Former Rep. Elaine Luria, who lost reelection in 2022, is launching a comeback bid for her old congressional seat in Virginia.
Ms. Luria’s announcement comes a week after Virginia Democrats swept statewide elections, including former Rep. Abigail Spanberger winning the governor’s race and the party expanding its majority in the state House.
Ms. Luria, a Democrat who served in the House between 2019 and 2023, is running to unseat GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans, to whom she lost in 2022.
This seat is expected to be highly contested, as Republicans aim to extend their majority in the House. President Trump barely carried the 2nd Congressional District in 2024, as Ms. Kiggans defeated Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal by 4 percentage points.
“I cannot sit back and watch as Republicans in Congress create chaos while failing to address the rising cost of living and the issues that matter to Coastal Virginians,” Ms. Luria said Wednesday in a statement.
The Democrat-led Virginia Legislature has begun a process that could lead to redrawing the state’s map for congressional districts and make Ms. Kiggans’ current district lean more toward Democrats.
The field for the Democratic primary is already crowded: Marine veteran Michael Williamson, Navy veteran James Osyf, physician Nila Devanath and former Virginia Cabinet Secretary Matt Strickler have announced their candidacies for the 2nd District seat.
Ms. Luria, a military veteran who helped investigate the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, said she is focusing on making life more affordable for working families, growing the economy, cutting health care costs and strengthening the military.
“Virginians are hungry for change, and I look forward to getting back to work for Hampton Roads,” she said in a statement.
