RICHMOND, Va. — U.S. Representative Jen Kiggans has successfully secured reelection in the 2nd District of Virginia on Wednesday, marking a significant win for Republicans aiming to maintain control of this congressional seat in their efforts to dominate the House.
The Democrats endorsed candidate Missy Cotter Smasal, aiming to reclaim the seat that was previously won by Kiggans in the 2022 midterm elections.
“I’m incredibly grateful that Southeast Virginia has once again opted for commonsense conservatism,” Kiggans expressed on social media early Wednesday.
In the 7th District, a close contest continued between Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson, with Vindman holding a slight lead as 99% of the votes were counted.
Kiggans, 53, a former Navy helicopter pilot, aimed for a second term while facing off against Cotter Smasal, 46, who has a background as a Navy surface warfare officer.
The fundamental differences in their political ideologies highlighted the ongoing national divides between the two parties. During an intense debate in October, both candidates accused each other of being ineffective and endorsing policies detrimental to their coastal district. Cotter Smasal campaigned primarily on issues such as abortion rights and the preservation of American democracy, while Kiggans emphasized the economy and border security.
“Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” Kiggans posed during the debate. “If the answer is no, then why would we risk giving Democratic policies another chance, which my opponent champions? I am running to restore the security we’ve been missing.”
The 2nd District has a history of being a competitive battleground, frequently shifting between Republican and Democratic representatives, particularly those with military backgrounds. Notably, the district was once held by former Navy SEAL Scott Taylor, who lost to Democrat Elaine Luria, a former Navy commander, in 2018. Luria then served two terms before being defeated by Kiggans in 2022.
All U.S. House seats were up for election on Tuesday, which included eight other districts in Virginia. Democratic Representatives Don Beyer, Gerry Connolly, Jennifer McClellan, and Bobby Scott successfully retained their positions. Meanwhile, Republican Representatives Ben Cline, Morgan Griffith, and Rob Wittman also won their reelection bids. In a closely contested primary, State Senator John McGuire secured victory in Virginia’s 5th District against incumbent Rep. Bob Good with a margin of less than one percentage point, resulting in a recount in August.
On the same night, Democrat Suhas Subramanyam triumphed over Republican Mike Clancy in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. The Democrats were keen on retaining this seat, which covers parts of Northern Virginia exurbs, following the decision of incumbent Rep. Jennifer Wexton not to run for reelection due to a diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy.
In the tightly contested 7th District race, Vindman and Anderson emerged as two principal candidates, with Republicans targeting gains in non-incumbent areas. Despite being new to the political scene, Vindman gained national attention for his whistleblower role during former President Donald Trump’s initial impeachment. The former Army officer structured his campaign around themes of abortion rights and perceived threats to democracy from extremism within the GOP. In contrast, Anderson, a veteran and former Green Beret, positioned himself as a more personable choice, focusing his campaign on economic issues.
For nearly half a century, Republicans dominated this district until Spanberger unseated former Republican Rep. David Brat in 2018.