The Ballot Brief
2026 U.S. House

Virginia's 1st Congressional District — 2026 Candidates

U.S. House · VA-1
Primary: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 General: Tuesday, November 3, 2026

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2026 candidates we're tracking in VA-1

Shannon L. Taylor

Democratic

Top priorities

  • Lowering costs and growing the economy through job creation in energy and infrastructure
  • Cleaning up crime and corruption, including banning insider stock trading by members of Congress
  • Protecting Medicare and Social Security and lowering prescription drug costs

Per the campaign site.

About Shannon L. Taylor

Taylor has served as Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney for 14 years and was the first woman elected to that office in 2011, per her campaign site. Her campaign site says she has tried thousands of cases involving violent crime, drug trafficking and domestic abuse, and that she created victim support programs and an opioid task force. Virginia Mercury also identifies her as the sitting Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney.

Robert J. "Rob" Wittman

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

  • Rebuilding the military
  • Increasing access to broadband
  • Improving access to a 21st century education for children

Per the campaign site.

About Robert J. "Rob" Wittman

Wittman spent 26 years in Virginia state government as an environmental health specialist with the Department of Health's Division of Shellfish Sanitation, per the campaign site. He studied biology at Virginia Tech, earned a master's in public health from the University of North Carolina and a Ph.D. in public policy from Virginia Commonwealth University, per the campaign site. He served on Montross Town Council, as mayor, and on the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors before his election to the Virginia House of Delegates and then Congress in 2007, per the campaign site.

About this race

Virginia's 1st Congressional District elects one member of the U.S. House of Representatives to a two-year term. Every House seat in the country is on the ballot in 2026. The Virginia primary is Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and the general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Virginia primary details →  ·  Virginia voter guide →