Losers Spend More Than Winners In June 20 Democratic Primary In Fairfax: Campaign Finance

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Three of the four losing State Senate candidates who ran in the June 20 Democratic Party primary in Fairfax County outspent their opponents by more than $1 million, according to campaign finance data reported by the Virginia Public Access Project.

Losing candidates spent a combined $3,278,299 compared to the $2,218,216 in total expenses reported by the four winning candidates.

In the 33nd District race, Carroll Foy, whose district also covers Prince William County, spent more than any senate candidate — winning or losing — in the June primary.

While Carroll Foy spent more ($1,027,351) than her opponent Hala Ayala ($640,217) to win the race, Ayala spent more on each vote she received ($112.50) compared to what Carroll Foy spent ($106.72).

Total Expenditures in 2023 Democratic Primary

• Winning candidates: $2,218,216
• Losing candidates: $3,278,299
• Combined Total Spent: $5,344,616

33rd District - Senate

• Jennifer Carroll Foy*: 9,627 votes; spent $1,027,351 ($106.72 per vote)
• Hala Ayala: 5,691 votes; spent $640,217 ($112.50 per vote)
• Combined Total Spent: $1,667,568

35th District - Senate

• Dave Marsden*: 12,179 votes; spent $580,218 ($47.65 per vote)
• Heidi Drauschak: 7,260 votes; spent $690,801 ($95.15 per vote)
• Combined Total Spent: $1,271,019

36th District - Senate

• Stella Pekarsky*: 8,083 votes; spent $458,748 ($56.75 per vote)
• George Barker: 7,322 votes; $939,290 ($128.28 per vote)
• Combined Total Spent: $1,398,038

37th Senate District

• Saddam Salim*: 10,477 votes; spent $151,899 ($15.50 per vote)
• Chap Petersen: 8,880 votes; spent $856,092 ($96.40 per vote)
• Combined Total Spent: $1,007,991

* Winner

The next two biggest spenders were incumbent Sens. George Barker and Chap Petersen, who ran in the 36th and 37th districts, respectively. Despite outspending each of their opponents by a considerable amount, they were both defeated.

Of the three incumbent senators running in the primary, Sen. Dave Marsden (35th District) was the only who defeated his challenger.

Unlike Barker and Petersen, Marsden spent less overall ($580,218) than his opponent Heidi Drauschak ($690,801), as well as on a per vote basis ($47.65 vs. $95.15).

Saddam Salim, who defeated Petersen in the 37th District race, paid the least amount per vote of all eight state senate candidates ($15.50). Compared to the $128.28 per vote paid by Barker in a losing race, Salim's per vote number seems like a bargain.

What Candidates Spent Money On

In the 33rd District Race, Carroll Foy spent $233,905 on Mail/Printing/Postage, $183,704 on TV/Radio and $151,514 on Staff/Consultants.

Ayala had the same top three expenditures as her opponent, but she prioritized them differently. She spent more on TV/Radio ($204,239) and Staff/Consultants ($181,328) than Carroll Foy, but about half as much on Mail/Printing/Postage ($117,044).

In the 35th District race, Marsden's top three expenditures were Mail/Printing/Postage ($189,500), TV/Radio ($125,400) and Staff/Consultants ($76,642).

Drauschak flipped her top two expenditures compared to her opponent, spending $189,025 0n TV/Radio and $127,700 on Mail/Printing/Postage. She also spent about a third of what Marsden did on Staff/Consultants ($23,745).

The $939,280 Barker spent on the 36th District race more than doubled his opponent's total of $458,748.

To defeat Barker, Pekarsky spent $150,154 on TV/Radio, $128,079 on Mail/Printing/Postage and $92,360 on Staff/Consultants.

Barker prioritized the same three categories as Pekarsky, but he spent more in each: TV/Radio ($262,707), Mail/Printing Postage ($206,158) and Staff Consultants ($151,959).

In the 37th District, Salim's top three expenditures were for Mail/Printing/Postage ($76,233), Staff/Consultants ($32,950) and Voter Lists ($3,364).

Petersen's campaign spent a whopping $423,977 on Mail/Printing/Postage, nearly twice the $233,905 Carroll Foy paid in her race. Petersen also reported spending $119,343 on Staff/Consultants and $21,363 on Signs/Bumper Stickers, considerably more than his opponent Salim did.

Looking Ahead To The General Election

Democrats Carroll Foy, Marsden, Pekarsky, and Salim spent a combined total of $2,218,216 to be on the November ballot.

Democrat Sens. Scott Surovell (34th District), Jennifer Boysko (38th District) and Adam Ebbin (39th District) went unchallenged in the primary and therefore didn't have that expense to deal with. The same can be said for Republicans candidates in the seven state senate races in Fairfax County. None of them had a primary opponent.

The following shows the total funds raised by each of the Fairfax County's state senate candidates as of the June 8 financial filings, according to VPAP. The number in parentheses is the cash on hand after expenditures were subtracted.

33rd District - Senate

• Jennifer Carroll Foy (D): $1,457,392 ($480,041)
• Mike Van Meter (R): $18,457 ($6,962)

34th District - Senate

• Scott Surovell* (D): $1,308,603 ($488,504)
• Mark Springman (R): N/A**

35th District - Senate

• Dave Marsden* (D): $635,225 ($86,656)
• Mark Vafiades (R): $4,159 ($3,345)

36th District - Senate

• Stella Pekarsky (D): $639,435 ($180,687)
• Julie Perry (R): $8,234 ($859)

37th District - Senate

• Saddam Salim (D): $188,653 ($36,753)
• Ken Reid (R): $9,561 ($6,283)

38th District - Senate

• Jennifer Boysko* (D): $654,105 ($206,138)
• Matthew Lang (R): $23,954 ($19,925)

39th District - Senate

• Adam Ebbin* (D): $601,531 ($293,813)
• Sophia Moshasha (R): N/A**

* Incumbent
** No information was available.

Fairfax County voters, as well as those in the towns of Clifton, Herndon, and Vienna and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church will be casting votes in the Nov. 7 general election. Early voting begins on Sept. 22.

More information about registering to vote, requesting an absentee ballot or the location of polling places is available on the Fairfax County website or via the Virginia Department of Elections. City residents can access voter information via Fairfax City and the City of Falls Church websites.