RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia Republican Ed Gillespie is starting the general election campaign for governor with a more than $1.5 million cash advantage over Democrat Ralph Northam.
New campaign finance reports released late Monday show Gillespie and Northam both raised nearly $2 million in June, but Gillespie has $3.3 million in the bank compared to Northam's $1.7 million.
Northam spent heavily to defeat primary challenger Tom Perriello. Gillespie did not spend as much to win the GOP primary, but was nearly upset by underfunded insurgent candidate Corey Stewart.
Both candidates are likely to raise tens of millions more dollars before the November election. Virginia is one of only two states electing new governors this year and the contest is getting a national attention as a potential early referendum on President Donald Trump.
