Elaine Luria

Elaine Luria is a retired Navy commander who represented this Hampton Roads district in Congress from 2019 to 2023. She won the August 4 Democratic primary with about 80 percent of the vote and faces Republican Jen Kiggans, who defeated her in 2022.

On the ballot against Jen Kiggans (R)

Why it matters: This rematch between two Navy veterans in a closely divided swing district with one of the country's highest shares of veterans is one of the races expected to help decide control of the House.

Give to Elaine directly Volunteer Campaign site Your voting plan

Direct gifts go 100% to the campaign through its own official page. We never see or handle them.

The race at a glance

Race ratingToss-upCook Political Report, Oct 16 source

Latest poll Luria 46% 43% Kiggans 11% undecided or other Christopher Newport University Wason Center, Oct 1-10, 2026, 700+ LV. source

Money raised (through Sep 30) Luria$7,364,705 Kiggans$7,240,304 $1,735,173 cash on hand. source

In Elaine's own words

**Elaine Luria**, on her affordability agenda, after a roundtable at a Virginia Beach ice cream shop, Oct 5 source

**Elaine Luria**, on her campaign website source

Where Elaine stands

Social Security and Medicare: She opposes cuts to Social Security, Medicare and other programs seniors rely on and wants to strengthen them. source
Cost of living: She wants to lower costs for families, including gas, groceries, prescription drugs, housing and child care, and to repeal tariffs she says raise prices. source
Medicare benefits and wages: Her affordability plan would expand Medicare to cover dental, vision and hearing, raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and provide 12 weeks of paid family leave. source
Corruption: She proposes banning stock trading by members of Congress and mandatory jail time for members who steal taxpayer money. source
Veterans and military families: She wants to protect veterans' care, reverse cuts to veterans' programs, and improve life for military families. source

The record

Served 20 years as a Navy officer, rising to commander
Represented Virginia's 2nd District in the U.S. House from 2019 to 2023
Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a master's degree from Old Dominion University

ConfidentialThe GOP File

The file on Jen Kiggans

Kiggans voted for the May 2025 House budget bill with large Medicaid cuts, which passed 215 to 214, after signing an April letter with 11 other Republicans opposing those cuts. source
Kiggans introduced a bipartisan bill to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies for one year, but voted against a clean three-year extension that passed the House. source
Kiggans voted against resolutions to limit the president's war powers in Iran. source

Endorsed by

Gov. Abigail Spanberger Sen. Mark Warner Sen. Tim Kaine VoteVets EMILY's List

Elaine Luria. Photo: U.S. House of Representatives, Public domain

Profile sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

Race data checked Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Quotes on this page were matched word for word against their sources.