Last Friday, the House Democratic Caucus added $1 million dollars to the pool of funds for Democratic House races. 

For the first time in many years, all 100 House of Delegates seats will be up for election. The Democrats currently hold a 51-49 majority in the House and are looking to expand. This follows the $3 million from Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, and $1.5 million from the Democratic National Committee to help with the strategic races. 

“Over a million dollars on the ground means one thing: We’re taking the fight to Republicans in every battleground district,” said Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, the House Democrats’ campaigns chair. “We’re not backing down — we’re turning up the pressure and building momentum all the way to November,” he said.

This comes after reports in June of the Democrats doubling their Republican counterparts in the past two months for fundraising. As of this current cycle, Republicans have been out matched by about 9 million dollars compared to the Democrats. (RELATED: HD22: Purple Delegate Ian Lovejoy Faces Deep Blue Elizabeth Guzman)

“It’s no surprise that the most competitive districts right now are in Republican hands,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “This is an environment where Republicans are facing significant headwinds for a bunch of reasons, and that’s creating a tailwind that would help Democrats who, in other years, might be more vulnerable.”

“They’ve got candidates in 20 of the reddest districts who are going to raise $1,000 — do you think that concerns us even a little bit?” Republican Party of Virginia Chair Mark Peake told The Mercury. “I don’t think (Democrats) have as much enthusiasm as we do.” (RELATED: Purple District, Polar Opposites: Owen vs. Nivar Sets Stage for VA’s Hottest Race)