Virginia’s major party primary elections will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Off on a Tangent makes recommendations to primary voters in state- and federal-level races in Virginia and local elections in Loudoun County whenever nominees will be chosen through a contested public primary.
Political parties are private organizations that should have no formal standing in our political system. As private organizations, they are free to choose their nominees through whichever process they wish—common methods include conventions, caucuses, private “firehouse primaries,” and direct nomination by party leaders. But in Virginia and many other states, the Democratic and Republican party duopoly has given itself permission to hold public primaries at the taxpayers’ expense.
Public primaries in Virginia are “open.” Any registered voter may vote in any single party primary held on a given day, regardless of whether they are an actual member of that party.
Overview
Contested public primaries are being held by both the Democratic and Republican parties. Democrats are holding primaries for six of Virginia’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Republicans are holding primaries for the U.S. Senate and three of Virginia’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The U.S. Senate is the higher of two houses in the U.S. Congress. It consists of 100 members who serve six-year terms with no term limits. There are two senators from each state. Elections are held on a staggered schedule with one of three classes of senators up for election every two years. Virginia has senators in the first and second classes, and the Democratic Party holds both seats. This year’s election is for the first-class seat.
The U.S. House of Representatives is the lower of two houses in the U.S. Congress. It consists of 435 members who serve two-year terms with no term limits. The number of members per state is determined proportionally based on population; Virginia currently has eleven. All seats are up for election every two years. The Democratic Party currently holds six of Virginia’s seats and the Republican Party holds five.
Democratic Party Primaries
The Democratic Party of Virginia is holding contested public primaries for six seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. House of Representatives
- 1st District: Former New Kent County Treasurer Herb Jones (D) and Leslie Mehta (D) stand as candidates to challenge incumbent Representative Rob Wittman (R-VA 1st). I recommend voting for Leslie Mehta.
- 2nd District: Jake Denton (D) and Missy Cotter Smasal (D) stand as candidates to challenge incumbent Representative Jen Kiggans (R-VA 2nd). I recommend voting for Missy Cotter Smasal.
- 5th District: Paul Riley (D), Gary Terry (D), and Gloria Witt (D) stand as candidates to challenge incumbent Representative Bob Good (R-VA 5th) or his Republican primary challenger, Virginia Senator John McGuire (R-10th). I recommend voting for Paul Riley.
- 7th District: Carl Bedell (D), former Virginia Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (D-21st), Virginia Delegate Briana Sewell (D-25th), and Eugene Vindman (D) stand as candidates for an open seat. I recommend voting for Carl Bedell.
- Special Note: Eugene Vindman’s brother, former U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alex Vindman, was a key figure in the first impeachment of President Donald Trump (R). Alex was the main source of public testimony about the July 25, 2019, phone call between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Eugene, then a U.S. Army colonel, assisted Alex with his testimony and still alleges—without evidence—that Trump engaged in “attempted extortion.” The allegation was never proved and Trump was acquitted.
- 10th District: Virginia Senator Jennifer Boysko (D-38th), Marion Devoe (D), former Virginia Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41st), Virginia Delegate Dan Helmer (D-10th), Krystle Kaul (D), Mark Leighton (D), Virginia Delegate Michelle Maldonado (D-20th), Travis Nembhard (D), Adrian Pokharel (D), Atif Qarni (D), Virginia Delegate David Reid (D-28th), and Virginia Senator Suhas Subramanyam (D-32nd) stand as candidates for an open seat. I recommend voting for Michelle Maldonado.
- 11th District: Incumbent Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA 11th) is challenged by Ahsan Nasar (D). I recommend voting for Gerry Connolly.
Republican Party Primaries
The Republican Party of Virginia is holding contested public primaries for U.S. Senate and three seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. Senate
- Statewide: Hung Cao (R), Jonathan Emord (R), Eddie Garcia (R), Scott Parkinson (R), and Chuck Smith (R) stand as candidates to challenge incumbent Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA). I recommend voting for Scott Parkinson.
U.S. House of Representatives
- 5th District: Incumbent Representative Bob Good (R-VA 5th) is challenged by Virginia Senator John McGuire (R-10th). I recommend voting for Bob Good.
- 7th District: Derrick Anderson (R), Cameron Hamilton (R), Maria Martin (R), Jon Myers (R), John Prabhudoss (R), and former Calhoun County, Michigan, Commissioner Terris Todd (D) stand as candidates for an open seat. I recommend voting for Cameron Hamilton.
- NOTE: Todd served on the Calhoun County, Michigan, Board of Commissioners as a Democrat. He has since switched parties.
- 10th District: Manga Anantatmula (R), Aliscia Andrews (R), Mike Clancy (R), and Alex Isaac (R) stand as candidates for an open seat. I recommend voting for Mike Clancy.