Graphics: Top Donors in Senate Democratic Primaries – for Incumbents (Dominion Energy and Other Corporate Donors) and for Challengers (Clean Virginia, Sonjia Smith, Organized Labor, etc.)

Interesting graphics from VPAP, showing “top funders to the incumbents — and the candidates trying to unseat them” in VA Senate races. A few highlights include:

• Theoretically state-“regulated” monopoly utility Dominion Energy is a huge donor to the very people who write the laws that “regulate” it. Among the top Senate Democratic incumbents receiving Dominion Energy’s $$$ are: Sen. Lionell Spruill, Sen. George Barker, Sen. Louise Lucas and Sen. Joe Morrissey.  And no, needless to say, this shouldn’t be allowed.
• Meanwhile, Clean Virginia – which is strongly opposed to Dominion Energy – is a big donor to Democratic Senate challengers Heidi Drauschak (running against Sen. Dave Marsden ), Stella Pekarsky (running against Sen. George Barker) and Lashrecse Aird (running against Sen. Joe Morrissey).
• Another big donor to Senate Democratic challengers is Sonjia Smith, who is married to Clean Virginia founder (and funder) Michael Bills. For her part, Smith has donated heavily to Heidi Drauschak, Stella Pekarsky, Lashrecse Aird, Sally Hudson.
• Other than Dominion Energy, significant corporate donors to Senate Democratic incumbents include the Virginia Realtors (to Sen. George Barker, Sen. Creigh Deeds and Sen. Jeremy McPike), the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (to Sen. George Barker, Sen. Creigh Deeds, Sen. Louise Lucas, Sen. Dave Marsden, Sen. Jeremy McPike, Sen. Barbara Favola), “Betting on Virginia Jobs” (the casinos/gambling industry – to Sen. George Barker, Sen. Louise Lucas, Sen. Jeremy McPike, Sen. Creigh Deeds, Sen. Barbara Favola, Sen. Lamont Bagby), the Virginia Auto Dealers Association (to Sen. Lionell Spruill, Sen. Dave Marsden, Sen. Jeremy McPike, Sen. Lamont Bagby, Sen. Barbara Favola, Sen. Chap Petersen), the Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association (Sen. Joe Morrissey, Sen. George Barker, Sen. Creigh Deeds, Sen. Chap Petersen, Sen. Jeremy McPike, Sen. Barbara Favola), etc.
• Other than Clean Virginia and Sonjia Smith, significant donors to Senate Democratic challengers include Workers Vote (to Lashrecse Aird), the National Domestic Workers Alliance (to Lashrecse Aird and Elizabeth Guzman), 314 Action (to Sally Hudson), CASA in Action (to Elizabeth Guzman and Heidi Drauschak), Planned Parenthood VA (to Lashrecse Aird), etc.