Clean Virginia

Last updated
Clean Virginia
Formation2018;7 years ago (2018)
Founder
Michael Bills
Website www.cleanvirginia.org

Clean Virginia is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization founded in 2018, with an associated political action committee, Clean Virginia Fund. The group primarily supports Democratic Party candidates in Virginia and is notable for being one of the largest donors in Virginia politics. [1]

Contents

History

Clean Virginia was founded in 2018 by investor and Democratic megadonor Michael Bills. [2] [3] It was founded with the goal of curbing the political influence of Dominion Energy, Virginia's largest energy utility. [1] It has a political action committee called the Clean Virginia Fund. [4] [5]

Political activity

The organization's stated mission is to "advance clean government and clean energy by fighting utility monopoly corruption in Virginia politics". [6] Clean Virginia only funds candidates who have not accepted money from Dominion Energy. [1]

As of 2021, Clean Virginia had donated to around 40 out of 55 Democratic Virginia House of Delegates incumbents, according to a spokesman. [7] In the 2023 Virginia legislative elections, Clean Virginia spent $11.8 million, almost all on Democratic campaigns. [6] In the 2022–2023 Virginia campaign cycle, Michael Bills (almost all of whose donations went to Clean Virginia) and his wife Sonjia Smith together spent over $17 million. [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rankin, Sarah (2023-03-28). "Clean Virginia offers endorsements, plans 8-figure spend". AP News. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  2. ↑ Schneider, Gregory S. (2018-12-17). "Anti-Dominion group claims customers pay too much for electricity". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  3. ↑ Schneider, Gregory S. (2023-11-01). "Va. megadonor Michael Bills funds Democrats. But he's no party insider". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  4. ↑ Martz, Michael (2025-05-21). "Clean Virginia endorses Spanberger in governor's race". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  5. ↑ "Anti-Dominion group claims customers pay too much for electricity". The Washington Post. 2018-12-17. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  6. 1 2 Jarvis, Brandon (2025-04-17). "Clean Virginia and Dominion Energy face off again in statewide primary". Virginia Scope. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  7. ↑ Moomaw, Graham (2021-05-26). "Va. House Democratic Caucus OKs mailers portraying top Democratic donors as 'dark money billionaires'". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  8. ↑ Schneider, Gregory S.; Vozzella, Laura (2023-11-08). "Virginia Democrats projected to sweep General Assembly, dealing blow to GOP". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
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