A QPQ Tracker study · Virginia · 2023–2026
Virginia: who paid for the data centers and what the state decided
Virginia allows unlimited corporate contributions directly to candidates. The dominant payer is the utility that will sell the power. Dominion Energy’s net giving to candidates and committees from 2023 to October 2026 is about $33.8M. The data center industry’s own Virginia money is an order of magnitude smaller.
The Speaker’s campaign and leadership PAC took $2.89M of it. The General Assembly then decided a dozen data center bills in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The sales-tax exemption survived every challenge. Cost allocation went to the State Corporation Commission’s dockets, not to statute.
Virginia is the one state where the Tracker has loaded every member’s vote on every tracked bill, so each legislator’s card below shows how they voted beside what they were paid. The reversals came from voters and courts: Prince William’s board chair was defeated over the Digital Gateway, and the rezoning was voided in court.
$36.4M
corporate and PAC direct giving in Virginia's filings, 1,668 contributions, January 2023 to October 2026
180
officeholders and candidates who took it
14
measures tracked, 7 enacted, 4 vetoed or failed
2,340
recorded votes loaded on those measures
1
Who paid
Each company's direct giving from its treasury and employee PAC, as filed in Virginia. Executives' personal cheques, super PAC spending and lobbying are different kinds of money and are not added here.
7 payers in Virginia
| Payer | Class | Direct giving in Virginia | Filings (every state the payer files in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion Energy | Utility | $33,720,558 | Filings and recipients → |
| Amazon | Hyperscaler | $1,238,887 | |
| Hyperscaler | $610,000 | ||
| Data Center Coalition | Trade group, developer, pipeline or investor | $397,500 | Filings and recipients → |
| CloudHQ | Data center operator | $260,500 | Filings and recipients → |
| Vantage Data Centers | Data center operator | $92,250 | Filings and recipients → |
| Meta | Hyperscaler | $33,640 | 2 filer rows → |
2
Who took it
The Virginia officeholders and candidates who received the most from the payer set, and what each did on the state's data center measures: the votes they cast, the bills they authored, the orders they signed. A yea is a vote for the measure as titled.
180 people in Virginia took payer money. The 12 largest are shown.
$1.77M
31 gifts, 4 payers
Dominion Energy $1.72MAmazon $24KCloudHQ $23KMeta $7,500
5 measures voted on
- YeaHB153: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- YeaNayYeaYeaNayHB1601: Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaYeaSB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaYeaSB960: Electric utilities; data center cost allocation.Failed
- YeaHB338: Siting of data centers; locality may perform site assessment before approval.Failed
$1.46M
14 gifts, 3 payers
Dominion Energy $1.45MAmazon $10KCloudHQ $5,000
2 actions on measures
- commented onSCC final order in Dominion's 2025 biennial review: $565.7M rate increase and the GS-5 large-load (data cen…Under appeal
- commented onSCC final order granting the certificate for Dominion's 944 MW Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center gas p…Under appeal
$1.37M
26 gifts, 5 payers
Dominion Energy $1.35MAmazon $11KData Center Coalition $5,000CloudHQ $3,500Vantage Data Centers $2,000
11 measures voted on
- NayYeaNayYeaYeaSB253: Electric utilities; pilot programs for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals.…Enacted
- YeaYeaYeaYeaHB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals.…Enacted
- YeaNayYeaSB553: Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.Enacted
- NayNayYeaSB94: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- YeaYeaHB496: Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.Enacted
- YeaYeaHB153: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- YeaHB507: Data centers; permit requirements, emission limits for certain engine-generator sets.Enacted
- YeaSB336: Tier 2 emergency generators; SCC shall evaluate impact of requiring data centers to limit use, etc.Passed one chamber
- YeaYeaYeaYeaNaySB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaYeaNot votingHB1601: Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaNaySB960: Electric utilities; data center cost allocation.Failed
$1.02M
31 gifts, 5 payers
Dominion Energy $971KData Center Coalition $20KAmazon $13KCloudHQ $10KVantage Data Centers $4,500
5 measures voted on
- YeaHB153: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- YeaNayYeaYeaNayHB1601: Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaYeaSB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaYeaSB960: Electric utilities; data center cost allocation.Failed
- YeaHB338: Siting of data centers; locality may perform site assessment before approval.Failed
$994K
26 gifts, 6 payers
Dominion Energy $940KAmazon $24KData Center Coalition $15KCloudHQ $10KMeta $2,500
11 measures voted on
- NayYeaNayYeaYeaSB253: Electric utilities; pilot programs for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals.…Enacted
- YeaYeaYeaYeaHB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals.…Enacted
- YeaNayYeaSB553: Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.Enacted
- YeaNayYeaSB94: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- YeaYeaHB496: Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.Enacted
- YeaYeaHB153: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- YeaHB507: Data centers; permit requirements, emission limits for certain engine-generator sets.Enacted
- YeaSB336: Tier 2 emergency generators; SCC shall evaluate impact of requiring data centers to limit use, etc.Passed one chamber
- YeaYeaYeaYeaNaySB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaYeaYeaHB1601: Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaNaySB960: Electric utilities; data center cost allocation.Failed
$898K
27 gifts, 6 payers
Dominion Energy $864KAmazon $14KData Center Coalition $13KCloudHQ $3,500Meta $2,500
11 measures voted on
- NayYeaNayYeaYeaSB253: Electric utilities; pilot programs for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals.…Enacted
- YeaYeaYeaYeaHB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals.…Enacted
- YeaNayYeaSB553: Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.Enacted
- YeaNayYeaSB94: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- YeaYeaHB496: Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.Enacted
- YeaYeaHB153: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- YeaHB507: Data centers; permit requirements, emission limits for certain engine-generator sets.Enacted
- YeaSB336: Tier 2 emergency generators; SCC shall evaluate impact of requiring data centers to limit use, etc.Passed one chamber
- YeaYeaYeaYeaNaySB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaYeaNot votingHB1601: Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaNaySB960: Electric utilities; data center cost allocation.Failed
$800K
10 gifts, 1 payers
Dominion Energy $800K
No recorded vote or action on a tracked measure.
$755K
14 gifts, 4 payers
Dominion Energy $730KAmazon $15KCloudHQ $5,000Data Center Coalition $5,000
4 measures voted on
- NayNayNayYeaNayHB1601: Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.Vetoed
- NayNaySB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.Vetoed
- NayNaySB960: Electric utilities; data center cost allocation.Failed
- NayHB338: Siting of data centers; locality may perform site assessment before approval.Failed
$722K
18 gifts, 5 payers
Dominion Energy $695KAmazon $15KData Center Coalition $5,000Meta $5,000Vantage Data Centers $2,000
5 measures voted on
- YeaHB153: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- NayNayNayNayYeaHB1601: Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.Vetoed
- NayNaySB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.Vetoed
- NayNaySB960: Electric utilities; data center cost allocation.Failed
- NayHB338: Siting of data centers; locality may perform site assessment before approval.Failed
$688K
25 gifts, 6 payers
Dominion Energy $652KData Center Coalition $15KCloudHQ $10KAmazon $8,000Meta $2,500
5 measures voted on
- YeaHB153: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- YeaNayYeaYeaNayHB1601: Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaYeaSB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaYeaSB960: Electric utilities; data center cost allocation.Failed
- YeaHB338: Siting of data centers; locality may perform site assessment before approval.Failed
$682K
21 gifts, 6 payers
Dominion Energy $645KAmazon $17KCloudHQ $10KData Center Coalition $5,000Meta $2,500
11 measures voted on
- YeaYeaNayNayYeaSB253: Electric utilities; pilot programs for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals.…Enacted
- NayYeaNayYeaHB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals.…Enacted
- NayNayNaySB553: Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.Enacted
- NayNayNaySB94: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- NayNayHB496: Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.Enacted
- NayNayHB153: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- NayHB507: Data centers; permit requirements, emission limits for certain engine-generator sets.Enacted
- YeaSB336: Tier 2 emergency generators; SCC shall evaluate impact of requiring data centers to limit use, etc.Passed one chamber
- NayNayYeaNayYeaSB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.Vetoed
- NayYeaNayHB1601: Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.Vetoed
- NayNaySB960: Electric utilities; data center cost allocation.Failed
$501K
24 gifts, 4 payers
Dominion Energy $491KAmazon $6,500Meta $2,500Vantage Data Centers $1,000
11 measures voted on
- YeaYeaNayNayYeaSB253: Electric utilities; pilot programs for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals.…Enacted
- NayYeaNayYeaHB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals.…Enacted
- NayNayNaySB553: Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.Enacted
- NayNayYeaSB94: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- NayNayHB496: Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.Enacted
- YeaYeaHB153: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.Enacted
- NayHB507: Data centers; permit requirements, emission limits for certain engine-generator sets.Enacted
- YeaSB336: Tier 2 emergency generators; SCC shall evaluate impact of requiring data centers to limit use, etc.Passed one chamber
- YeaNayYeaYeaYeaSB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.Vetoed
- YeaYeaYeaHB1601: Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.Vetoed
- NayNaySB960: Electric utilities; data center cost allocation.Failed
The 12 largest recipients of any kind, committees included
| # | Recipient | Kind | From the payer set |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Don Scott | person | $1,774,409 |
| 2 | Jason Miyares | person | $1,460,965 |
| 3 | Mamie E. Locke | person | $1,371,500 |
| 4 | Virginia Future Generations PAC | PAC or committee | $1,265,000 |
| 5 | Charniele L. Herring | person | $1,018,469 |
| 6 | Scott A. Surovell | person | $993,500 |
| 7 | L. Louise Lucas | person | $898,227 |
| 8 | House Democratic Caucus | PAC or committee | $895,000 |
| 9 | Shannon Taylor (Virginia candidate) | person | $800,000 |
| 10 | Underground to Uplift PAC | PAC or committee | $757,908 |
| 11 | C. Todd Gilbert | person | $755,431 |
| 12 | Terry G. Kilgore | person | $721,500 |
3
What they decided
Every Virginia bill, regulator's order, executive action and election the study tracks, with its result, its recorded vote and the people and companies on the record for it. Each links to the official document.
14 measures · 2,340 votes
Virginia14 measures
- BillEnactedMay 14, 2026Senate last roll 34–5 among 40 loaded members, Apr 22, 2026160 votes loaded
- BillEnactedMay 14, 2026Senate last roll 37–2 among 40 loaded members, Apr 22, 2026200 votes loaded
- BillEnactedApr 13, 2026Senate last roll 26–13 among 40 loaded members, Mar 14, 202680 votes loaded
- BillEnactedApr 13, 2026Senate last roll 25–14 among 40 loaded members, Mar 14, 2026120 votes loaded
- BillEnactedApr 13, 2026House last roll 90–7 among 100 loaded members, Jan 29, 2026Senate last roll 29–10 among 40 loaded members, Mar 14, 2026180 votes loaded
- BillEnactedApr 13, 2026Senate last roll 29–10 among 40 loaded members, Mar 14, 2026120 votes loaded
- BillEnactedApr 8, 2026Senate last roll 25–15 among 40 loaded members, Mar 10, 202640 votes loaded
- BillPassed one chamberMar 6, 2026Senate last roll 38–0 among 40 loaded members, Feb 13, 202640 votes loaded
- Regulator's orderUnder appealNov 25, 2025Jason Miyares commented on; Amazon.com Inc commented on; IRON MOUNTAIN INCORPORATED commented on; Alphabet/Google commented on; Cloud HQ commented on; STACK Infrastructure commented on and 4 more
- Regulator's orderUnder appealNov 25, 2025Jason Miyares commented on; Dominion Energy benefited from; Virginia State Corporation Commission issued
- BillVetoedMay 2, 2025House procedural roll 51–44 among 100 loaded members, Apr 2, 2025 (Motion to pass in enrolled form after the Governor's recommendation was rejected; passage was 57-40)Senate last roll 22–13 among 40 loaded members, Feb 21, 2025620 votes loaded
- BillVetoedMay 2, 2025House last roll 57–40 among 100 loaded members, Feb 22, 2025Senate procedural roll 16–24 among 40 loaded members, Apr 2, 2025 (Vote on the Governor's recommendation at the reconvened session)400 votes loaded
- BillFailedFeb 22, 2025House last roll 63–34 among 100 loaded members, Feb 18, 2025Senate procedural roll 0–40 among 40 loaded members, Feb 19, 2025 (House substitute rejected by the Senate; the bill had passed the Senate 26-13)280 votes loaded
- BillFailedNov 19, 2024House last roll 55–42 among 100 loaded members, Feb 13, 2024100 votes loaded
How to read this page
The money is corporate-treasury and employee-PAC giving reported in Virginia’s own filing system, the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) and the General Assembly's roll calls, from January 2023 to the latest filing loaded (1,668 contributions, January 2023 to October 2026). Transfers between a politician’s own committees, conduit memo lines and gifts from the opposing side are left out. Executives’ personal cheques, super PAC spending, 527 transfers and lobbying are different kinds of money. The report keeps them apart, and the written part of this page names them as such. Nothing on this page adds across kinds.
The votes are the legislature’s own roll calls, loaded for the members the study follows. A yea is a vote for the measure as titled. The measures are the bills, commission orders, executive actions and elections the study identified; each links to its official record.
Every payer total was reconciled against the payer’s own reports where the state publishes them. The checks are in the report’s verification log. Figures on this page were last recomputed on October 31, 2026. Correlation is not proof of causation; the record shows what was paid and what was decided.