Campaign Pledges
Accountability Through Action
Principled Leadership Through Accountability
As your independent candidate for Governor, Donna Charles believes in transparency and accountability. She has signed meaningful pledges with reform advocates to demonstrate her commitment to putting Virginians first.
While other candidates avoid making specific commitments, Donna stands ready to be held accountable for the promises she makes to Virginia voters.
Candidate Pledge
Signed May 31, 2025
About Big Money Out VA:
BigMoneyOutVA is a non-partisan group which champions good governance and transparency in Virginia, while promoting increased public discourse between citizens of the Commonwealth and their legislators. We are dedicated to getting big money out of politics through campaign finance reform so as to increase the legitimacy and integrity of government and to enable our elected officials to better reflect the interests and will of all citizens of the Commonwealth.
Donna's Statement:
Show me your donors and I'll show you your values. Virginians deserve to know that their candidates and elected officials put them and their needs before corporations and special interests. Let's end the big money political game and get back to basics, for the sake of our democracy.
Specific Commitments:
Support getting big money out of politics by amending the United States Constitution to guard against corruption and protect liberty, federalism, and the equal rights of free speech by limiting the undue influence of money in elections and government
Support comprehensive campaign finance reform in Virginia
Use office to advance a Constitutional Amendment through sponsoring or cosponsoring bills, resolutions, or other legislation
Vote in favor of common-sense bills which fairly and equitably limit campaign donations, enhance disclosure, and improve oversight
Support reform bills in committee, subcommittee, or on the floor
Publicly advocate for the necessity of campaign finance reform and Constitutional Amendment
Why This Matters:
Campaign finance reform is essential to ensuring elected officials serve voters, not special interests. This pledge demonstrates Donna's commitment to transparency and accountability in government.
Key Takeaway:
As Governor, Donna will champion comprehensive campaign finance reform through both executive action and legislative leadership. Unlike career politicians who talk about reform but accept special interest money, Donna will demonstrate change is possible through her own campaign practices and push for systemic reforms that put Virginians first.
Candidate Pledge
Signed June 25, 2025
About Money Out of Politics:
The Money Out of Politics (MOP) Movement is a veteran-led, non-partisan grassroots coalition fighting to remove corporate money from American politics and restore a government that serves the people.
Donna's Statement:
The work Money Out of Politics is doing is fundamental to empowering the people's vote over that of corporations and special interests. Fighting back against corporate influence, corruption, and manipulation in politics is one way to preserve our democracy, and to restore integrity, transparency, and accountability. Together, we can restore trust in a process that many feel no longer serves the people.
Specific Commitments:
Reject Dark Money
Reject all contributions from political action committees (PACs), Super PACs, and any other organization that does not fully disclose its donors
Disclose and, where feasible, reject in-kind support from party organizations funded by undisclosed or corporate sources
Decline any anonymous donation exceeding $100
Publicly disavow and denounce any dark money expenditures made on my behalf
Reject Big Money
Voluntarily limit all contributions from any individual, corporation, or organization to no more than $3,500 per campaign cycle, or my state's campaign finance limit—whichever is greater
Refuse all donations, gifts, favors, or in-kind contributions from industries directly impacted by any committee(s) on which I serve or seek to serve, including travel, speaking fees, event sponsorships, or other forms of non-monetary influence
Reject unpaid services from any entity that compensates individuals to assist my campaign, unless such assistance is transparently disclosed as in-kind contributions
Ensure Complete Transparency
Publish all campaign contributions on my website within seven days of receipt, in an easily searchable and downloadable format
Publicly disclose all meetings with lobbyists, industry interest groups, and major donors
Disclose all forms of in-kind support or coordinated efforts from political parties, outside groups, or allied organizations whose funding sources are not publicly traceable
Prioritize Constituent Voices
Make decisions based on the needs and will of my constituents, not on the preferences of campaign contributors
Represent all constituents equally, including those who did not vote for me or belong to my political party
Never exchange access, influence, or policy positions for campaign donations, endorsements, or strategic advantages from political operatives or outside funders
Practice Active Engagement
Host regular town halls—at least quarterly—in diverse locations and communities across my district
Use polling, surveys, and other feedback mechanisms to gather meaningful constituent input on key policy issues
Maintain open, accessible communication channels for all constituents, online and in person
Champion Fundamental Reform
Advocate for a constitutional amendment to regulate campaign finance and affirm that only human beings, not corporations, possess constitutional rights
Support legislation banning lobbyist gifts and congressional insider trading
Work to strengthen ethics laws and the enforcement mechanisms that uphold them
Why This Matters:
Virginia has some of the most lax campaign finance laws in the country, and only recently passed legislation that will make it illegal to use campaign donations for personal use…in July 2026. That means the millions of dollars other candidates have raised, largely from corporate PACs and other interest groups, can still be used for their personal benefit throughout this election cycle.
Key Takeaway:
The Money Out of Politics Movement is a response to the outsized and corrupting role dark, unaccountable money is playing in our political system. Whether its multibillionaires openly attempting to buy statewide elections or the role of dark money in keeping certain incumbents in power (and squelching competitive races), it is clear that groups like MOP are pushing for positive change to empower the people over corporate interests.
Hold All Candidates Accountable
Research every candidate's position on reform issues and press them for specifics. Virginia voters deserve transparency about each candidate's pledges and policy commitments.