Candidates for Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal (left) and Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Jenn Kiggans. (Photos courtesy of Missy Cotter Smasal for Congress and Jen Kiggans for Congress campaigns)
Nearly six hours after polls closed, the result of Virginia’s hotly contested 2nd Congressional District remained too close to call.
With U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach leading by 52% by 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, it’s still unclear if she was able to ward off Democratic challenger Missy Cotter Smasal, because the Associated Press, which The Mercury relies on for race results, had not called the race.
The Virginia Beach-anchored district has oscillated between political parties in congressional representation with former Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria ousting Republican Rep. Scott Taylor in 2018, then Kiggans ousting Luria in 2022.
In addition to Virginia Beach, the district includes Chesapeake, Suffolk, Isle of Wight and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Though a large role of congressional representation includes securing federal funding for local and state governments to use, candidates’ plans to address national issues also featured prominently in the election this year, such as reducing inflation and reproductive rights.
A swingy district, the seat was seen as crucial for determining partisan control of the U.S. House of Delegates. Smasal had the endorsement of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York — likely the next House Speaker should Democrats flip the chamber. Meanwhile, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana came to Virginia to boost Kiggans and she had appeared at a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump over the summer.
We will update this story with the race results as soon as possible.
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