State Senator Jen Kiggans (R-Virginia Beach) defeated Representative Elaine Luria (D-VA-02) 51.99 percent to 47.86 percent in preliminary results. Also, Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) won her race against Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega 51.93 percent to 48.07 percent, and Representative Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) defeated Hung Cao 52.95 percent to 47.05 percent in preliminary results, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
The three races were seen as bellwethers for the rest of the country. In a year when Republicans expected an unpopular president and other national politics to drag Democrats down, conventional wisdom said a GOP win in VA-10 would have indicated a national environment dramatically favoring Republicans, a GOP win in VA-07 would have been a sign of a tempered-yet-strong pro-GOP environment, and a Republican loss in VA-02 would have been a sign of serious problems.
There weren’t major surprises in Virginia’s other races, where Republican and Democratic incumbents protected their seats with healthy margins.
Representative Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) won with 57.58 percent of the vote, Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) won with 67.02 percent, Representative Donald McEachin (D-VA-04) won with 61.33 percent, Representative Bob Good (R-VA-05) won with 58.20 percent, Representative Ben Cline (R-VA-06) won with 64.65 percent, Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08) won with 73.36 percent, Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09) won with 74.0 percent, and Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11) won with 66.43 percent, according to preliminary results at press time.
Kiggans will make the fifth Republican in Virginia’s congressional delegation, with six Democrats.
“Our five Republican members of Congress are ready to fight to reverse the failing Biden/Pelosi Agenda,” the Republican Party of Virginia said in a Tuesday night statement. “Virginians have had enough of rising inflation, Democrats’ failed crime policies, and many other crises that have negatively affected all Virginia families. Our new delegation to Congress will provide us with the much-needed changes in Washington.”
“Kiggans’ Navy background and dedication to having the back of the Virginians she represents prove that she will serve Virginians in the best way possible. The dedication shown by our four incumbents and the hard work they have put in over their tenure will now be bolstered with the addition of Kiggans to Virginia’s Congressional Delegation. The Republican Party of Virginia congratulates our outstanding members of Congress and looks forward to all they will accomplish in Washington for the people of our Commonwealth and Nation,” the RPV said.
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Jen Kiggans” by Jen Kiggans.Â
