Interactive map of the Virginia state Senate
This fall, Democrats are hoping to net the one seat in the Virginia state Senate that they'll need to retake control of the chamber. Campaign finance reports are in for the period covering July 1 to Aug. 31, giving us a good look at both sides' strengths in the critical races as we enter the homestretch. Below is a look at the six main seats to watch: Three are held by Democrats, and three by the GOP.
Team Blue's best pickup opportunity is SD-10, an open Richmond-area seat that Obama won 50-48. Via the Virginia Public Access Project, Democratic Chesterfield County Supervisor Dan Gecker currently holds a huge $152,000 to $40,000 cash on hand edge against Richmond School Board member Glen Sturtevant, a big switch from the GOP's $96,000 to $72,000 advantage two months before. Gecker did outraise Sturtevant during this time but Sturtevant also outspent Gecker $174,000 to $99,000. Both parties are expected to fight tooth and nail for this seat.
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Democrats have been targeting Republican incumbent Frank Wagner in the swingy Hampton Roads SD-07, but Democratic candidate Gary McCollum has been earning bad press in recent days. Democratic nominee Gary McCollum has said in his campaign and business literature that he's "currently a major in the Army Reserve," but the Army confirmed that he was discharged in 2001. McCollum's campaign says that until now, he thought he was still in the Army Reserve and hasn't has any contact with them since 1992. The good news for McCollum is that he's been competitive with Wagner financially, though the incumbent holds a $522,000 to $472,000 cash on hand edge. If this story blows over McCollum will have the resources to be competitive, but that's a big if.
Democrats are also hoping to score a pickup in Northern Virginia's SD-13, but it's a bit of a long shot. GOP state Sen. Dick Black has a well-earned reputation for extremism, and pediatrician Jill McCabe only trails him $289,000 to $274,000 in cash. But Romney carried this seat 51-48 and Black easily won in 2011 when another Democrat who tried to make this race a referendum on Black's views.
The GOP's main target is Northern Virginia's open SD-29. Obama easily carried this seat but Democrats are worried about off-year turnout, and the GOP has a strong candidate in Manassas Mayor Hal Parrish. Parrish leads Democrat Jeremy McPike $218,000 to $103,000, and that's after Parrish outspent McPike $164,000 to $70,000 over the last two months.
Another vulnerable Democratic seat is SD-21 in Roanoke. Democrats usually carry this district by good margins, but Democratic Roanoke Commonwealth’s Attorney Don Caldwell recently entered the race as an independent. Democratic incumbent John Edwards does have a $169,000 to $105,000 cash on hand lead against GOP physician Nancy Dye, with Caldwell having $37,000 on hand.
The final major GOP target is Lynwood Lewis in Hampton Roads' SD-06. While Obama easily carried this seat, Lewis only won his 2014 special election by 11 votes. The good news for Team Blue is that Republican Richard Ottinger hasn't been a very strong fundraiser at all: Lewis holds a strong $178,000 to $34,000 cash on hand lead against Ottinger, and that's after easily outspending him. Still, after Lewis's close call last time, Democrats aren't taking this race for granted.