Campaign Spending
Virginia FREE Member Contributions
- Virginia FREE members contributed $9.2 million of the $36.8 million raised in Virginia General Assembly races in the 2003 campaign cycle.
- On average, Virginia FREE members contributed 40% of all campaign dollars raised by incumbent legislators seeking re-election in 2003. This compares to 11% contributed by the major political parties, 1.6% from the trial lawyers and 1% from organized labor.
- One third of all House members received at least 50% of their campaign dollars from Virginia FREE members. Two thirds of all House and Senate incumbents received at least 33% of their re-election campaign dollars from Virginia FREE members.
- Virginia FREE members contributed $2.6 million to major political Party and "leadership" PACs.
- Half of the $1 million raised by the Joint Republican Caucus came from Virginia FREE members.
- Half of the money banked by House Speaker Bill Howell's re-election campaign ($115 k of $132 k) and a third of the Speaker's PAC funds ($262 k of $826 k) came from Virginia FREE members.
- Incumbents raised $17.3 million, an average of $138,000 per re-election effort
- Challengers to incumbents raised $4.3 million, an average of $89,000 per challenge
- Open-Seat candidates raised $3.2 million, an average of $115,000 per candidate
Virginia Campaign Fundraising Summary Data (2003)
| |
Total Raised |
VA FREE $ |
VA FREE % |
| Incumbents |
$17,289,504 |
$6,150,599 |
35.6% |
| Challengers |
$4,283,616 |
$116,170 |
2.7% |
| Open Seats |
$3,217,813 |
$387,398 |
12.0% |
| Party/Leadership PACs |
$12,018,257 |
$2,571,791 |
16.1% |
| Total |
$36,809,190 |
$9,225,958 |
22.6% |
Top 12 House Recipients of VA FREE Member Contributions
| Candidate |
District |
Total Raised |
VA FREE $ |
VA FREE % |
| Griffith, H Morgan |
H008 |
$343,305 |
$136,479 |
39.8% |
| Howell, William J |
H028 |
$232,005 |
$114,961 |
49.6% |
| Hall, Franklin P |
H069 |
$199,880 |
$103,635 |
51.8% |
| Janis, Bill |
H056 |
$280,414 |
$71,557 |
25.5% |
| Callahan Jr, Vincent F |
H034 |
$192,260 |
$66,950 |
34.8% |
| Hamilton, Phillip A |
H093 |
$169,270 |
$60,683 |
35.9% |
| Bolvin, Thomas M |
H043 |
$188,764 |
$60,595 |
32.1% |
| McDonnell, Robert F |
H084 |
$135,794 |
$59,562 |
43.9% |
| Suit, Terrie |
H081 |
$178,046 |
$55,307 |
31.1% |
| Wardrup Jr, Leo C |
H083 |
$122,430 |
$54,850 |
44.8% |
| Moran, Brian J |
H046 |
$126,773 |
$54,042 |
42.6% |
| Morgan, Harvey B |
H098 |
$99,736 |
$53,897 |
54.0% |
Top 12 Senate Recipients of VA FREE Member Contributions
| Candidate |
District |
Total Raised |
VA FREE $ |
VA FREE % |
| Norment Jr, Thomas K |
S003 |
$958,852 |
$378,084 |
39.4% |
| Potts Jr, H Russell |
S027 |
$735,952 |
$229,018 |
31.1% |
| Chichester, John H |
S028 |
$372,458 |
$193,748 |
52.0% |
| Saslaw, Richard L |
S035 |
$365,027 |
$185,556 |
50.8% |
| Stosch, Walter A |
S012 |
$467,061 |
$168,975 |
36.2% |
| Williams, Martin E |
S001 |
$338,020 |
$139,850 |
41.4% |
| Stolle, Kenneth W |
S008 |
$287,236 |
$122,224 |
42.6% |
| Puller, Linda T |
S036 |
$503,533 |
$111,646 |
22.2% |
| Bolling, William T |
S004 |
$273,861 |
$111,061 |
40.6% |
| Howell, Janet D |
S032 |
$439,345 |
$107,804 |
24.5% |
| Watkins, John C |
S010 |
$240,845 |
$107,290 |
44.5% |
| Newman, Stephen D |
S023 |
$337,816 |
$106,853 |
31.6% |
Top 10 PAC Recipients of VA FREE Member Contributions
| Party/Leadership PACs |
Total Raised |
VA FREE $ |
VA FREE % |
| Joint Republican Caucus |
$986,299 |
$486,461 |
49.3% |
| Commonwealth Victory Fund |
$2,089,732 |
$391,275 |
18.7% |
| One Virginia PAC |
$2,196,356 |
$272,137 |
12.4% |
| Dominion Leadership Trust PAC |
$826,055 |
$261,720 |
31.7% |
| Republican Party of Virginia |
$1,942,351 |
$190,037 |
9.8% |
| Virginians for Responsible Govt. |
$312,800 |
$161,700 |
51.7% |
| Democratic Party of Virginia |
$2,307,350 |
$79,950 |
3.5% |
| Leadership PAC |
$87,775 |
$52,850 |
60.2% |
| New Leadership Virginia Fund |
$251,096 |
$44,983 |
17.9% |
| Dominion Leadership Fund |
$108,695 |
$40,250 |
37.0% |
Key
VA FREE $ = Collective total contributed by Virginia FREE member companies VA FREE % = Percentage of total raised that is contributed by Virginia FREE member companies
Data are compiled by Virginia FREE from campaign finance disclosure forms on file with the VA State Board of Elections as of January 15, 2004 and reflect activity through December 31, 2003
