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Virginia C apitol C onnections, Winter 2016
14
Crunching the Numbers:
See How Much Each
Vote Cost in the 2015
General Assembly Races
By Michael E. Belefski
Nearly $72 million dollars were spent
in last year’s General Assembly races that
produced very few election surprises in the
2016 composition of the State Senate or the
House of Delegates according to theVirginia
Department of Elections Campaign Finance
Reports of Individual Expenditures (Section
D) for the election cycle ending November
26th and Current State Election Results.
State Senate expenditures amounted to
over $45 million dollars while the House of
Delegates expenditures were over $26 million dollars.
State Senate Democrats spent $23,045, 377 or $38.65 per vote
while Republicans spent $22,405, 918 or $31.27 per vote. Other
political party expenditures totaled $112,655.72 or $8.12 per vote for
five Independents; $5,842.92 or $11.08 per vote for one Libertarian
candidate; and $5,703.07 or .42 cents per vote for one Independent
Green candidate.
In the State Senate, no contested seat changed hands by Democrats
and Republicans retiring and contested seats held by incumbents
running for re-election.
The most contested seat and most expensive campaign to replace
an incumbent was in the 29th State Senate District where $5,876.986.50
was spent for both candidates competing for the retiring seat of Democrat
Chuck Colgan. The winner Democrat Jeremy Pike spent $178.26 per
vote. Republican Harry Parrish II spent $150.62 per vote.
In the 10th State Senate District to replace retiring Republican
incumbent John Watkins, expenditures totaled $4,891.532.40. The
winner was Republican Glen Sturtevant who spent $1,936,422.66
or $70.03 per vote. Democrat Daniel Gecker spent $2,938,153.67 or
$112.25 per vote.
In winning his re-election to the 7th State Senate District, Frank
Wagner spent $1,978.107 or $108.29 per vote while his Democratic
opponent Gary McCollum spent $2,144,726.30 or $138.96 per vote
with total expenditures of $4,122,833.30.
State Senator William Stanley of the 20th District spent
$1,820,919.61 or $80.21 per vote. His Democrat challenger Kim
Adkins spent $361,589.37 or $21.97 per vote.
21st District State Senator John Edwards spent $939,719.20 or
$45.00 per vote while his Republican challenger Nancy Dye spent
$1,154,436.23 or $66.20 per vote.
In contested State Senate seats held by incumbents running for re-
election, State Senator George Lincoln Barker of the 39th State Senate
District spent during the election cycle $2,779,548.88 or $138.40 in
winning re-election while his Republican opponent Joseph Murray
spent $605,529.87 or $35.40 per vote.
House of Delegates Republicans spent $16,499,491.00 or
$20.65 per vote while Democrats spent $9,731,488.50 or $21.53 per
vote. Five Independent candidates spent $31,251.01 or $1.87 per
vote; four Libertarian Party candidates spent $10,298.59 or $2.06
per vote; and three Independent Green candidates spent $9,472.63
or .86 cents per vote.
In the House of Delegates, contested seats held by retiring
incumbents, Democrats lost one seat while Republicans lost two seats.
There were no changes with incumbents running in contested seats
held by either major party.
See Crunching the Numbers, continued on page 26
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In Service
to Our
Country
Virginia Officials and
their Military Service
This informative directory recognizes and celebrates
the sacrifices and struggles of veterans serving as
state officials in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Included are branches of service, dates of active
duty and membership in veterans organizations, in
addition to political affiliation and contact information.
In Service to Our Country is an informative reminder
of the exemplary military service by these officials to
help keep our country free!
Direct questions or comments to:
David Bailey
• 804.643.5554
Coming in 2016