Thirty-nine-year-old Chopra, who was the nation's first chief technology officer, has been travelling to all parts of Virginia since quitting the White House in January to garner support for his candidature for the 2013 polls.
"I am committed to seeding innovative ideas that support a quality workforce and educating Virginians throughout their lifetime to strengthen and maintain a state economy that is built to last," Chopra said in a brief statement while filing his papers
with the state Board of Elections last week.
The $511,000 raised by Chopra is the most by a candidate for lieutenant governor in the first half of the year proceeding the election year.
Only incumbent Lt Gov Bill Bolling raised close to that amount in a similar time period, bringing in roughly $367,000 in the first half of 2008 before the 2009 elections.
The overwhelming majority of Chopra's contributions come from donors in the technology and financial industries, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonpartisan tracker of money in state politics.
Chopra, who lives in Virginia's Arlington County, has also served as Virginia's secretary of technology from 2006 to 2009 under Governor Timothy M Kaine.
