Leader Don Scott: Virginia Dems Have New King of Fundraising
Virginia House Democratic Leader Don Scott Breaks Fundraising Record. Virginia House Democrats posted a historic fundraising number and broke records in a year that is certain to witness fundraising new fundraising records.
The Caucus and House Democratic Leader Don Scott together reported more than $2.9 million raised. Democrats fighting to win back the majority in a cycle that has made many races competitive because of retirement and redistricting, are raising record money led by Leader Don Scott.
For the three weeks in June, Democratic candidates reported raising a total of almost $2.36 million compared with nearly $1.54 million for Republican candidates. The GOP had more cash in the bank, though — $7.8 million compared with about $7.3 million for Democrats. — WaPo
House Democratic Leader Don Scott of Portsmouth, who is also currently one of the most successful trial attorneys in Virginia, set a fundraising record. According to Virginia House Democrats, Leader Scott has raised more money than any sitting Minority Leader in history. Scott, meanwhile, donated $600,000 to the House Democratic Caucus to help win the majority with 110 days to Election Day. Leader Scott was the top overall fundraiser for the period and reported over a quarter of a million dollars.
Leader Scott also announced over a million dollars invested into the Democratic House Caucus since he became Leader. Democrats held the majority in the Virginia House until the 2021 election when political newcomer Governor Glenn Youngkin rolled into power with rural support over former Governor Terry McAuliffe by 63,480 votes.
After filling the seat vacated by former Delegate Matthew James in 2019, Leader Scott went on to defeat Leader Eileen Filler-Corn, Del. Charniele Herring and Del. Rip Sullivan in June 2022 to lead Virginia House Democrats in stunning and dramatic fashion with the backing of a diverse group of House Democrats from all over the Commonwealth. It has been a rocket fueled climb for Leader Scott in only two and a half years. The Houston native and Texas A&M grad who is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity has enjoyed one of the steepest political climbs in recent memory.
If the Democrats are victorious in winning back the Virginia House, Leader Scott is all but certain to be elevated to Speaker and put another brick in the wall of history set by Filler-Corn, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Virginia House, by becoming the first Black Speaker of the Virginia House. Power in Virginia has shifted to Hampton Roads with Leader Scott, Governor Youngkin, Congressman Bobby Scott and State Senators L. Louise Lucas and Mamie Locke all in simultaneous positions of power.
But no one is acting as if winning the majority will come easy. With 110 days until Election Day, both Republicans and Democrats in Virginia are digging in for the end of a hot summer and campaign activity after Labor Day that is certain to be frenetic. Early voting in Virginia starts on September 22.
Democrats are propelled by Leader Scott’s record fundraising and the momentum of candidate youth and diversity. Republicans are propelled by money as well as Governor Youngkin breaks records in fundraising, as compared to other Virginia Governors, and with the advantage of holding power in the Governor’s Mansion and the Virginia House as they look to block the Democrats from flipping the House. Gov. Youngkin’s PAC, Spirit of Virginia, raised $5.75 million from April to June — another fundraising record.
Republicans are hoping to flip the Virginia Senate, which is now 22-18, with the Democrats in control.
“The Democrats are making history with our raise this filing period and this year, and we’ve done it without Nazi sympathizers or ghost LLCs funding our campaigns.
The Democrats have a winning formula and the people are with us. People are sick of living under the unsuccessful government run by the Virginia GOP and their extreme MAGA agenda.
We’re nowhere near done, but the energy is with us and I am excited to see it all the way through Election Day,” said House Democratic Leader Don Scott in a statement on July 18.
“This history-making raise highlights the momentum that our Democratic candidates have… with the historic support of Leader Scott, we’re entering the general election with a warchest that shows we’re ready to win in November and take back the majority,” said Executive Director of the House Democratic Caucus, Amy Friedman, in a statement on July 18.
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