McLean Democrats Lead Republicans in Large Contributions

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.

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.

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)

10/31/2011

In-Kind

$8,948

Democratic Party - Virginia (Richmond)

10/29/2011

In-Kind

Barbara Comstock (R): total $22,000

$1,875

Presidential Coalition LLC (Washington, DC)

10/31/2011

In-Kind

$19,836

Republican Party of Virginia (Richmond)

10/31/2011

In-Kind

Post reports that Presidential Coaliation has given her  $5,000 

Dranesville Supervisor

John Foust (D)

Amount

Donor

Date

Type

$7,165

Democratic Party - Virginia (Richmond)

11/01/2011

In-Kind

$14,584

Democratic Party - Virginia (Richmond)

10/31/2011

Contribution

Dennis Husch (R)

Amount

Donor

Date

Type

$1,231

John J Kenny (Fairfax)

10/31/2011

In-Kind