VA-GOV: Overall spending down, other takeaways from historic governor's race

[RandySF]

Political Action Committees, or PACs, are tagged as the industry that gives the most money in Virginia statewide races. As of Sept. 29, just over $16 million has been donated from PACs on both sides of the aisle, a notable decrease from the $40.5 million donated in 2021 and the $36 million donated in 2017, although money is still coming in, according to VPAP.

This year’s numbers are lower than recent elections, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the election is not drawing interest, according to Richard Meagher, professor of political science at Randolph-Macon College.

“Sometimes it’s an outlier, like in 2021 you have a very, very wealthy individual, Glenn Youngkin, running against a very, very well-connected fundraiser, Terry McAuliffe,” Meagher said.

Because the last election raised such high financial numbers, it may be skewing ideas of what to raise in future elections, according to Meagher.



https://virginiamercury.com/2025/10/01/overall-spending-down-other-takeaways-from-historic-governors-race/