In Virginia, all 11 Congressional seats and one U.S. Senate seat will be up for election in November.
Of those 12 federal races, only a handful are expected to be competitive.
Early voting begins in Virginia on Sept. 20. Voters can check their voter registration status and learn more about how to register or where to vote on the Department of Elections webpage: www.elections.virginia.gov/.
These competitive races in Virginia could determine the majority Congress:
Virginia Congressional District 2
The one-term incumbent, Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans, is seeking to defend her seat from her Democratic challenger, Missy Cotter Smasal. Cook Political has rated this race as “leans Republican” but Democrats are keen to flip the seat.
Both candidates are Navy veterans seeking to represent a southern Virginia coastal district that includes military bases and a population with a high percentage of active-duty members of the military along with veterans. About $5.5 million had been raised between the two candidates as of June 30, with Kiggans claiming $4.2 million and Cotter-Smasal claiming nearly $1.28 million.
Learn more about 2nd District race: Previewing Virginia's 2nd Congressional District race between Kiggans and Cotter-Smasal
Virginia Congressional District 7
Democrat Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson are both seeking the open Seventh Congressional District seat, currently held by Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger. Spanberger announced in late 2023 that she would not seek re-election to Congress and is instead running for governor in the 2025 race.
This race is the highest grossing race out of all of Virginia’s 11 Congressional Districts so far, with more than $9 million raised between the two candidates – $7 million of that was raised by Vindman and nearly $1.9 million was raised by Anderson. It's also anticipated to be the closest race for Congress in Virginia – Inside Elections moved the district to a “toss up” recently, but Cook Political Report has the district as “leans Democrat.” Both the DCCC and the NRCC have named this district as one of interest when seeking the House majority.
Vindman, along with his twin brother, played a pivotal role in the 2019 impeachment inquiry into former President Donald Trump: They reported the quid-pro-quo call between Trump and Ukraine. Vindman is a former Army JAG officer and Anderson is a combat veteran and green beret. Anderson received an endorsement from Trump, and Vindman received an endorsement from Spanberger.
Learn more about 7th District race: Previewing Virginia's 2nd Congressional District race between Vindman and Anderson
Virginia U.S. Senate seat
Democratic incumbent Sen. Tim Kaine is seeking re-election to his third term in the U.S. Senate. Republican nominee and retired Navy Captain Hung Cao is seeking to unseat Kaine. Kaine is ahead of Cao in the polls by more than 10% and Cook Political has rated Kaine’s seat as “solid Democrat.” Kaine has raised nearly $16 million to Cao’s $3 million as of June 30.
Learn more about Virginia Senate race: Previewing the race between Kaine and Cao
The rest of Virginia's Congressional races
CD 01: Republican incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman has represented Virginia’s First Congressional District since 2007 but his Democratic challenger, Leslie Mehta, is seeking to unseat the long-serving member of Congress. Cook Political has rated the district as “solid Republican.” Wittman has raised $2.1 million to Mehta’s roughly $295,000 as of June 30.
CD 03: Democratic incumbent Rep. Bobby Scott has represented Virginia’s Third Congressional District since 1993 but his Republican challenger, John Sitka, is seeking to unseat the long-serving member of Congress. Cook Political has rated the district as “solid Democrat.” Scott has raised roughly $619,000 to Sitka’s $2,160 as of June 30.
CD 04: Democratic incumbent Jennifer McClellan has represented Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District since 2023, when she won a special election to fill the seat that was vacated when Rep. Don McEachin died in 2022. McClellan’s challenger in the 2024 contest is Republican Bill Moher. Cook Political has rated the district as “solid Democrat.” McClellan has raised $2.3 million to Moher’s roughly $411,000 as of June 30. Learn more about the 4th District race: Previewing the race between McClellan and Moher.
CD 05: Republican nominee state Sen. John McGuire beat incumbent Rep. Bob Good, the House Freedom Caucus chair, in the June 18 primary election and subsequent recount by about 366 votes. McGuire will face his Democratic challenger, Gloria Witt, in the General Election. Cook Political has rated the district as “solid Republican.” McGuire has raised $1.4 million to Witt’s roughly $58,000 as of June 30. Most of the money raised by McGuire was spent during the bitter primary election against Good, however.
CD 06: Republican incumbent Rep. Ben Cline has represented Virginia’s Sixth Congressional District since 2019. He will face a Democratic challenger, Ken Mitchell, in the November election. Cook Political has rated the district as “solid Republican.” Cline has raised roughly $654,000 to Mitchell’s roughly $61,000 as of June 30. Learn more about the 6th District race: Previewing the race between Cline and Mitchell.
CD 08: Democratic incumbent Rep. Don Beyer has represented Virginia’s Eighth Congressional District since 2015. He will face two Independent challengers, Bentley Foster Hensel and David Kennedy, and one Republican, Jerry Torres, in the November election. Cook Political has listed the district as “solid Democrat.” Beyer has raised $1.4 million to Torres’ roughly $29,000; Foster Hensel’s roughly $17,000; and Kennedy’s roughly $11,000, as of June 30.
CD 09: Republican incumbent Rep. Morgan Griffith has represented Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District since 2011 but his Democratic challenger, Karen Baker, is seeking to unseat the long-serving member of Congress. Cook Political has rated the district as “solid Republican.” Griffith has raised roughly $737,000 to Baker’s roughly $92,000 as of June 30.
CD 10: The seat for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District is open after incumbent Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton announced she would not seek re-election due to health reasons. Democratic state Sen. Suhas Subramanyam will face Republican Mike Clancy in the November contest. Cook Political has rated the district as “solid Democrat.” Subramanyam has raised roughly $1.3 million to Clancy’s roughly $422,000 as of June 30, but both candidates spent much of their funds in the highly contested primary election.
CD 11: Democratic incumbent Rep. Gerry Connolly has represented Virginia’s 11th Congressional District since 2009 but his Republican challenger, Michael Lewis Van Meter Is seeking to unseat the long-serving member of Congress. Cook Political has rated the district as “solid Democrat.” Connolly has raised roughly $1.9 million to Van Meter’s roughly $24,000 as of June 30.
Staunton City Council race
There are five candidates running for four open seats on the Staunton City Council this November.
Candidates for the four seats up for election this November are C. Dan Gunnells, Jeff Overholtzer, Corrie Park, Blake Shepherd, and incumbent Adam Campbell. Current Councilman Mark Robertson previously announced he was not running for re-election.
Mayor Steve Claffey and Vice Mayor Amy Darby are also not running for re-election. In Staunton, the mayor and vice mayor are first elected as councilmembers, then council internally decides which councilors serve as mayor and vice mayor.
Campbell was first appointed, then elected last year to finish the term of former Staunton Mayor Andrea Oaks, who resigned.
On Wednesday night, the candidates participated in a forum, explaining their positions on the issues facing the city.
Learn more about the Staunton City Council race: previewing the race
Previous coverage:
Staunton Councilor Mark Robertson will not run to keep his seat in November
Two candidates on the ballot for Staunton City Council seat
Staunton School Board race
There are three candidates for three open seats on the Staunton School Board this fall. Two newcomers and one incumbent have put their names on the ballot.
The only incumbent running for reelection will be Ron Ramsey. He was first elected in 2004 and has served four non-consecutive terms.
Also seeking election to the school board are Joann Jeter and Michele Kielty.
Jeter is a parent of students in Staunton City Schools and an active PTA member, having served as PTA president in past years. Kielty has been a parent in the Staunton City School system since 2008. She has a Ph.D. in counseling and counseloreducation and serves a professor of counseling and director of the school counseling programat James Madison University.
Current members Natasha McCurdy and Robert Boyle have decided not to run for another term on the board.
Learn more about the Staunton School Board race: previewing the race
Previous coverage:
Waynesboro, Staunton school boards: Who is running for office this November?
Who is running for the Staunton School Board in November?
McCurdy resigns as Staunton School Board chair during police investigation
Waynesboro City Council race
Mayor Lana Willams told The News Leader she is not planning to run for a second term on Waynesboro City Council in November.
In Ward A, David "Major Dave" Goetze is running against Lorie Jean Strother.
Bruce Allen serves Ward B and Terry Short is the at-large representative, but both terms expire at the end of the year. Allen told The News Leader he will not be seeking reelection. Short will be running again, this time for Ward B against planning commission chair William Flory.
Former Waynesboro Mayor Bobby Henderson announced on his Facebook page that he will be running for the at-large seat that Short currently holds. Henderson previously served Ward C, serving as vice mayor from 2018 until 2020 and mayor from 2020 until 2022. He is running against Jeremy Sloat, a planning commission member who previous ran for council in 2022.
Learn more about the Waynesboro City Council race: previewing the race
Previous coverage:
Waynesboro City Council: Who is running in November?
RISE students hold forum for Waynesboro council, school board candidates
Waynesboro School Board race
Erika Smith and Diana Williams will be seeking reelection to the Waynesboro School Board this November. Smith is currently the Ward B representative while Williams holds the school board seat in Ward A.
Both Smith and Williams were appointed to the board in 2017 to fill unexpired terms. They have both since won election to the school board in Waynesboro.
The at-large school board member, Rick Wheeler, chose not to run again this fall. Nigel Stewart will be seeking that seat as a newcomer to the school board.
Stewart is a graduate of Waynesboro High School and Virginia State University, and is currently the vice chair of the Waynesboro Planning Commission.
Learn more about Waynesboro School Board race: Previewing the race
Previous coverage:
Waynesboro, Staunton school boards: Who is running for office this November?
RISE hosting educational forum in Waynesboro focused on racism in schools
RISE students hold forum for Waynesboro council, school board candidates
Grottoes City Council race
GROTTOES – Three candidates are seeking three open seats on the Grottoes Town Council this November: Michael Kohl, Eddie Chittum, and Maite Taylor.
Kohl and Chittum are both seeking re-election. Taylor current served on the Grottoes Planning Commission and chairs the comprehensive plan committee.
The council candidates were only asked one question after their introductions at a recent town hall – what is their vision for the Grottoes community?
Learn more about Grottoes City Council race: previewing the race
Grottoes Mayoral race
Mayoral Incumbent Jo Plaster grew up in Augusta County and graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. She moved to Grottoes in 2020 and works for Funkhouser Real Estate Group, having been in real estate for the past decade.
Challenger Joshua Bailey has “always lived in and around Grottoes.” He has worked in Augusta County Fire Rescue for the past 17 years, moving up from firefighter to lieutenant to captain and, now, battalion chief. He was elected to town council for the first time in 2016.
Learn more about the Grottoes Mayoral race: Previewing the race
Craigsville City Council race
Three seats are up for the Craigsville Town Council, and all three have incumbents running unopposed elections to fill them.
Cindy Doyle, Brad Ingram, and Harvey Sprouse are all current Craigsville Town Council members. No one filed to run against them in the upcoming November election, giving each a smooth landing path back to their current positions.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Staunton, Virginia Election Guide for Congressional, local races
