Virginia Democrats reap fundraising gains as they center campaigns around Elon Musk

RICHMOND,Va.(AP)—VirginiaDemocratsvyingtoshieldtheirstatehousemajorityandflipthegovernor’smansioninNovemberraisedmillionsofdollarsmorethanRepublicansinthefirstthreemonthsof2025,accordingtonewlyreleasedcampaignfinancereports,securingacashadvantageintheirpursuitofvotersfrustratedwithRepublicantechbillionaireElonMusk. Formonths,Democratshavetailoredtheircampaignsaroundanti-MusksentimentinVirginia,pushingadsblastinghisinitiativetooverhaulfederalspendingduringPresidentDonaldTrump’sadministration. AndcampaignfinancereportsreleasedonTuesdaysuggesttheirstrategymaybehelpingtheircashflow:FormerU.S.Rep.AbigailSpanbergerraised$6.7milliontowardhercampaignforgovernorbetweenJanuaryandMarch,accordingtothenonpartisanVirginiaPublicAccessProject.Democratsalsoraisedmorethan$3.7millionduringthosemonthstowardtheHouseofDelegateselections,inwhichallseatsofthelowerchamberareontheballot. DemocraticDel.DanHelmer,thestatepart