Donations are important in helping candidates get their message to the public and get their supporters to the polls, said Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington.
“Money is used for advertisements, campaign mailings and door-to-door messaging,” he said.
The 10th District election could decide which political party controls the Virginia Senate, Farnsworth noted.
“The Senate is divided 21 to 19 in favor of Republicans,” he said. “If the Democrats win the 10th District seat and hold their current seats, then it will be 20 to 20.” That would give Democrats the edge because tie votes in the Senate are decided by the lieutenant governor — currently Ralph Northam, a Democrat.
But if Sturtevant wins the 10th Senate District seat, the Republicans will cause trouble for McAuliffe. “It would make things tough for the governor to get anything done over the next two years, forcing enhanced gridlock in Richmond,” Farnsworth said.
