Virginia voters are selecting Democratic and Republican nominees for congressional races on Tuesday as part of the state’s midterm election cycle. The primary date was moved to August from the typical June timeframe to accommodate a voter-approved redistricting initiative that would have redrawn congressional districts to favor Democrats. However, the Virginia Supreme Court struck down the proposed map before the election, leaving candidates to campaign in districts that have been in place since 2021.
The rejected redistricting effort created significant disruption in the campaign landscape. The originally proposed map would have given Democrats a chance to win 10 of Virginia’s 11 congressional seats, prompting numerous candidates to launch campaigns based on those presumed districts. When the court ruling became clear in May, many candidates withdrew from races or repositioned their campaigns to different districts, some facing substantially less competitive environments than originally anticipated. Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger acknowledged the challenges this created but expressed confidence in her party’s prospects, stating Democrats could win seats without redistricting and that as many as four Virginia seats could flip to Democratic control.
Democrats are concentrating resources on two seats held by Republican incumbents Jen Kiggans and Rob Wittman. The 2nd District, centered on Virginia Beach, is considered essential for Democrats’ effort to retake House control. In that race, former U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria is the frontrunner among four Democratic primary candidates. The 1st District features a seven-candidate Democratic primary, with Henrico County prosecutor Shannon Taylor viewed as the leading contender. Both Luria and Taylor have backing from the House Democrats’ campaign committee and significant fundraising advantages.
Virginia currently has six Democratic and five Republican representatives in the U.S. House, all seeking reelection. Republicans are also selecting a nominee to challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, though observers view that contest as unlikely to determine Senate control. The three Republican Senate candidates include retired Army Major General Bert Mizusawa, accountant Kim Farington, and Marine Corps reservist David Williams.
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