Most Expensive Congressional Primaries

Three Virginia races were in the top 20 most expensive primaries for the U.S. House of Representatives so far this year. The contest for the Republican nomination in CD 5 generated the third-highest investment in independent expenditures among all U.S. House primaries.

Independent expenditures involve spending by outside groups supporting or opposing a particular candidate that cannot be coordinated with campaigns under federal law. They often include large TV ad buys, mailers, digital advertising, and other types of voter contact.

Top 20 Elections for Independent Expenditures

FEC definition of an independent expenditure: "an expenditure for a communication, such as an advertisement through a website, digital device, application, advertising platform, newspaper, TV or direct mail that: Expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate; and is not made in consultation or cooperation with, or at the request or suggestion of any candidate, or his or her authorized committees or agents, or a political party committee or its agents"

Source: Independent expenditure reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission. Data as of June 26, 2024.