Shyamali Hauth Outraised 3 Opponents In Democratic Primary Race

RESTON, VA — Of the four Democrats running for the open House of Delegates seat in District 7, Shyamali Hauth has raised the most money since the beginning of the year, according to the latest campaign finance reports posted online by the nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project.

Hauth, a 10-year Air Force veteran, former educator and community organizer, raised $40,983 between Jan. 1 and March 31, according to VPAP. She received $31,020 in cash contributions of $100 or more, with Clean Virginia ($5,000), Indian American Impact ($3,000), and John Hauth as top three donors.

Friends of Walter Alcorn donated $2,500 to Hauth's campaign. The candidate worked in the Hunter District supervisor's office, until she announced her campaign in February. Alcorn has also endorsed his former employee in her quest to represent Reston in Richmond.

Paul Berry, who was the first candidate to enter the District 7 race after long-time Del. Ken Plum said he wasn't running for reelection, reported $30,359 in donations for the first quarter of 2023.

Berry received $22,045 in donations of $100 or more, with Clean Virginia ($5,000), Martha Berry ($2,000) and James Winchester $2,000) being the top donors.

In early March, Karen Keys-Gammara, who is an at-large member of the Fairfax County School Board, decided to enter the District 7 race rather than run for reelection.

Between March 3 and March 31, Keys-Gammara's campaign raised $26,493, with most of the money ($23,151) coming from donations of $100 or more. Her top three donations were $8,352 from the Karen Keys-Gamarra for School Board Committee, $5,000 from Clean Virginia Fund and $3,000 from Hugh Taylor.

Mary Barthelson, who was defeated by Plum in the 2019 Democratic Party Primary, raised just $9,267 during the first quarter of 2023 for her campaign, according to VPAP. Clean Energy contributed $5,000 to her campaign, with the next highest contributions coming from the candidate herself ($572) and Armin Khanzadeh ($500).

Clean VA PAC, which contributed $5,000 to each of the candidates running in District 7, is a political action committee associated with Clean Virginia, an independent advocacy group promoting clean energy and the ability of communities to control their own energy policy.

No campaign finance information was available from VPAP about John Farrell, who withdrew from the District 7 race on April 2. In addition to endorsing Karen Keys-Gamarra, Farrell went on to win an at-large seat on the Reston Association Board of Directors and then was chosen to be the new RA Board president.

Early voting for the June 20 Democratic Party primary begins on May 6. Voters must register by May 29 to be eligible to vote in the June 20 primary. The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot for the Democratic primary is June 9.

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7, to choose candidates running for the Virginia House of Delegates, the Virginia Senate, the Commonwealth's Attorney, Clerk of the Fairfax Circuit Court, Fairfax County Sheriff, Chairman of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, District Members of the Board of Supervisors, At-Large Members of the Fairfax County School Board, District Members of the School board, and Directors (vote for 3) of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District.

No Republican or independent candidate has declared their intention to run for the open District 7 seat in November. The filing deadline to be on the Nov. 7 ballot is June 20.

Related:

• 2nd House Of Delegates Candidate Enters Race To Represent Reston
• Karen Keys-Gamarra Enters Crowded District 7 Race In Reston: Reports
• Paul Berry Enters Race For Open House Of Delegates Seat In Reston
• Crowded House Of Delegates Race In Reston Adds Another Candidate
• Reston House Of Delegates Race Suddenly Crowded As Barthelson Runs