Virginia votes Tuesday: Everything you need to know about the 2026 primary elections

Virginians will head to the polls Tuesday for the 2026 primary elections, nearly two months later than usual after this year’s congressional redistricting referendum and the uncertainty over which map would govern the races delayed the state’s traditional June nomination contest.

More than 30 candidates are competing in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate and in seven of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts.

Republican voters will choose a nominee to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, while contested congressional primaries will unfold in the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th districts. Several incumbents are also seeking renomination without opposition.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and anyone in line by the cutoff will be allowed to cast a ballot. Voters can verify their polling place and registration status through theVirginia Department of Elections voter portal.

An acceptable form of identification is required to vote. That includes a driver’s license, passport, voter confirmation document, utility bill or bank statement. Voters without identification may sign an identity confirmation statement or cast a provisional ballot.

Because Virginia does not register voters by party, voters in localities holding both Democratic and Republican primaries may choose either party’s ballot, but they cannot participate in both.

Here’s a look at the contests and the candidates on the ballot across Virginia.

U.S. Senate

Three Republicansare seeking their party’s nomination to challenge Warner, the Democratic incumbent who is running for a fourth term.

A Northern Virginia business owner and former public accountant for several federal agencies and the White House,Kim Faringtonhas centered her campaign on inflation, government spending and border security.

GOP Senate hopefuls face long odds in race to challenge Mark Warner

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen.Bert Mizusawa, a former Pentagon official, is highlighting his military and national security experience while focusing on defense readiness, energy and foreign policy.

Running as a political outsider,David Williams— a businessman, U.S. Navy veteran and former federal employee — is promising to cut taxes and reduce the size of the federal government.

Warner does not face a primary opponent. Virginia has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since John Warner, no relation to the incumbent, won his final term in 2002.

1st District

Seven Democratsare competingfor the chance to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman of Westmoreland, who has represented the1st Congressional Districtsince 2007, making it Virginia’s largest congressional primary field.

Wittman seeks to keep 1st District seat, as Democratic challengers face crowded primary

The district stretches around Richmond, taking in parts of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties before extending east through the Williamsburg area and the Northern Neck.

On the ballot are U.S. Army veteranElizabeth Dempsey Beggs, Virginia Poverty Law Center attorneySalaam Bhatti, environmental advocateTim Cywinski, U.S. Navy veteran and energy lobbyistJason Knapp, healthcare attorneyEricka Kopp, longtime Henrico County Commonwealth’s AttorneyShannon Taylorand U.S. Army veteran and business lawyerMel Tull.

While the candidates have largely focused on affordability, healthcare and opposition to the Trump administration, they have drawn distinctions over whether Democrats should nominate a progressive or a moderate candidate to take on Wittman.

2nd District

Four Democrats are competing for the chance to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans of Virginia Beach in one of Virginia’smost competitivecongressional districts. Anchored in Hampton Roads,the districtincludes Virginia Beach, the Eastern Shore and parts of Chesapeake, Suffolk, Franklin, Southampton and Isle of Wight counties.

Luria to face Democratic challengers before a potential rematch with Kiggans in 2nd District

Former U.S. Rep.Elaine Luria, a retired U.S. Navy commander who represented the district for two years before losing to Kiggans in 2022, is seeking a rematch. Also on the Democratic ballot are physicianNila Devanath, who has focused her campaign on healthcare and reproductive rights;Bill Fleming, a physicist, veteran and Virginia Beach director with the Soil and Water Conservation District; andPatrick Mosolf, a former U.S. Agency for International Development employee.

Kiggans, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and state senator, faces no opposition for the Republican nomination.

5th District

Both parties havecontested primariesin the sprawling5th District, which spans from Charlottesville and the Richmond exurbs south through Lynchburg and Danville.

U.S. Rep.John McGuire, R-Goochland, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and state lawmaker serving his first term, is being challenged by Marine veteran and business ownerMelanie Lucero.

On the Democratic side, three candidates are seeking the nomination.Tom Perriellorepresented the district from 2009 to 2011 before serving in the Obama and Biden administrations.Suzanne Krzyzanowskiis a physician and cancer researcher, whileRobert Tracinskiis a political commentator and former Republican-turned-Democrat.

Although the district leans Republican, Democrats argue concerns about affordability and dissatisfaction with McGuire have made the race more competitive.

7th District

Three Republicans are seeking the nominationto challengefirst-term U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Woodbridge, in the Democratic-leaning7th District, which stretches from Prince William County through Fredericksburg and into Stafford, Sportsylvania and neighboring rural communities.

Entrepreneur and business executivePhilip Hardinghas emphasized his private-sector experience while calling for a smaller federal bureaucracy. Entrepreneur and educatorDouglas Ollivanthas focused on job creation, domestic manufacturing, energy production and election security.

Pastor and construction company ownerRick Smithershas made affordability the centerpiece of his campaign, advocating lower federal spending, fewer regulations and a pause on new data center development until local infrastructure catches up.

Vindman, a retired U.S. Army officer, is unopposed for the Democratic nomination after winning the seat by 3 percentage points in 2024.

8th District

Six-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Beyer of Alexandria facesfour primary contendersin the heavily Democratic8th District, which includes Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and part of Fairfax County.

Among them isMichael Duffin, a former U.S. State Department employee laid off during federal workforce cuts who has centered his campaign on restoring federal jobs. Former Alexandria City Councilman and U.S. Department of Labor attorneyMo Seifeldeinis running as an anti-establishment candidate.

Marine veteran and former CIA officerAdam Duniganhas emphasized government ethics and generational change, while Stafford County teacherLorena Brunerhas called for a more aggressive Democratic response to President Donald Trump.

How 8th Congressional District Democratic primary reflects party’s shifting identity and priorities

GOP candidate Tony Sabio faces no primary opponent.

9th District

Three Democrats are seeking the nomination to challenge longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith of Salem in the deeply conservative9th District. The seat covers much of Southwest Virginia, including Bristol, Abingdon, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Wytheville and communities along the Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia lines.

Retired United Methodist pastor and attorneyDouglas Crockett, who has roots in Wythe County, is running as a progressive while calling for efforts to ease political divisions. Software developerAdam Murphy, whose background includes the insurance, finance, manufacturing and aerospace industries, has focused on working-class economic issues, corporate power and technology policy.

Bedford County farmer and small business ownerJoy Powersbrings a background in agricultural development, foster care advocacy and leadership of the Bedford County Fair.

Griffith, first elected in 2010, faces no opposition for the Republican nomination.

10th District

Republicans have a three-way primary to determine who will challenge first-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Loudoun. TheNorthern Virginia districtincludes Loudoun, Fauquier and Rappahannock counties, the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, and parts of Fairfax and Prince William counties.

Retired U.S. Airforce Col.Dave Beckwith, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense, has built his campaign on national security and government management. Fairfax County teacherJulie Perry, who previously ran for the state Senate, is emphasizing education, federal spending and opposition to diversity programs in public schools.Anthony Suttles, whose background is in national security and economics, is the third Republican candidate in the race.

The district has leaned Democratic since the party flipped it in 2018 when former U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock lost her reelection bid to Jennifer Wexton. Subramanyam won the seat in 2024 and is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Email the Alexandria City Council:
Alyia Gaskins, alyia.gaskins@alexandriava.gov,
Sarah Bagley, sarah.bagley@alexandriava.gov,
Canek Aguirre, canek.aguirre@alexandriava.gov,
John Chapman, john.taylor.chapman@alexandriava.gov,
Abdel Elnoubi, abdel.elnoubi@alexandriava.gov,
Jacinta Greene, jacinta.greene@alexandriava.gov,
Sandy Marks, sandy.marks@alexandriava.gov,

Alexandria is an independent city in Northern Virginia.

Email the Alexandria City Council:
Alyia Gaskins, alyia.gaskins@alexandriava.gov,
Sarah Bagley, sarah.bagley@alexandriava.gov,
Canek Aguirre, canek.aguirre@alexandriava.gov,
John Chapman, john.taylor.chapman@alexandriava.gov,
Abdel Elnoubi, abdel.elnoubi@alexandriava.gov,
Jacinta Greene, jacinta.greene@alexandriava.gov,
Sandy Marks, sandy.marks@alexandriava.gov,

Email Fairfax County Supervisors At:
Jeff McKay → chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Kathy Smith (Sully District) sully@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Rachna Heizer (Braddock District) braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov,
James Bierman (Dranesville District) dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Rodney Lusk (Franconia District) franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Walter Alcorn (Hunter Mill District) huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Andres Jimenez (Mason District) mason@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Daniel Storck (Mount Vernon District)  mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Dalia Palchik (Providence District)  providence@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Pat Herrity (Springfield District) springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov,

 

Fairfax County is a county in Northern Virginia. Its county seat is Fairfax, an independent city.

Falls Church is an independent city in Northern Virginia.

Email the Henrico County Board:
Dan Schmitt, brookland@henrico.gov,
Roscoe Cooper III, fairfield@henrico.gov,
Misty Roundtree, threechopt@henrico.gov,
Jody Rogish, tuckahoe@henrico.gov,
Tyrone Nelson, varina@henrico.gov,

Henrico County is a county in the Richmond region. Its county seat is Laurel.

Email the Lynchburg City Council:
Larry Taylor: larry.taylor@lynchburgva.gov,
Curt Diemer: curt.diemer@lynchburgva.gov,
Sterling Wilder: sterling.wilder@lynchburgva.gov,
Chris Faraldi: chris.faraldi@lynchburgva.gov,
Stephanie Reed: stephanie.reed@lynchburgva.gov,
Marty Misjuns: martin.misjuns@lynchburgva.gov,
Jacqueline Timmer: jacqueline.timmer@lynchburgva.gov,

Lynchburg is an independent city in Central Virginia.

Email the Manassas City Council at:
Michelle Davis-Younger (Mayor): mdavis-younger@manassasva.gov,
Mark Wolfe (Vice Mayor): mwolfe@manassasva.gov,
Theresa Coates Ellis: tellis@manassasva.gov,
Ashley Hutson: ahutson@manassasva.gov,
Sonia Vásquez Luna: sluna@manassasva.gov,
Tom Osina: tosina@manassasva.gov,
Ralph Smith: rsmith@manassasva.gov,

Email the Manassas Park City Council:
Alanna Mensing, a.mensing@manassasparkva.gov,
Darryl Moore, d.moore@manassasparkva.gov,
Michael Carrera, m.carrera@manassasparkva.gov,
Haseeb Javed, h.javed@manassasparkva.gov,
Kevin Moreau, k.moreau@manassasparkva.gov,
Stacy Seiberling, s.seiberling@manassasparkva.gov,
Yesy Amaya, y.amaya@manassasparkva.gov,

Email the Manassas Park City Board/Council:

Manassas Park is an independent city in Northern Virginia.

Email the Prince William Board of Supervisors At:
Chair At-Large (Deshundra Jefferson) – djefferson@pwcgov.org,
Brentsville (Tom Gordy): tgordy@pwcgov.org,
Coles (Yesli Vega): yvega@pwcgov.org,
Occoquan (Kenny Boddye): kboddye@pwcgov.org,
Potomac (Andrea Bailey): abailey@pwcgov.org,
Woodbridge (Jeannie LaCroix): jlacroix@pwcgov.org,
General Board: bocs@pwcgov.org,

Prince William County is a county in Northern Virginia. Its county seat is Manassas, an independent city.

Email the Richmond City Council:
Andrew Breton, andrew.breton@rva.gov,
Katherine Jordan, katherine.jordan@rva.gov,
Kenya Gibson, kenya.gibson@rva.gov,
Sarah Abubaker, sarah.abubaker@rva.gov,
Stephanie Lynch, stephanie.lynch@rva.gov,
Ellen Robertson, ellen.robertson@rva.gov,
Cynthia Newbille, cynthia.newbille@rva.gov,
Reva Trammell, reva.trammell@rva.gov,
Nicole Jones, nicole.jones@rva.gov,

Richmond is an independent city in the Richmond region.

Email the Stafford County Board/Council:
Deuntay Diggs, ddiggs@staffordcountyva.gov,
Maya Guy, mguy@staffordcountyva.gov,
Kecia Evans, ksevans@staffordcountyva.gov,
Tinesha Allen, tallen@staffordcountyva.gov,
Pamela Yeung, pyeung@staffordcountyva.gov,
E. Darrell English, denglish@staffordcountyva.gov,
Crystal Vanuch, cvanuch@staffordcountyva.gov,

Email the Stafford County Board/Council:
Deuntay Diggs, ddiggs@staffordcountyva.gov,
Maya Guy, mguy@staffordcountyva.gov,
Kecia Evans, ksevans@staffordcountyva.gov,
Tinesha Allen, tallen@staffordcountyva.gov,
Pamela Yeung, pyeung@staffordcountyva.gov,
Darrell English, denglish@staffordcountyva.gov,
Crystal Vanuch, cvanuch@staffordcountyva.gov,

Stafford County is a county in the Fredericksburg area. Its county seat is Stafford.

Virginia Beach City Council:
Robert Dyer, mayorsoffice@vbgov.com,
Michael Berlucchi, mberlucc@vbgov.com,
Stacy Cummings, stcummings@vbgov.com,
Barbara Henley, bhenley@vbgov.com,
David Hutcheson, dhutcheson@vbgov.com,
Cal Jackson-Green, cjacksongreen@vbgov.com,
Robert Remick, wremick@vbgov.com,
Amelia Ross-Hammond, arosshammond@vbgov.com,
Jennifer Rouse, jvrouse@vbgov.com,
Joashua Schulman, jschulman@vbgov.com,
Rosemary Wilson, rcwilson@vbgov.com,
Group email: CityCouncil@vbgov.com,

Virginia Beach is an independent city in Hampton Roads.

Email the Williamsburg City Council:
Douglas Pons, dpons@williamsburgva.gov,
W. Pat Dent, pdent@williamsburgva.gov,
Barbara Ramsey, bramsey@williamsburgva.gov,
Stacy Kern-Scheerer, skernscheerer@williamsburgva.gov,
Ayanna Williams, awilliams@williamsburgva.gov,

Williamsburg is an independent city in Hampton Roads.

Email the Wythe County Board of Supervisors:
Bradley Martin, supvr_blacklick@wytheco.org,
Rolland Cook, supvr_westwytheville@wytheco.org,
Sarah Crockett, supvr_eastwytheville@wytheco.org,
Jamie Smith, supvr_fortchiswell@wytheco.org,
Jesse Burnett, supvr_leadmines@wytheco.org,
Dicky Morgan, supvr_speedwell@wytheco.org,
Stacy Terry, supvr_atlarge@wytheco.org,

Wythe County is a county in Southwest Virginia. Its county seat is Wytheville.

Email the Danville Board/Council:
Alonzo Jones, alonzo.jones@danvilleva.gov,
James Buckner, james.buckner@danvilleva.gov,
Larry Campbell, larry.campbell@danvilleva.gov,
Bryant Hood, bryant.hood@danvilleva.gov,
Danny Marshall, danny.marshall@danvilleva.gov,
Barry Mayo, barry.mayo@danvilleva.gov,
Gary Miller, gary.miller@danvilleva.gov,
Sherman Saunders, sherman.saunders@danvilleva.gov,
Lee Vogler, lee.vogler@danvilleva.gov,

Danville is an independent city in Southside Virginia.

Bedford County is a county in the Blue Ridge. Its county seat is Bedford.

Email the Bedford County Board of Supervisors:
Mickey Johnson, mjohnson@bedfordcountyva.gov,
Edgar Tuck, etuck@bedfordcountyva.gov,
Charla Bansley, cbansley@bedfordcountyva.gov,
John Sharp, jsharp@bedfordcountyva.gov,
Tommy Scott, t.scott@bedfordcountyva.gov,
Bob Davis, bdavis@bedfordcountyva.gov,
Tammy Parker, tparker@bedfordcountyva.gov,
Contact: https://www.bedfordcountyva.gov/government/board-of-supervisors

Email the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors:
Renee K. Rountree,
David O. Garner,
Rudolph Jefferson,
Joel C. Acree,
Robert Eley III,
Contact: https://www.isleofwight.gov/government/county_board_of_supervisors/index.php

Charlottesville is an independent city in Central Virginia.

Email the Charlottesville City Council:
Juandiego Wade, wadej@charlottesville.gov,
Natalie Oschrin, oschrinn@charlottesville.gov,
Jen Fleisher, fleisherj@charlottesville.gov,
Michael Payne, mpayne@charlottesville.gov,
Lloyd Snook, lsnook@charlottesville.gov,
Board contact: council@charlottesville.gov

Chesapeake is an independent city in Hampton Roads.

Email the Chesapeake City Council:
Rick West, rwest@cityofchesapeake.net,
Debbie Ritter, dritter@cityofchesapeake.net,
C. Jeff Bunn, jbunn1@cityofchesapeake.net,
E.R. Jeff Jefferies Jr., ERJefferies@cityofchesapeake.net,
Patricia King, pking@cityofchesapeake.net,
Amanda Newins, anewins@cityofchesapeake.net,
Les Smith Jr., lessmith@cityofchesapeake.net,
Ella Ward, eward@cityofchesapeake.net,
Daniel Whitaker, dwhitaker@cityofchesapeake.net,

Email the Henrico County Board/Council:
Dan Schmitt, brookland@henrico.gov,
Roscoe Cooper III, fairfield@henrico.gov,
Misty Roundtree, threechopt@henrico.gov,
Jody Rogish, tuckahoe@henrico.gov,
Tyrone Nelson, varina@henrico.gov,

Suffolk is an independent city in Hampton Roads.

Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Fredericksburg area.

Manassas is an independent city in Northern Virginia.

Email the Manassas City Board/Council:
Michelle Davis-Younger, mdavis-younger@manassasva.gov,
Mark Wolfe, mwolfe@manassasva.gov,
Theresa Ellis, tellis@manassasva.gov,
Ashley Hutson, ahutson@manassasva.gov,
Sonia Luna, sluna@manassasva.gov,
Tom Osina, tosina@manassasva.gov,
Ralph Smith, rsmith@manassasva.gov,

Email the Bristol Board/Council:
Jake Holmes, jake.holmes@bristolva.org,
Neal Osborne, neal.osborne@bristolva.org,
Alex Littleton, alex.littleton@bristolva.org,
Anthony Farnum, anthony.farnum@bristolva.org,
Michael Pollard, michael.pollard@bristolva.org,

Bristol is an independent city in Southwest Virginia.

Email the Lynchburg Board/Council:
Larry Taylor, larry.taylor@lynchburgva.gov,
Curt Diemer, curt.diemer@lynchburgva.gov,
Sterling Wilder, sterling.wilder@lynchburgva.gov,
Chris Faraldi, chris.faraldi@lynchburgva.gov,
Stephanie Reed, stephanie.reed@lynchburgva.gov,
Marty Misjuns, martin.misjuns@lynchburgva.gov,
Jacqueline Timmer, jacqueline.timmer@lynchburgva.gov,

Email the Manassas City Board/Council:
Michelle Davis-Younger, mdavis-younger@manassasva.gov,
Mark Wolfe, mwolfe@manassasva.gov,
Theresa Ellis, tellis@manassasva.gov,
Ashley Hutson, ahutson@manassasva.gov,
Sonia Luna, sluna@manassasva.gov,
Tom Osina, tosina@manassasva.gov,
Ralph Smith, rsmith@manassasva.gov,

Salem is an independent city in the Roanoke Valley.

Email the Salem City Council:
Renée Turk, rturk@salemva.gov,
Anne Green, agreen@salemva.gov,
Randy Foley, rfoley@salemva.gov,
Hunter Holliday, hholliday@salemva.gov,