Cash contributions do not include “in-kind” donations: contributions in the form of goods and services. The total campaign funds raised in the race for the 45th District so far is $361,781. According to Frank Shafroth, director of the Center for State & Local Leadership at George Mason, Virginia House Delegate races average around $191,000. Shafroth attributed the need for high campaign fundraising in Northern Virginia to the very expensive media market in the Washington metropolitan region.
Mark Levine’s total campaign financing towers over many of the other candidate campaigns, largely due to a $70,000 loan Levine withdrew. Levine says the loan was intended to jumpstart his campaign.