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A Majority of Tom Perriello's Campaign Funds Are Coming From Outside Virginia

56 Percent of donations are coming from out of state; Soros family makes up nearly 20 percent of all contributions

Tom Perriello
Tom Perriello / Getty Images
April 26, 2017

Tom Perriello, a Democratic candidate for governor in Virginia, has pulled in a majority of his campaign contributions from donors who live outside the state.

The family of liberal billionaire George Soros has also donated nearly 20 percent of all of the money that has been given to Perriello's campaign.

Perriello, who represented Virginia's fifth congressional district until becoming the director of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, is challenging Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in the June Democratic primary.

Perriello has raised $2.2 million to date, with 56 percent of his donations coming from individuals who live in other states, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonpartisan group that tracks money in politics.

New Yorkers, who gave $806,372 to Perriello's campaign, were the most generous outside contributors. Donors from California gave $106,962 while Washington, D.C., residents gave $104,199. Maryland donors added $68,742 to his campaign.

George Soros, along with his two sons, have given hundreds of thousands to Perriello's bid for governor. Virginia does not put a cap on political donations.

In January, Soros poured $250,000 into Perriello's campaign, filings with the Virginia Department of Elections shows. Alexander Soros, who in recent years has quietly stepped up as a major liberal donor, gave $125,000. Jonathan Allan Soros, the chief executive officer of JS Capital LLC, a New York-based investment management firm, added $10,000.

The $385,439.52 from the three Soros family members equals nearly a fifth of all the contributions Perriello has received so far.

"Virginia voters are quickly learning that Tom Perriello is a hypocrite on multiple issues, including campaign finance," Jon Thompson, spokesman for the Republican Governors Association, told the Washington Free Beacon. "He bemoans big money in politics, but a large majority of his contributions come from far-left billionaires. He touts that his campaign is 'people-powered' by Virginia voters, but most of his contributions come from donors outside of the Commonwealth."

"Virginians need a governor who they can trust to keep their word, but Perriello's campaign mantra continues to be "Do as I say, not as I do." Voters can't trust what comes out of his mouth."

Ralph Northam, Perriello's opponent in the Democratic primary, has raised $4.4 million to date. Almost 90 percent of his donations have come from Virginians.

Perriello is also garnering support from a number of politicians from outside Virginia including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), who both endorsed Perriello.

Virginia Democrats, including Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, are backing Northam.

Perriello's campaign did not return a request for comment by press time.

Published under: Tom Perriello