Kathleen Murphy Outraises Comstock in First Quarter

The money race for 34th District in Virginia’s House of Delegates has begun, and Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock is ahead of Democratic challenger Kathleen Murphy.

But Murphy raised more in the first quarter of 2013, according to campaign finance reports available through the Virginia Public Access Project.

The two candidates have less than seven months left to campaign for the 34th District seat ahead of the Nov. 5 election, which also includes Virginia's governor and lieutenant governor races and all seats in the Virginia House of Delegates.

The 34th District Great Falls and parts of Tysons, Vienna, McLean and Loudoun County.

Murphy began the year with a balance of $0 and raised $127,256 through March 31

Comstock began the year with a balance of $118,376 and has raised another $104,000 through March 31.

Murphy and Comstock reported first quarter expenses of $21,971 and $40,168, respectively.

After expenses, Comstock’s camp has an ending balance of $182,311, while Murphy’s has $105,284.

Murphy, a mother of four and Fairfax County resident for more than 20 years, says her fast-rising donations come from supporters, including February donations of $10,000, $15,000 and $20,000.

“I am gratified to have such a deep base of support to start this campaign,” Murphy said in a statement Monday. “As I talk to business and community leaders across our district, it is clear they want common sense solutions on the important issues for our community, especially transportation and education and I am honored to have their support.”

Murphy, the president of Johnson Murphy and Associates, served in the administration of former President Bill Clinton as a senior advisor for international trade issues at the Department of Commerce. Murphy also serves on the Human Services Council and the Health Care Task Force for Fairfax County.

Comstock was elected in November 2009. During the 2013 session, she successfully passed a bill requiring doctors to tell patients undergoing Lyme Disease tests about problems with testing reliability. Read more about the bill, HB 1933, right here. She also pushed a number of

education initiatives.