Youngkin breaks fundraising record ahead of Virginia November elections

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin broke fundraising records to boost Republican candidates in the state Senate and House of Representatives.

Elections for both chambers of the Virginia legislature will be held next November, and Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia political action committee (PAC) reported that it already has $7.45 million to boost his party, a figure that manages to surpass the record of former Democratic governor Terry McAuliffe.

According to reports, in this last quarter, Youngkin’s group managed to raise almost five times more than McAuliffe’s record of $1.55 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.

“Due to our incredible nominees, the opportunity we have to move Virginia forward, and our generous donors, we have already surpassed our own internal goal for the year, but we have more work to do,” said Spirit of Virginia President Dave Rexrode.

Some of the donations the PAC received were $25,000 from Virginia Secretary of Finance Stephen Cummings, $10,000 from Health and Human Resources Secretary John Littel and $500,000 donated by Youngkin himself.

However, one of the most generous contributions was recently made by Jeff Yass, the billionaire founder and managing partner of Susquehanna Investment Group. His $2 million contribution saw the PAC raise $4.4 million in just two days this week, surpassing the quarterly fundraising records of the last three Virginia governors.

“There is too much at stake (...) we know the progressive liberal left will continue to outraise and outspend us. Gov. Youngkin is all in on making Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” Rexrode said to CBS News.