26 incumbent Va. House Democrats face no opponents, while Dems field challenges in all 100 races

Fairfax County chair makes ‘urgent’ plea to find candidates in 6 districts 

As of May 12, some 26 Democrat incumbents in the Virginia House of Delegates have no challengers in this fall’s elections, either Republican or Independent, according to the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP).   Filing deadline is June 17, the same day as the state primary 

Of the 26 districts with no Republican challenger, six are in Fairfax County, six in the Hampton Roads area, three in Prince William County/Manassas, four in the Richmond area and five in Arlington and Alexandria combined, according to VPAP.

Democrats, however, have succeeded in getting all 100 House races covered, according to this article in “The Virginia Mercury,” which stated;  “For the first time in recent memory, Democrats are fielding candidates in all 100 districts, including deep-red turf like the Eastern Shore.”

The article gives the credit to Dr. Fergie Reid Jr., described in the article as “a retired physician and longtime political activist who has made it his mission to recruit candidates in every district, especially those overlooked by traditional party infrastructure.” 

Republicans engaged in a similar effort in 2021 called “The Virginia Project,” led by Dave Gordon, then a political consultant in North Carolina.  As a result of fielding GOP candidates in all 100 districts, along with Glenn Youngkin‘s victory as Governor, Republican regained control of the House of Delegates, including winning races in majority black districts that were created in 2019 by court order – which helped Democrats take General Assembly control that year.

But in 2023, in a part due to redistricting and a slew of incumbents retiring because they were reapportioned in the same districts as their colleagues, the GOP lost the House and failed to regain the State Senate.  About 20 House Democrats that year had no opponents, mostly in Northern Virginia.  

In an email last week, Fairfax County GOP Chair Katie Gorka wrote: “Today, I write to you with both urgency and determination. As your Chairman, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the passion and principles that drive our community’s commitment to conservative values. But I must also share a concerning reality: several districts in Fairfax County currently have no Republican candidates to challenge Democrat incumbents in the 2025 elections.

“This is not just a political concern—it’s a critical threat to the future of our county and commonwealth.

“When districts go unchallenged, voters lose their fundamental right to choose between competing visions for their community…Each time a Democrat runs unopposed, they claim a false mandate to continue the very policies that have contributed to…”

Gorka did not identify this other major reason to have competition — incumbents with no challengers in November are free to funnel money and resources to Democratic candidates in need.    It was the main reason this writer decided to come out of “retirement” from local office (held 2006 to 2017, winning four elections in Loudoun), to run for State Senate in the very Blue 37^th Senate district in Fairfax County.  I lost by 30 points, but wanted to ensure voters in my district had a choice. 

Fairfax County Republican Committee Vice Chair Rosie Oakley elaborated in an email, stating: “The Fairfax GOP has a minority position in HOD Districts 4 & 19.  We are actively recruiting candidates for District 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 17 and would, of course, also like to help find candidates for Districts 4 & 19. We have prospects in 9, 12 and 14, but nothing for certain yet.”

Arlington GOP Chair Matthew Hurtt said by email: Arlington has HOD 1, 2, and 3. One prospective candidate, I believe in 3. Still working on 1 and 2.

He added:  “I recruit for candidates year-round. I mention it in every meeting. I put it in emails. RPV and no other group has helped.”

In contrast, the Fairfax County Committee only began actively began recruiting In March with a series of “information workshops.”  All of the HOD candidates who filed this year had run races for elected office in 2023, but lost. 

No other GOP unit in Northern Virginia responded to my email requesting information on recruitment, but I have been involved in this for the Loudoun County Republican Committee – which has succeeded in fielding candidates in all five House districts, plus four of five school board races – almost all of whom are new faces.  The LCRC began recruitment efforts in the summer of 2024 and does much more to help its HOD and school board candidates than many other units in Virginia.

In 10 districts, Democrats have a primary for the nomination on June 17;  eight for the Republicans.   

Perhaps the main reason Republicans are not running in these very Blue districts is they face an uphill battle and many just don’t wish to run – also out of fear of mudslinging and having their lives upended (which is actually quite rare).

In addition, the burden of finding candidates for General Assembly falls on the city and county GOP units, which are comprised of volunteers – not paid staff – to do the task, including vetting candidates who do file.

Finally, the House and Senate GOP caucuses, as a rule, who do have paid resources, do not help find candidates, so not to get in the middle of a nomination fight in case more than one candidate files.  The Republican Party of Virginia seems to follow the same rule, but there was no comment from RPV before this article deadline.

If you are interested in being a candidate, please contact your local Republican unit.