Elaine Luria

Three competitive Virginia congressional races are drawing national attention as potential bellwethers for House control. In the 1st District, Republican Rep. Rob Wittman faces Democrat Shannon Taylor in a toss-up contest; analysts say a Taylor win would signal strong odds of a Democratic House takeover nationally. The 2nd District race between Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans and Democrat Elaine Luria leans Democratic, while the 5th District matchup between Republican Rep. John McGuire and Democrat Tom Perriello leans Republican. Political scientists note that if Republicans sweep all three seats, they are likely to retain the House. Early voting runs through Oct. 31, with Election Day set for Nov. 3.

Former Rep. Elaine Luria, the Democrat challenging Rep. Jen Kiggans for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District seat in 2026, has not moved into the district despite promising to do so after 2021 redistricting shifted her Norfolk home into the neighboring 3rd District. A Washington Examiner review of property records found Luria still resides in Norfolk and in 2024 purchased a second home just doors from her original house, also outside the 2nd District's boundaries. Her husband continues to list their original Norfolk address on federal campaign finance filings.

Luria's campaign says she was "deliberately drawn out" of the district after the court-ordered 2021 remap and calls the residency scrutiny a distraction from Kiggans' record. Candidates are constitutionally required only to live within the state, not the specific district. Luria won her August primary in a landslide and faces Kiggans in a rematch of their 2022 race, which Luria lost narrowly. The contest is rated a toss-up and is seen as pivotal to Democrats' efforts to retake the House majority.