McAuliffe raises $1.7 million amid Virginia gubernatorial speculation

Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) raised $1.7 million over the past two months, a powerful haul amid speculation that he is planning another run for governor in 2021.

Common Good VA, the political action committee McAuliffe set up while he was in office, said some of the money raised during May and June will be used to elect Democrats across Virginia.

The new numbers come as McAuliffe, who left office in 2018 due to term limits, has raised his profile in Democratic fundraising. In 2019, Common Good VA was the Democratic Party of Virginia’s top individual PAC donor, and McAuliffe said he has participated in 45 campaign events this year for former Vice President Joe Biden and local Democrats.

Virginia Democrats expect McAuliffe to run for governor, though he has been mum on his plans. He played a major role in the party’s successful 2019 campaign to win the House of Delegates after a blackface controversy sidelined Gov. Ralph Northam (D).

In a statement Wednesday, McAuliffe touted the diversity of donors in his coalition, naming state legislators, members of Virginia’s Black Caucus, unions, progressive activists and a sheriff. He emphasized the need to elect Democrats en masse, but also teased the importance of the top of the ticket.

“I’m proud this coalition represents Virginians from every corner and background in our Commonwealth,” McAuliffe said in the statement. “Helping Virginia recover from the economic and health crisis of COVID-19 will require strong Democratic leadership that will fight for all. I’m extremely excited about the work Common Good VA will do to elect Democrats up and down the ballot this year and beyond.”

A well-known figure in the Democratic Party, McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014 to 2018, is a longtime ally of the Clintons and a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. His name recognition and fundraising strength would make him a formidable opponent in what is expected to be a crowded Democratic primary next year.

Two Democrats — state Sen. Jennifer McClellan and state Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy — have already declared bids. McClellan’s campaign announced she had raised $275,000 in her first week as a candidate. Foy, who was the first to declare, said she has received more than 3,000 contributions and raised $776,000 since announcing her bid at the end of May.

Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, Attorney General Mark Herring and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney are also potential Democratic candidates. The filing deadline for the Democratic primary has not yet been set.

On the Republican side, only state Sen. Amanda Chase has announced a run. Republicans have not won a statewide race in Virginia since 2009.

Known as a business-friendly liberal, McAuliffe, who made millions as an entrepreneur before entering politics, is not as progressive as the already declared candidates. As governor, he championed economic development, working with companies including Nestle, Carnival Cruise Lines and Air China to forge business ties with Virginia.

He often sparred with Republicans in the state legislature on Medicaid expansion and restoring voting rights to felons, turning to executive action on both fronts to make his desired changes. After mulling a presidential bid in 2016, McAuliffe ultimately focused his efforts on flipping the Virginia state house and on Democratic organizing nationally.

He now serves as co-chair of Organizing Together 2020, which aims to build Democrats’ on-the-ground operations in battleground states.

McAuliffe has deep alliances with many influential Virginia Democrats, including state Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, a Common Good VA donor, and state Senate President pro tempore L. Louise Lucas, the PAC’s treasurer.

“[McAuliffe] has made sure Democrats in Virginia have the funds, infrastructure, and organization necessary to enact progressive policies that help all Virginians,” Lucas said in a statement Wednesday. “We are excited to have such a diverse and broad coalition ready to build on the progress we have already made.”