Youngkin lends millions more to his gubernatorial campaign

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FILE - Virginia gubernatorial candidates, Democrat Terry McAuliffe left, and Republican Glenn Youngkin, pose for a photo, during the Virginia FREE leadership luncheon, in McLean, Va. McAuliffe and Youngkin are set to square off in Virginia’s first gubernatorial debate of the general election season, Thursday, Sept. 16. The race is being closely watched as a possible indicator of voter sentiment heading into the 2022 national midterm elections. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

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FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, file photo, Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe addresses the Virginia FREE Leadership Luncheon in McLean, Va. McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin are set to square off in Virginia’s first gubernatorial debate of the general election season, on Thursday, Sept. 16, in a race that is being closely watched as a possible indicator of voter sentiment heading into the 2022 national midterm elections. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

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FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, file photo, Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin addresses the Virginia FREE Leadership Luncheon in McLean, Va. Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Youngkin are set to square off in Virginia’s first gubernatorial debate of the general election season, Thursday, Sept. 16, in a race that is being closely watched as a possible indicator of voter sentiment heading into the 2022 national midterm elections. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

By Matthew Barakat

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — Virginia gubernatorial candidates Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin each raised more than $11 million in the last two months, but Youngkin loaned his campaign an additional $4.5 million to give himself a significant advantage, according to the most recent campaign-finance reports.

The $4.5 million Youngkin, a GOP businessman making his first run for office, loaned his campaign is on top of $11.2 million he had already lent.

McAuliffe and other Democrats have long expressed fears that Youngkin, who made his fortune as an executive with The Carlyle Group investment firm, will be able to use his personal wealth to give his campaign an edge.

The reports, which were due Wednesday, cover the months of July and August. McAuliffe raised $11.5 million. Youngkin raised $11.2 million, not including the $4.5 million loan.

For the election cycle, Youngkin has raised more than $35 million, while McAuliffe has raised nearly $33 million. Those amounts dwarf anything raised by Virginia gubernatorial candidates in any previous election. Youngkin’s total includes the $15.7 million he has lent to his campaign.

In the most recent reports, the biggest donors to McAuliffe include $2.5 million from the Democratic Governors Association fund and $500,000 each from labor and environmental political action committees. He also received $250,000 from liberal donor George Soros, according to a review of the reports by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project.

Youngkin received nearly $4 million from the Republican Governors Association fund and $250,000 from investment firm executive Thomas Saunders. He also received $12,500 from Betsy DeVos, who was education secretary in the Trump administration.

Youngkin outspent McAuliffe, as both campaigns have bombarded voters with advertising. Youngkin spent $12.3 million; McAuliffe spent $7.9 million.

But McAuliffe enters the final two months of the campaign with an advantage in cash on hand, with $12.6 million in the bank compared to $6.0 million for Youngkin.

In downballot races, Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Hala Ayala received $800,000 and has $888,000 on hand. Her Republican opponent, Winsome Sears, raised $630,000 and reported $326,000 on hand.

For attorney general, Democrat Mark Herring raised $1.45 million and reported $1.34 million cash on hand. Republican Jason Miyares raised $707,000 and has $1.04 million on hand.

Early in-person voting begins Friday across the state. Virginia and New Jersey are the only two states electing governors this year, and the Virginia race is by far the most competitive. Republicans and Democrats nationally are hoping a victory will give their party momentum going into the 2022 Congressional midterm elections.