Youngkin leads Va. campaign fundraising, but most is from his own wallet

Republican gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin raised $8.3 million over April and May, the highest amount in Virginia’s gubernatorial field, according to campaign finance reports issued Wednesday. However, $6.5 million was from his own bank account, in personal loans made to his campaign over the past six weeks.

Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe continues to dominate the field of Democratic contenders for governor in terms of fundraising, increased his campaign war chest from $8.5 million in early April to $11.3 million over the past two months. However, McAuliffe’s campaign also spent more than $8 million in April and May, and was left with $3.2 million on hand by the end of May, the Virginia Public Access Project reported. Youngkin, the former CEO of The Carlyle Group, started April with a balance of $3.2 million and had $4.3 million cash on hand as of May 27.

With less than a week left until the June 8 Democratic primary, McAuliffe remains the candidate to beat in the governor’s race, both in polling and fundraising. Former state Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy raised $1,027,753  over the past two months, building on her April 1 balance of $2.3 million, closely followed by state Sen. Jennifer McClellan, who raised $1,014,414 between April 1 and May 27 but started with a $442,042 balance. Del. Lee Carter and Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax lagged far behind, raising less than $20,000 apiece during the same period.

In the attorney general Democratic race, incumbent Mark Herring outearned Del. Jay Jones during the past two months, bringing in $1.3 million in donations, doubling his starting balance of $1.3 million on April 1. Jones, who received Gov. Ralph Northam’s endorsement and started April with a $1 million balance, raised $674,306 over the past two months.

Del. Jason Miyares, the Republican nominee for attorney general, raised $247,891 since April 1, adding to his starting balance of $341,065. Winsome Sears, who won the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, raised $326,931 over the past two months, in addition to her $64,020 April 1 balance.

As for the six-person Democratic field of lieutenant governor candidates, Del. Mark Levine leads the money race with $658,906 raised over the past two months, although he lent $530,000 to his own campaign during the period. Del. Sam Rasoul raised $543,973 since April 1, on top of his balance of $952,667, and Del. Hala Ayala raised $478,069 over the past two months, adding to her $154,960 balance.

Early voting in the Democratic primaries started in April and concludes Tuesday, June 8. Republicans chose their nominees last month in a nominating convention.