McLean Delegate Race Topped $1 million, One of the Most Expensive

Del. Barbara Comstock and attorney Pamela Danner, both McLean residents,  competed in one of only two House of Delegate races, that cost more than $1 million, according to campaign finance reports filed Dec.1.

The cost of the campaign between Comstock, who was running for a second term, and Danner who sought to unseat her, totaled $1.3 million.

In the House, where Republican control was never in doubt, the number of million dollar races plummeted to two from nine in 2007, Virginia Public Access Project said.  VPAP is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that organizes campaign finance reports to that ordinary folks can understand them.

Comstock won the battle for the 34th House district, a swing district, which includes Mclean, Great Falls and Loudoun County. When Republicans redistricted earlier this year they changed the boundaries of the 34th to make it three percent more Republican, according to VPAP.

Both Comstock and Danner were among the top 10 fundraisers in the last month before the Nov. 8 election. Danner brought in more than $57,000 and Comstock more than $46,000, according to the campaign finance reports filed by the candidates and assembled by VPAP.

Here's the race by the numbers:

Comstock

Comstock spent nearly $890,000 while Danner spent about half that amount.

Comstock was the top fundraiser among all state candidates for September bringing in nearly $300,000 in political contributions, according campaign finance reports.

Comstock raised campaign funds at a series of very private fundraisers headlined by Gov. Bob McDonnell, Eric Cantor, majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, and other well-connected Republicans.

More than $300,000 of Comstock's nearly $890,000 in contributions came from the Virginia Republican Party or political action committees controlled by high-ranking Republicans such as Bill Howell, speaker of the House of Delegates.

Comstock's single individual contributor was Paul Singer, of New York City. Singer heads a $17 billion hedge fund, and is a self-described Barry Goldwater conservative, according to The New York Times.

This was Comstock's second million-dollar race. Two years ago, Comstock spent $673,661 when she defeated incumbent Margaret Vanderhye by 422 votes, according to VPAP. Vanderhye spent more than $700,000.

"I am pleased with the broad based support from throughout the 34th District and the Commonwealth,  as well as from family and friends," Comstock said when asked to comment on the spending in the race.

"This support enabled us to get out our message about keeping Virginia #1 for jobs and continuing to prioritize our spending on our schools and our roads without raising taxes in these tough economic times. I look forward to continuing to work for the people of the 34th District on these important issues.  I truly appreciate this privilege of representing this wonderful area," she said.
 
 Danner

Danner raised about $421,000 and spent about $418,000.

The Virginia Democratic Party contributed about $155,000 towards her campaign.

Danner held a series of fundraisers that were open to the public and headlined by Virginia Democratic Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb, and former Gov. Tim Kaine.

Danner's single individual contributor was Martha Dudley, wife of William N. Dudley, president and CEO of Bechtel Group, one of the country's oldest and best-known engineering and construction companies.

 "I truly appreciate the wonderful support of my contributors that were primarily individuals that overwhelmingly came from Virginia," Danner said.

Summary House of Delegates District 34

 Source: VPAP

This is the first of a series of four articles where we share with the neighbors the final campaign costs of the Nov. 8 elections affecting McLean.