2. Virginia Senate
Timothy Kaine vs. George Allen
$20.9 million vs. $29.8 million = $50.8 million logged so far
Most outside money supported Allen, the Republican candidate
Did money = victory? No.
Left: George Allen addresses supporters after conceding at the Republican Party of Virginia post-election event at the Omni Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. (AP Photo/Clement Britt)
Right: Timothy Kaine, celebrates his win over Republican George Allen during his victory party in Richmond, Virginia. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
The race for Virginia Senate, the most expensive Congressional race, pitted two former governors against one another. Both were looking for a second chance: Tim Kaine served as the chair of the Democratic National Committee until the 2010 midterms, in which his party lost a considerable number of seats. George Allen, the Republican contender, had his presidential aspirations destroyed when, in 2006, he used a racial slur to refer to an Indian-American man working for the Democratic Party, and the video went viral. In the end,
Kaine won. Outside groups helping Allen spent nearly $30 million, and outside groups helping Kaine spent about $21 million. Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS was by far the
biggest spender, followed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee PAC and the Majority PAC, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
