The races this fall for Northern Virginia's 36th and 39th Senate districts were competitive and on Thursday, it was even more clear just how competitive. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, the campaign spending for both seats topped $1 million for each district race. The two races were among 13 statewide that went over the $1 million mark.
In the 36th Senate district race between incumbent state , a Democrat, and her challenger, Republican and , the two candidates spent a combined total of $1,091,193. Frederick spent $492,891, and Puller spent $703,786. Puller won the election on Nov. 6 with 16,649 votes (55.2 percent) to Frederick's 13,445 (44.6 percent).
Boiled down, Puller paid $42.27 per vote and Frederick paid $36.65 per vote.
Puller's largest expense was $56,022 for media services from Buying Time of D.C. Frederick's largest expense was $137,295 to Jamestown Associates of Princeton, N.J., for media, printing and mailers.
In the 39th Senate district race between incumbent state , a Democrat, and his challenger, Republican attorney , the total amount the two candidates spent was $1,331,439. Baker spent $466,577 and Barker spent $996,880. Barker won the election with 21,201 votes (53.1 percent) to Baker's 18,687 votes (46.8 percent).
Again, the math shows that Barker paid $47.02 per vote, while Baker paid $24.96 per vote.
Baker's largest expenditure was $75,240 to Media Placement Technologies of Alexandria. Barker's was $130,000 to LUC Media, which has offices in D.C., Atlanta and Raleigh, N.C.
One notable contributor to both Barker and Puller's campaign: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who donated $25,000 to each campaign.
