Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Invests Another $1.5 Million into Virginia State Elections

On Wednesday, The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced an additional $1.5 million investment into Virginia’s state elections this year.

While the organization typically supports legislative candidates in states around the country, this year it is also boosting Virginia lieutenant governor candidate Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield. Lieutenant governors preside over the state Senate and become an extension of the legislature when they need to cast tie-breaking votes.

Hashmi expressed gratitude in a statement to The Mercury for DLCC’s work to “support Democratic candidates up and down the ballot.”

The new cash infusion is part of DLCC’s ongoing seven-figure investment in Virginia to help protect or expand Democrats’ majority. This year, all 100 seats in the House of Delegates are up for election, with Democrats running in every district.

Democrats reach historic goal: A full slate in Virginia House races

Over past two decades, Virginia has typically elected a governor from the opposite party that won the White House the year before, with those gains trickling into legislative races and even local contests. This track record gives Democrats an edge this year, but Republicans hope to break the cycle.

A handful of seats are typically deemed most competitive each year; this time, DLCC is also spotlighting other district seats that pundits suspect could be flippable for the party.

House District 64 Democratic nominee Stacey Carroll, is running for such a seat and is included in the latest round of candidate spotlights from DLCC.  The district, currently represented by Del. Paul Milde, R-Stafford, leans Republican. In last year’s presidential election, that margin was under 2 points, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

Carroll said she’s not focused on partisanship when she’s door-knocking.

“I talk to people about government,” she said. “Not about a specific party, but specific policies and how those would impact people.”

She’s interested in low-propensity voters — people who might be motivated to cast their ballot because of certain policies, rather than an “R” or “D” behind the candidates’ name.

Carroll and Milde’s district, and others in Northern Virginia, have been home to a sizable population of federal workers. Thousands around the state having been laid off this year by President Donald Trump’s administration. It’s one issue Carroll has encountered while campaigning.

“As I’m on the doors, one of the sentiments that I hear through and through is that government is just not working for the average American and a resident of here,” Carroll said.

As she courts voters in an area that has often had a Republican lean, funding boosts from national groups can help her campaign, and others’.

While DLCC has always supported state legislature contests, the Democratic National Committee announced efforts this spring to further bolster state parties’ organizing. The focus on state-level gains is important for the party’s national apparatus and candidate pipelines, DNC chair Ken Martin emphasized on a press call in April.

“When we organize everywhere to compete everywhere, we can win anywhere,” he said.

Retaining or growing Democratic majorities is also paramount to advancing three constitutional amendments that have mostly fallen on party lines.

One measure would automatically restore voting rights for ex-felons who have completed their sentences, and another would enshrine same-sex marriage protections should fedreal protections end. Both measures received bipartisan support, albeit primarily from Democrats.

The third amendment would enshrine reproductive rights into the state constitution, which every Republican has voted against.

All three measures must pass again in 2026 before they could end up on ballots for voters statewide to approve or reject.

“These elections couldn’t be more important, which is why the DLCC is all hands on deck to fuel these winning campaigns through Election Day,” DLCC president Heather Williams said in a statement.

Williams will be in Richmond this coming Saturday for an in-person meet-and-greet with candidates in competitive districts in Central Virginia.

Countering DLCC, the Republican State Leadership Committee announced a $2 million investment in canvassing efforts for Virginia and New Jersey elections this summer and funded targeted advertisements earlier this year.

by Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury

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