Politics & Government
McLean Democrats Lead Republicans in Large Contributions
Virginia Tracks Large Donations Given in the Final Days Before An Election
Democratic candidates running in a House and Senate district that includes McLean led their Republican opponents in contributions exceeding $500 in reports filed two weeks before Tuesday's election.
The Virginia Public Access Project reported that in the 31st Senate District race Democrat Barbara Favola was leading her Republican opponent Caren Merrick.
In the 34th House District race Democrat Pamela Danner was leading Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock. Comstock had been the leading fundraiser in all of Virginia based on campaign finance reports filed the end of September and reported by VPAP.
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State law requires candidates to file donors and contributions exceeding $500 in the final days of the election. VPAP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization makes those contributions easily accessible to the public.
Much of money has come from the state Democratic and Republican parties as in-kind contributions. That's because the candidates contribute to the state parties and the parties send out all the mailings.
Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Highlights: Del. Barbara Comstock, R-34 (McLean, Great Falls, Loudoun County), received nearly $2,000 from a Washington-based PAC that only supports "principled conservative Republican leadership."
The Washington Post reported in October: "The Presidential Coalition, an affiliate of Citizens United, today announced that it will contribute another $23,500 to candidates across Virginia. To date The Presidential Coalition has made direct contributions totaling more than $125,000 in Virginia during this election cycle."
The Post reported that the Coalition had given a total or $5,000 to the Comstock campaign.
Businesswoman Caren Merrick running for the 31st Senate District seat received a $5,000 contribution from a PAC run by Keith Famian who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Congress in 2010.
Her opponent Arlington Board member Barbara Favola received $5,500 from the local firefighters union.
31st Senate District
Barbara Favola (D): Total $33,000
$13,881 Democratic Party - Virginia (Richmond) 10/29/2011 In-Kind
$10,700 Democratic Party - Virginia (Richmond) 10/28/2011 In-Kind
$2,500 Firefighters - Local 2068 (Fairfax) 11/02/2011 Contribution
$3,000 Firefighters - Local 2068 (Fairfax) 10/29/2011 Contribution
Caren Merrick (R): Total $26,000
$12,756 Republican Party of Virginia (Richmond) 10/31/2011 In-Kind
$5,000 Growth Opportunity and Prosperity Fund PAC (Oakton) 10/28/2011 Contribution
34th House District
Pamela Danner (D): Total: $25,000
$8,826
Democratic Party - Virginia (Richmond)
In-Kind
Post reports that Presidential Coaliation has given her $5,000
Dranesville Supervisor
John Foust (D)
Amount
Contribution
Dennis Husch (R)
Amount
Donor
Date
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