by James C. Sherlock

“Organizing for Virginia Seniors” has jumped to number two on VPAP’s list of Top Political Donors in Virginia behind Dominion Energy.  

The funding for “Organizing for Virginia Seniors” comes from New York and New Jersey nursing home chains, about which this author has been less than complimentary. And then there was the Colonial Heights scandal. They apparently feel the need to influence politicians.  

So far, it has cost them $159,000 to reach Virginia’s key General Assembly members. They also gave $100,000 to Governor Spanberger’s Inaugural Committee and $25,000 to that of Attorney General Jones.  

The donations in 2025 totaled $239,500 to Democrats and $44,500 to Republicans.  Plus whatever they paid to a consultant to tell them how to spread the money. It was all cash. Organizing for Virginia Seniors has $172,000 on hand, so we can estimate they have budgeted $500,000 for political influence in Virginia this year.  

That effort aligns with New Jersey-based Eastern Healthcare Group’s lead sponsorship of the lobby fest in Richmond a couple of days ago by the Virginia Health Care Association (VHCA), the nursing home industry’s suits. 

Bottom line

It appears that, in this no-campaign-contribution-limits state, paying politicians and lobbyists is much cheaper than paying nurses and physicians to care for nursing home residents.

There is no law, however, requiring politicians to accept the money, no questions asked.

The author thinks he can speak for many when he says he hopes the nursing home barons do not get their money’s worth.