The third quarter just ended, which means that campaign finance numbers are starting to come in (the deadline for Congressional campaigns to report to the FEC is October 15, but campaigns sometimes leak their numbers if they have something to boast about). And while money isn’t everything, of course, it’s still *very* important, because candidates need the resources to be able to get their messages out and communicate with voters – and that isn’t cheap! Also, if you’re a Democrat challenging an incumbent Republican, like Rep. Rob Wittman in VA01, in most cases those incumbents are sitting on large warchests. For instance, in Wittman’s case, he had $2.4 MILLION cash-on-hand as of 6/30/25; and he’s also busy holding ritzy DC fundraisers instead of doing his actual job.
All of that is why the Democratic nominee in VA01 is going to need to be super strong, including financially, to really take it to Wittman next year. And that’s why it’s great to see one of the Democrats vying for the VA01 nomination, Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor, raising “nearly $350,000 in just 3 weeks since launching her campaign” (see her press release, below). We’ll see how other Democrats running for this nomination do, both relative to Wittman and also to Taylor’s strong fundraising haul of $350,000 in just three weeks time, and whether they can sustain a strong fundraising pace heading into the fourth quarter of 2025 and beyond. But if Democrats are serious about fighting back against Trump trashing our country, that’s what we’re going to have to do – stay focused, nominate strong candidates, and support those candidates financially and otherwise!
Prosecutor Shannon Taylor Raises Nearly $350,000 in Just 3 Weeks Since Launching Campaign for Congress to Unseat Rob Wittman
HENRICO, VA – Today, Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney and candidate for Congress Shannon Taylor announced raising nearly $350,000 in just 3 weeks since launching her campaign for Virginia’s 1st Congressional District. Shannon’s impressive fundraising haul cements her frontrunner status and demonstrates that she has the momentum and resources needed to prosecute the case against vulnerable Congressman Rob Wittman.
“This campaign is all about protecting and defending our community and it’s clear from the outpouring of support we’ve received that our message is resonating,” said Shannon Taylor. “Congressman Wittman has spent nearly two decades in Washington selling out our families at every turn. Under Wittman’s failed leadership, costs have gone up, health care clinics have shuttered, and working families struggle while billionaires get a tax cut. It’s time to try something new, and I’m ready to prosecute the case against Wittman and be a representative who actually puts us first.”
In addition to her strong fundraising total, Shannon entered the race with a powerful slate of endorsements, including from: U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Former Governor Terry McAuliffe, Former Governor Ralph Northam, Rep. Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08), Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Former Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, Former Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry, Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, State Senator Aaron Rouse, State Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, Former Speaker of the House of Delegates Eileen Filler-Corn, and other local elected leaders and sheriffs.
Watch Shannon’s launch video here, and read topline poll results showing Shannon neck and neck with Wittman here.
ABOUT SHANNON:
Shannon Taylor is a battle-tested prosecutor with 25 years of experience taking on the toughest threats to Virginia families and delivering justice. A native of Charlottesville and graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Richmond Law School, she began her career as a prosecutor in Richmond before serving as a Special Assistant in the U.S. Attorney’s office. In 2011, she flipped the Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office from Republican to Democrat, becoming the first woman elected to the role. She has since been re-elected three times, proving she knows how to win tough races.
As Commonwealth’s Attorney, Taylor has pioneered programs to support victims of human trafficking, created a task force to tackle the opioid epidemic, and led prosecutors nationwide in pledging not to criminalize women or doctors for abortion care. She has worked alongside law enforcement to keep families safe, fought fraud that harms working people, and partnered with gun safety advocates to take illegal guns off the streets.
Shannon Taylor has built her career on protecting Virginians and delivering justice for families regardless of their politics.
For more on Shannon Taylor’s campaign, visit ShannonTaylorVAcom.
