Virginia voters picked their nominees Tuesday for the congressional midterms in a primary season marked by upheaval after Democrats’ failed redistricting initiative.
Polls closed at 7 p.m. in Virginia, where turnout reportedly was low.
The commonwealth typically holds its primaries in June but this year moved them to August to accommodate a push approved by voters — but squashed by the courts — to redraw congressional districts more favorable to Democrats, part of a nationwide redistricting battle.
When it became clear in May that voters would be casting ballots in congressional districts that have been in place since 2021, many candidates counting on redistricting ended their bids. Others scrambled to move their campaigns to another district, while some opted to carry on in much less favorable races.
Virginia Dems want GOP incumbents on defensive
Virginia has six Democrats and five Republicans in the U.S. House. All incumbents are seeking reelection.
Democrats hope to flip at least two seats, contributing to their party’s effort to take control of the House for the second half of Trump’s term.
There are crowded Democratic primaries for two of the most competitive seats, where Republican incumbents Jen Kiggans and Rob Wittman avoided intraparty challenges but will be on defense in the fall.
Elsewhere, incumbent Reps. Don Beyer, D-8th District, and John McGuire, R-5th District, face primary challenges but far outraised their opponents.
Republicans also picked their nominee for what will be an uphill challenge against Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner.
Republicans pick challengers for Northern Virginia Dems
In what’s likely the most important Northern Virginia primary for Republicans, Doug Ollivant is projected to defeat Philip Harding and Rick Smithers in the 7th District.
Ollivant will face incumbent Democrat Eugene Vindman in a district that includes Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg and Culpeper counties.
In the 10th District — which includes Manassas, Manassas Park and Loudoun, Fauquier, and parts of Fairfax and Prince William counties — Dave Beckwith is the projected winner over Julie Perry and Anthony Suttles.
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam awaits in the midterms.
Democrats focus on flipping two key House seats
Two of Virginia’s congressional districts are among Democrats’ top targets for retaking control of the House.
The coastal 2nd District, with its population center in Virginia Beach, is a must-win for the party. Former U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria is seen as the favorite in the four-way Democratic primary field. It also includes physician Nila Devanath, who sought to define herself as the progressive voice in the race, along with scientist and veteran Bill Fleming, and Patrick Mosolf, a former international aid and humanitarian worker.
Luria is a retired Navy commander who was elected to the House in 2018 and served two terms before being ousted by Kiggans, a former Navy helicopter pilot running unopposed for the GOP nomination.
The slightly Republican-leaning 1st District — with about half its population in the Richmond suburbs and the other half in more rural counties — featured a seven-way Democratic primary race to face Wittman in the midterms.
Two House incumbents face primary challengers
Only two of Virginia’s 11 U.S. House incumbents faced a primary challenge.
In Northern Virginia’s overwhelmingly blue 8th District surrounding D.C., incumbent Rep. Don Beyer is projected to defeat four challengers as he seeks a seventh term.
In central Virginia’s Republican-leaning 5th District, Trump-endorsed McGuire, a former Navy SEAL and state lawmaker, defeated veteran Melanie Lucero, whom he far outraised.
A former congressman seeking a comeback, Tom Perriello is projected to win the three-way race for the Democratic nomination to face McGuire. Perriello represented the 5th District for one term beginning in 2009.
Republicans pick challenger for Sen. Warner
Bert Mizusawa, a decorated retired Army major general, is projected to win the GOP nomination for U.S. senator. he faced Kim Farington, an accountant who has touted her work over decades in the federal government, and Marine Corps reservist David Williams.
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, a well-known former governor who was first elected to the Senate in 2008, serves as the ranking Democrat on the chamber’s Intelligence Committee.
Defeating Warner, who was unopposed in the primary, is expected to be difficult to unseat. This midterm is not among those seen as a battleground to determine control of the Senate.
