The Virginia Public Access Project has a pretty cool infographic that puts 11 Republican House of Delegates seats “in play” by the math of cash-on-hand.
Of course, this doesn’t wipe out the massive cash advantage that the combined resources of the House Republicans have in defending their seats, three times as much as the Democrats and a $3 million gap that distances these 11 seats from any false narrative of momentum they are looking to build.
All the rest of these “advantages” are in the $1-2K range.
Another splash of cold water? Most of these seats aren’t even close to winnable for the Democrats. Freitas’s seat (HOD-30) is a reliable Republican seat. Bob Marshall’s seat in HOD-13 is another reliable Republican stronghold. Lingamfelter in HOD-31 works the district like few other members of the House of Delegates do.
There are some odd inclusions as well. Tag Greason (HOD-32), for instance, hold a commanding $35K cash lead over his opponent. Marshall has a $10K advantage. Yost hold a $12K cash advantage over the truly ghoulish and sickening effort of Democrat Chris Hurst to cash in on tragedy in HOD-12.
All the rest of these “advantages” are in the $1-2K range.
Given the fact that House Republicans are sitting on a combined $4.5 million compared to the House Democrats $1.5 million, and given the additional fact that even if the Dems shoot the moon and take out all 11 of these so-called targets?
That still puts flipping the House of Delegates to the Democrats well beyond reach in a 66-seat Republican majority. A poor investment for anyone looking to get things done in Richmond.
