Dems open war chest to fight in VA while GOP spends millions infighting
Several MAGA-aligned analysts have drawn a link between the Cornyn campaign spending and the relatively weak GOP efforts to bolster the “VOTE NO” campaign in Virginia.
By Ben Whedon
Published: April 22, 2026 10:53pm
Democrats and their aligned groups widely outspent Republicans in the Tuesday evening Virginia redistricting referendum, and the close margin has turned critical eyes on where the GOP has spent its money instead.
The referendum passed in a roughly 51% to 49% vote, marking a much closer margin than had been expected in the state that elected Gov. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., by double digits in the last election. The result is expected to clear the way for state Democrats to approve a new set of congressional maps that heavily favor the incumbent party. At present, Virginia has six Democrats and five Republicans in Congress. The new map is expected to send 10 Democrats and one Republican to Washington.
Record expenditure, but lopsidedThe campaign set a record for the most expensive ballot measure in state history, with pro- and anti-redistricting groups spending a cumulative $83 million on the race, Axios reported. But $62 million of that spending came from Democratic-aligned groups in support of the group, meaning the “Yes” campaign enjoyed a nearly three to one spending advantage.
The roughly $40 million spending shortfall stands in stark contrast to the known Republican war chest. President Donald Trump’s own super PAC reportedly raised $35.6 million in March alone, Bloomberg News reported. Moreover, Trump and the GOP’s midterm war chest has collectively passed $1 billion. A $40 million donation from billionaire Miriam Adelson alone roughly accounted for the Virginia shortfall.
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https://justthenews.com/index%2Ephp/politics-policy/thudems-open-war-chest-fight-va-while-gop-spends-millions-fighting-their-own
