson in 2023 by more than double, but won by less than 700 votes.
Del. Nadarius Clark, D-84, did not report his finances, though he outraised his Republican opponent Felisha Storm by more than double in April and May. In June, Storm raised $76,100 and reported $93,075 in cash on hand. Clark won by more than six points in 2023.
Polling released this morning showed Democrats to be significantly ahead of Republicans in statewide elections — which could reflect on local races in November.
Virginia — a bellwether state — offers a sneak-peek into the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats flipped 15 seats and swept all three statewide races in 2017, the year after President Donald Trump was elected the first time. They flipped more seats in 2019 and held a 55-45 majority for two years.