Witt raises over $218K in over the summer for Fifth District race

Candidates running for the United States House of Representatives do not have to turn in their next campaign finance report to the Federal Election Commission until October 15, but the Democrat in the race for Virginia’s Fifth District has gone ahead and filed. 

Gloria Tinsley Witt raised $218,627.38 in funds from July 1 to September 30. That’s nearly 79 percent of the total amount raised during the entire campaign. 

Most of the funding comes from individuals with only $9,000 from political action committees. Unlike Virginia, United States law puts a cap on how much direct funding campaigns can receive from individuals, corporations, or political action committees. 

Witt reported spending $90,845.45 during the period, or just over 80 percent of the total amount. There was $164,904.68 cash on hand as of October 1. 

In a message to supporters, Witt described how some of the funding would be spent. 

“With your help, we’ve already secured a comprehensive Broadcast TV buy that will reach voters across the entire district,” reads an email sent out on October 7. 

Witt faces State Senator John McGuire in the election. McGuire narrowly defeated incumbent Bob Good for the Republican nomination in the June 18 primary, a victory confirmed by a full recount of the ballots. 

McGuire has until October 15 to file a report for the third quarter. The last report covered the period of May 30 to June 30 and McGuire reported total receipts of over $1.4 million and total spending of $1.3 million. There was a balance of $115,822.52 reported on June 30, 2024. 

Some of the total receipts include transfer of funds from the McGuire Victory Fund set up for his election to Virginia Senate District 10 in the November 2023 election. (review McGuire’s most recent filing)

Good also will have to file a report even though the campaign failed to secure a place on the November ballot. Through June 30, Good’s campaign received a total of $1,352,560.14 and spent $1,231,742.64 and had $167,832.17 on-hand. (review Good’s most recent filing)

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