Revamping the System: Addressing the Issue of Record Fundraising in Virginia Elections

The most recent election cycle in Virginia has been the talk of the town, not only for the decisions made but also for the shocking amount of money raised for campaign purposes. Reportedly, this legislative campaign became the third-most costly in American history, with a total of almost $175 million raised by the two major political parties, candidates and their affiliated groups. It is definitely time to take a step back and consider reforming the campaign finance rules in Virginia.

As the birthplace of American democracy, Virginia should set an example by creating new regulations to address the excessive cash flow into our elections. By reducing the influence of wealthy donors, we can shine the spotlight on the candidates and the voters, where it truly belongs.

During the recent election, voters in Virginia were bombarded with campaign materials, such as television ads and flyers, to try to persuade them to support various policy agendas. The cost of running these campaigns was staggering, as Democrats raised about $110 million for their House and Senate candidates, while Republicans raised about $79 million for their candidates. This amount is significantly higher than what was raised during a similar election cycle in 2011, which totalled about $75 million.

The top donors of this election cycle were political action committees and corporations, such as Clean Virginia, Dominion Energy, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC, all of whom sought to influence the make-up of the General Assembly.

Advocates for reform, like BigMoneyOutVA, argue that the overwhelming presence of these wealthy donor groups diminishes the voice and power of everyday Virginians. A poll conducted by the Wason Center at Christopher Newport University found that voters overwhelmingly want to see changes in campaign fundraising regulations, with a particular emphasis on setting limits, bolstering disclosure requirements, and creating a system of public financing to level the playing field.

Virginia’s current campaign laws focus on disclosure rather than setting fundraising limits, under the belief that transparency in donations would be enough. However, this has not been sufficient in curbing the flow of money, nor has it addressed the influence of companies like Dominion that spend freely without proper scrutiny.

The obstacle to changing these laws lies in the hands of lawmakers, who ultimately decide on reform. Both Republicans and Democrats have expressed concern over the massive amounts raised for campaigns and have decried the misleading use of the funds for advertising purposes. It’s clear that voters feel the same way, as demonstrated by polling results.

It’s time for lawmakers to give serious consideration to changing the election process in Virginia. The current campaign finance laws have significantly reduced the public’s influence, and it’s time to return that power to the people. This issue has been lingering for years, and now is the time for substantial reform to restore the integrity of Virginia’s campaign finance system.