The Clean Virginia Fund, a political action committee tied to the nonprofit Clean Virginia, made a $50,000 donation on June 26, 2026, to Friends of Russet Perry, the campaign committee for Virginia State Senator Russet Perry. This contribution adds to the organization’s extensive record of financial support for candidates in Virginia elections.
Clean Virginia was established in 2018 by investor Michael Bills, a prominent Democratic donor. The associated Clean Virginia Fund functions as its political arm and has received the bulk of its funding from Bills, with contributions exceeding $27 million since inception. The group describes its mission as advancing clean government and clean energy while opposing the political influence of utility monopolies such as Dominion Energy.
Russet Perry, a Democrat, serves as the state senator for Virginia’s 31st Senate District, which covers portions of Loudoun and Fauquier counties. Perry assumed office in January 2024 following her election in 2023. Her professional background includes work as a prosecutor and as an officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. She has sponsored legislation on topics including agriculture, conservation, and natural resources during her time in the Senate.
The Clean Virginia Fund has directed substantial resources to other candidates as well. Records show large contributions to Democratic figures including Jay Jones, who received a total of $400,000 from the fund in recent cycles. Additional recipients include Elizabeth Bennett-Parker for Senate and Kirk McPike for Delegate, each receiving $20,000 in 2026 reports. The organization endorsed dozens of candidates ahead of the 2023 General Assembly elections and spent over $11 million in that cycle, with the overwhelming majority going to Democratic campaigns. In the 2022-2023 period, Bills and his wife Sonjia Smith together directed more than $17 million through Clean Virginia efforts.
Virginia campaign finance data indicate the fund has contributed millions overall, with the vast share allocated to Democratic recipients and significantly smaller amounts to Republicans. The June 2026 donation to Perry’s committee fits within this pattern of targeted support for candidates aligned with the group’s stated priorities on energy policy and utility regulation.
Critics of such large-scale PAC involvement in state races point to the concentration of influence from out-of-state or ideologically driven donors. Michael Bills’ role as the primary financier underscores the scale of resources available to shape electoral outcomes in Virginia. The Clean Virginia Fund’s activities continue to draw attention amid ongoing debates over energy costs, infrastructure, and regulatory policy in the Commonwealth.
Perry’s campaign committee, Friends of Russet Perry, maintains its base in Leesburg and has been the recipient of multiple contributions in recent reporting periods. The $50,000 influx represents one of the larger single donations noted in connection with her committee following the 2026 filing timelines.
Broader tracking by Virginia Public Access Project shows Clean Virginia Fund activity extending across multiple legislative districts, consistently favoring candidates who align with its environmental and governance objectives. This approach has positioned the fund as one of the more active single-issue committees in recent Virginia election cycles.
The donation occurs against a backdrop of heightened political spending in Virginia, where utility-related issues and clean energy initiatives frequently intersect with campaign finance. Observers note the recurring pattern of major contributions from groups like Clean Virginia Fund to sitting Democratic officeholders such as Perry.
