Arlington County Board Candidates Pour Money Into Final Primary Campaign Push

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County Board candidates collectively spent more than $50,000 during the final three weeks before Tuesday's Democratic primary, with each campaign investing heavily in mail, digital advertising and voter outreach as early voting concluded.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for in-person voting. Early voting ended Saturday.

The latest Virginia Department of Elections campaign finance reports cover activity from July 1 through July 23, providing the final look at campaign finances before Election Day.

After months of fundraising, the candidates entered the campaign's final stretch with distinctly different financial strategies.

Candidates Turn To Mail, Digital Outreach

Incumbent Matt de Ferranti reported the largest spending surge during the reporting period, raising $9,135—including a $5,000 loan to his campaign—and spending $26,313. The campaign's expenditures included two printed mail pieces totaling $22,500, along with more than $2,200 in digital advertising and additional voter outreach expenses. The campaign reported $10,769 cash on hand at the close of the reporting period.

Challenger James DeVita reported raising $17,935 during the reporting period, almost all of it from a $17,900 contribution to his own campaign. Days later, the campaign reported spending $17,899.09 on a mailer produced by Bottled Lightning Collective, leaving $1,300.33 in cash entering the final days before the primary.

Arlington County Board Democratic Primary Campaign Finance Summary

(Current 2026 campaign committees through July 23, 2026)

Candidate Julie Farnam reported raising $3,331.45 and spending $6,421.73 during the reporting period. Her campaign's largest expenditures included a $5,590.28 mailer from Clash Graphics and $659 for text messaging services. Farnam reported $1,872.23 remaining in campaign funds at the end of the reporting period.

Final Campaign Push

The reports show all three candidates devoted much of their remaining resources to direct voter contact before Election Day, with mailers accounting for the largest expenditures across the field.

Final Pre-Primary Reporting Period (July 1–23)

De Ferranti relied on the campaign's existing fundraising operation and supplemented it with a loan to finance a final wave of communications. DeVita largely financed his final campaign push himself, while Farnam paired a countywide mail piece with a text messaging campaign.

The winner of Tuesday's Democratic primary is expected to be heavily favored in the November general election for the Arlington County Board seat.