RICHMOND, Virginia — The $10 million Michael Bloomberg spent to boost Virginia Democratic candidates is showing some limits.
Gun control, a signature issue for the 2020 Democrat and former New York City mayor, is not turning out as planned in the commonwealth. Bloomberg, an uber-billionaire, has supported Virginia Democrats and their gun control efforts. But since winning full control of the state government in 2019, some firearms measures have failed to pass the legislature.
On Monday, Virginia’s effort to ban the sale of assault weapons was rejected by state lawmakers, including four Democrats who joined Republicans in voting down the measure.
Senators voted 10-5 in a committee on Monday to shelf the bill, which aimed to prohibit the sale of certain semi-automatic firearms and the possession of magazines that hold more than 12 rounds for a year so that the state crime commission can study the issue. Four centrist Democrats broke party lines to join Republicans in voting against the legislation.
The rejection came as a loss to Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, who had championed the bill and has made reducing gun violence in the state a top priority. As part of a broad package of gun control measures, Senate Democrats passed three gun control bills that would restrict monthly gun purchases, expand background checks on firearms, and allow localities to ban guns in designated areas in January.
Democrats in the Virginia Assembly and the governor’s office were the biggest benefactors from Bloomberg’s political organizing over several election cycles, going back to Terry McAuliffe’s successful campaign in 2013.
But beyond guns largess, Bloomberg, 78, in his presidential bid hasn’t won supporters among many federal and state Democratic lawmakers.
A Monmouth University poll showed him effectively tied with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for the lead in Virginia, one of 14 states and entities to vote on Super Tuesday on March 3.
Rep. Donald McEachin, a Virginia Democrat, criticized Bloomberg in a tweet.
“Michael Bloomberg Appeared To Blame Obama For Racial Division In 2016 | HuffPost. Unbelievable to blame Obama for racial division! President Obama held out the hand of reconciliation only to have it smacked away. You owe President Obama an apology,” McEachin wrote.
“I feel like everybody that I’m getting on the verge of endorsing falls out of the race, so we’ll see who’s next. I’m very much undecided,” Del. Lamont Bagby told the Washington Examiner.
Del. Clinton Jenkins also has not decided who to back.
“I’m just waiting to see how things play out,” Jenkins told the Washington Examiner. “Where are they on different issues? Just waiting.”
George Mason University professor Jeremy Mayer said it’s not surprising Bloomberg’s influence is facing limits in Virginia.
“Bloomberg money has worked to gain him endorsements and support from groups and politicians around the country. It is an unprecedented display of the power of money in politics,” Mayer told the Washington Examiner. “However, as new information about Bloomberg emerges, I think it will hurt his ability to get endorsements in Virginia and elsewhere.”
