Candidates in Virginia Beach have collectively raised more than $400,000 in campaign contributions — making it the most expensive mayoral race of six Hampton Roads cities at this point in the election cycle.
Virginia Beach has the most candidates competing Nov. 5. Five candidates have collectively raised more than $430,000 since 2021, according to the Virginia Public Access Project , which tracks campaign finance reports.
But cities No. 2 and 3 aren’t far behind, according to reports filed last week. In Norfolk and Chesapeake, where three and two mayoral candidates are running, respectively, the total donations raised hover around $360,000. In each of the three cities, incumbents hold fundraising leads.
Experts say voters can expect to see more money pouring into local campaigns, following a similar trend in state and national races. Former Gov. Douglas Wilder, who heads the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, said it’s in part due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 2010 Citizens United ruling, which deemed campaign contributions from corporations and unions as protected free speech.