Virginia Lt. Gov. Race: Chopra Narrowly Outraises Northam in First Quarter

Aneesh Chopra, one of two Democratic hopefuls for Lt. Governor of Virginia, is ahead of Ralph Northam in the race for campaign funds.

Chopra started the year with a starting balance of $714,864 and then raised another $449,915 through March 31, according to finance reports on the Virginia Public Access Project.

Northam began the year with a balance of $0 and raised $449,542 through March 31 — just below what Chopra raised.

The two hopefuls are the only Democratic candidates gunning for Virginia's open Lt. Governor position, which will be vacated by Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) next year.

A single Democratic candidate will be selected in a primary June 11.

There are a also a number of candidates vying for the Republican nomination, which will be decided by a delegate vote at the Virginia Republican Party's primary convention in mid-May.

Democratic and Republican nominees  will have less than six months to face off before the Nov. 5 elections.

For now, Chopra is also outspending his opponent.

Of the more than $449,000 from donors in the first quarter, Chopra spent about $245,000. He ends the quarter with a balance of $919,815.

Northam, on the other hand, has spent $142,512 of the $449,542 from donors. He ends the quarter with a balance of $307,029, nearly a third of what Chopra has on hand.

Chopra, 40, has served as Virginia’s Secretary of Technology and was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009 to serve as the nation’s first Chief Technology Officer. Chopra lives in Arlington with his wife and two daughters.

"I want to thank everyone who has stepped up and invested in my campaign," Chopra said in a release Monday. "Because of their support, I am able to take my message of fairness and opportunity to voters across the Commonwealth. It's clear that voters are ready for new leadership in Richmond, and we're building the momentum necessary to win on Election Day.”

U.S. Congressmen Gerry Connolly (D-11th) and Jim Moran (D-8th) have publicly endorsed Chopra.

Ralph Northam, 53, has served as a member of the Virginia State Senate since 2007. He lives in Norfolk with his wife and has a son and daughter, both in college.

“I have led the fight to defend women’s health care fromKen Cuccinelli and his radical social agenda," Northam said in a release. "If I am electedyour next Lieutenant Governor, I will lead the charge to repeal the mandatory ultrasoundbill and anti-choice TRAP regulations as well as fight to ban assault weapons andimplement universal background checks."

Northam has been endorsed by Senator Dick Saslaw (D-Springfield), Senator Toddy Puller (D-Mount Vernon), Senator Barbara Favola (D-Arlington) and Senator David Marsden (D-Burke), among others.