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Today’s Sponsor: Freedom Virginia
Freedom Virginia's 'Get Ahead’ agenda is centered around ensuring Virginia is more fair and affordable for hardworking people by making corporations and the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share, just as the middle class does.
A deeper look at statewide candidate fundraising
VPAP provided information on where Virginia’s 2025 statewide candidates have raised their money so far. VPAP excluded transfers between committees.
Governor
Abigail Spanberger (D) - total raised: $5.6 million.
19% of her money came from small donors who gave less than $100.
51% came from Virginians.
Winsome Sears (R) - total raised: $1.6 million.
26% of her money came from small donors who gave less than $100.
38% came from Virginians.
Lt. Gov.
Aaron Rouse (D) - total raised: $627,561.
3% of his money came from small donors who gave less than $100.
41% came from Virginians.
Babur Lateef (D) - total raised: $549,722.
2% of his money came from small donors who gave less than $100.
64% came from Virginians.
Ghazala Hashmi (D) - total raised: $516,317.
10% of her money came from small donors who gave less than $100.
68% came from Virginians.
Levar Stoney (D) - total raised: $415,917.
1% of his money came from small donors who gave less than $100.
69$ came from Virginians.
Victor Salgado (D) - total raised: $78,710
5% of his money came from small donors who gave less than $100.
37% came from Virginians.
John Curran (R) only raised $645.
He gave himself a $1 million loan.
Attorney General
Jason Miyares (R) - total raised: $1.4 million
5% of his money came from small donors who gave less than $100.
56% came from Virginians.
Jay Jones (D) - total raised: $588,179.
4% of his money came from small donors who gave less than $100.
32% came from Virginians.
Shannon Taylor (D) - total raised: $249,408.
5% of her money came from small donors who gave less than $100.
The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee did not approve multiple appointees from Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office. A source told Virginia Scope that these appointees had no idea they were not going to be approved.
Representatives from hospitals and health systems across Virginia are in Richmond today to visit with lawmakers at the General Assembly and share their perspective on the important work of hospitals and the opportunities and challenges they face. Virginia hospitals provide essential health services and medical treatment to patients and families in need 24/7/365. The contribute more than $62 billion to the state economy, accommodate millions of emergency department visits, and serve patients and families day-after-day. Virginia hospitals also fund Medicaid expansion, which has helped hundreds of thousands of low-income adults gain access to care. Read more about the great things hospitals do in the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association’s 2025 Annual Report on Community Benefit.
New polling on solar support
A poll conducted by Co/efficient on behalf of Energy Right looked at support for solar power and other energy sources in Virginia.
The poll was conducted from January 15-17 with 896 likely voters.
Here are the toplines:
Youngkin approval: 61% approve, 39% disaprove.
61% support solar power, 14% oppose and 24% are unsure.
52% support President Trump’s “America First” energy plans, 32% oppose and 16% are unsure.
When asked: nearly one-third of Virginia counties do not allow for solar energy projects. Should the authority to permit solar projects be left to local governments or the Virginia General Assembly? — 49% support local government control, 28% support General Assembly control and 22% are unsure.
Respondents were given three statements and asked which statement aligns with their view:
Protecting the environment and developing
energy supply should be balanced and
given equal priority.
• Protecting the environment should be given
priority over developing energy supply.
• Developing energy supply should be given
priority over protecting the environment.
67% balanced, 21% said environment and 12% said energy supply.
33% said they want more coal energy, 43% said they want less and 23% said they want the same as now.
45% said they want more natural gas energy, 22% want less and 33% said same as now.
49% said they want more wind energy, 32% said they want less and 19% said they want same as now.
60% said they want more solar energy, 19% said they want less and 21% said they want same as now.
51% said they want more nuclear energy, 19% said they want less and 30% want the same as now.
60% said they support solar energy development, 17% said they oppose it and 23% said they are unsure.
“Virginia is experiencing increasing energy demand like never before, which makes it vitally important that we understand the views of Virginians on how we meet this moment,” said Blake Cox, Energy Right’s co-founder and COO. “By embracing innovative technologies, like solar, battery storage, SMR’s, and more, we can drive job creation, generate tax revenue for our communities, and be an energy powerhouse here in the Commonwealth.”
