Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones raises funds for reelection with help from Good News PAC

Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones holds a commanding financial advantage in his reelection bid, backed by both his traditional campaign account and a political action committee he oversees.

The latest campaign finance reports show Jones sitting on approximately $180,000 in available cash as of July 23. This war chest heavily outweighs the resources of his challengers:

• Phillip Hamilton: The former state legislator has brought in roughly $7,000 since entering the mayoral race in April.

• Sharon Scott: The former City Council member has collected just under $4,000 since launching her campaign in June.

Established in 2022 following Jones's initial election victory and activated for donations in 2024, the Good News PAC is designed to back veterans and dedicated public servants. Jones noted that the current hostile political climate makes it difficult to recruit qualified candidates, and his objective is to lower the barrier to entry for servant leaders. Joe Gonzalez, a finance director for Jones, confirmed the PAC will fund aligned down-ballot candidates in Newport News this November, though specific names remain unannounced ahead of the September 15 filing deadline.

The financial relationship between Jones and the PAC involves significant internal maneuvering. On December 18, 2025, Jones provided a $275,000 loan to the PAC, per the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. The very next day, the PAC moved that exact sum to his mayoral committee, Friends of Phillip Jones. By April 1, the committee had donated the $275,000 back to the PAC.

Major Backers and PAC Expenditures The PAC has attracted heavy corporate and private backing, including:

• $150,000 from Dominion Energy.

• $20,000 from a Hampton-based general contractor.

• $10,000 apiece from three different local and out-of-state real estate and development organizations.

To date, the PAC's payouts include $14,300 to Shannon Jones for her successful 2025 Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney bid, $2,000 to former Marine Nate Jester for an Atlanta City Council runoff, and $1,000 to prosecutor Shannon Taylor’s congressional campaign.

Campaign finance attorney Jason Torchinsky suggests that moving massive sums early on serves as a strategic deterrent. Showcasing substantial financial resources can intimidate potential challengers who lack the means to compete, even if the funds are later reallocated. Jones defended his personal financial injections, stating he will always lead his campaign's fundraising and that his investments reflect his deep belief in the region's future.

Virginia's lax campaign finance laws facilitate this environment, standing as one of just 11 states without individual contribution limits and one of only five allowing unlimited corporate giving.

The Challengers: Hamilton and Scott Both of Jones’s mayoral opponents have experience out-raising rivals in past races, though they currently trail him significantly in funds.

• Phil Hamilton: The former Virginia House delegate (1988–2009) once raised nearly $690,000 during an unsuccessful 2009 race. He resigned later that year amid a federal bribery investigation, resulting in a conviction and an eight-year prison term. Hamilton is now leaning into a grassroots strategy, shunning special-interest money and focusing entirely on face-to-face voter outreach.

• Tina Scott: While her highest previous fundraising haul was under $25,000 during a 2010 City Council run, she successfully outraised her opponents in three separate council victories. Dismissing Jones's massive financial advantage by noting that dollars do not cast ballots, Scott emphasized that she is relying on community-level engagement and personal connections.

Regional Context Newport News holds the distinct position of being the only Hampton Roads municipality voting for a mayor this year. Within the region, Jones is uniquely active with a PAC; the only other local mayor to operate one is Norfolk’s Kenny Alexander, whose now-inactive Friends of Norfolk PAC brought in about $175,000 over several years.

For Jones, the fluid movement of capital between his campaign and the PAC represents a unified effort to elect like-minded local leaders. He views local government as the critical arena for change and positions the PAC as an investment vehicle for donors eager to see more veterans holding local office.