Many political viewers in Virginia were gearing up to watch the 2026 U.S. Senate race between State Senator Bryce Reeves and long-time incumbent Sen. Mark Warner. However, the week began with news that Reeves was pulling out of the race to focus on the health of a loved one.
On the plus-side, he will remain in the Virginia Senate.
We sat down with Reeves to talk about what brought him to step out of the contest, what happens next, and what will happen in January when the General Assembly convenes.
This is transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.
JOE THOMAS: Thanks for listening to this bonus episode of the Daily Signal podcast. I’m your host, Joe Thomas, Virginia correspondent for the Daily Signal.
Before we dive into today’s interview, I want to thank you for tuning in today. If you’re a first-time listener, The Daily Signal brings you fact-based reporting and conservative commentary on politics, policy and culture. And I hope you join our band of regular listeners to our podcast.
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and also take a moment to rate and review us wherever you get your podcast. You can find additional content at DailySignal.com. Now, let’s get started with today’s conversation right after this. Mark Warner will spare no time telling you he is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee for a few years, even its chair. He never leaves.
And is there a more tensile position in the U.S Senate than the Intelligence Committee right now as we look at the statecraft that’s being employed both inside and outside of the United States, and what is really happening in a lot of these stories.
So when he faced a challenger coming up in the midterms, that was a big story. A big story yesterday was that challenger bowed out of the race early because of health concerns within his family. He’s joining us now, Virginia State Senator Bryce Reeves.
Bryce, good morning, sir. How are you doing today? And prayers for your family. I hope all is going well.
BRYCE REEVES: Good morning and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year coming. And yeah, we were we were disappointed to say the least. We had put in a lot of effort so far, and we feel like that we would have made a pretty good challenger to Mark Warner.
You know the guy promised that he would only be there two terms and now he’s 18 years in, and he has TDS so bad that he’s not … well, in military terms, would call him combat ineffective.
He’s not focusing on working, trying to work with the administration at all on anything. And that’s not good. We’ve got to have, he even said it, fresh ideas and fresh leadership. And hopefully the party will be able to find that person in this process.
I’ve been longtime friends ever since we first won that first election. We know our families. You know, it was a critical decision that needed to be made. I’ve lived by the motto to honor God, love my family, and protect the country. And I can’t protect the country if I can’t do the first two. And my significant other’s mother is very, very ill. And we were notified of that on Christmas.
And in order to run statewide—it’s for your listeners—I tried it once before, as you know. We did 154,000 traveling miles in 15 months, and there’s no downtime. You’re sitting in a car, you’re making calls for funds, and if you’re not doing that, then you’re eating a whole chicken on a six-inch plate with a toothpick.
And for anybody that’s really thought about it, it’s not the easiest job in the world to try to hold a full-time job, being an elected member and run for statewide office. That’s just too much. And there’s just no way I could do it and be faithful to what I need to be faithful to. And so, we’re doing what we should be doing.
We’re gonna be focused on going back into session this year, a very important session, I think, with the new governor, trying to make sure we don’t lose everything that we’ve worked for under Gov. [Glenn] Youngkin’s leadership the last four years.
But there’s been a lot of bills filed. And I think the Senate is going to be critically important this year, Joe, as you and I have talked, that the Senate is going to be the backstop, I think, if we can pull one or two of my colleagues that I find to be a little more moderate over on some of these very extreme positions.
THOMAS: Well, for those who don’t know, Virginia’s Senate is only separated by a seat. There’s 21 Democrats and 19 Republicans. And so, all you need to do is get one to come over and ties, especially when it comes to constitutional amendments like the abortion law that they’re trying to open up abortions all the way to the moment of birth without even a second opinion from a doctor or a family member.
It’s amazing to think about these things, but beyond that, tearing up the Virginia Constitution for redistricting, Bryce, do you think, given the fact that the Virginia Senate voted overwhelmingly for the nonpartisan redistricting commission that drew these congressional districts in the first place, is there somebody we can shame into saying, “Hold it, you voted against this four years ago, five years ago.” As you said, win over that one vote, and all of a sudden, it’s not an issue anymore.
REEVES: Well, there are, but you know, Louise Lucas and leader Scott Surovell have both come out with statements saying they’re going to move forward. Sen. Van Valkenburg was one of the greatest advocates for the committee structure that we have now that’s drawn by a committee in which …they couldn’t reach consensus last time and a three-judge panel appointed two special masters to draw our maps. But it was voted on overwhelmingly by our colleagues in both the House, the Senate, and by all those that are listening as constituents, the general public.
THOMAS: That’s one of the things about amending Virginia’s constitution. At the end of the day, it lands in the lap of the voters. So, you know, there’s a lot still going on in this redistricting battle here. We’re seeing it come apart in places like Indiana.
And actually, it seems like it’s caused some rancor in California amongst the two political parties there, the far left and the middle left, which seems to me, Bryce Reeves, is hard to believe.
Bryce, what does come then of the Senate race? I know that Kim Farington is still in the race. She’s been trying to build a statewide position for a while now. Do you put your support behind someone or are you just saying, let’s see who’s out there interested in taking on Mark Warner on these issues?
REEVES: Well, Joe, I’m going to sit back. I’ve been asked to make some phone calls to some people that might be interested in it that I think are fully capable that have been in elected office before. I’m not at liberty to say who those folks are until I talk to them and figure them out.
But there’s going to be quite a few people that jump into the race that have no political experience. I don’t know that that’s going to be helpful.
THOMAS: It really does help to at least start at the grassroots, even if you’re a precinct captain, to have a better understanding of what it really actually takes. Too often in Virginia, especially the last few years, consultants run candidates to make money because we’re always having elections, and sometimes they feed candidates ideas of grandeur. And it really does a disservice to both that individual and the constituency to which they potentially serve, where they could look at a different office.
REEVES: I started as a precinct captain and went to be a committee chairman and lo and behold, I was asked to run after I had a little bit of a grassroots knowledge of how politics really worked. So, I’m gonna sit and wait and make that determination if we get the right person.
But we’ve got to get the party straight. Need a chairman. We’re kind of in the wilderness. I mentioned that the other day to someone else, and we need leadership, and we have to regroup. We’ve a battlefield. Go ahead, Joe.
THOMAS: No, no, but you are known in Virginia as one of the sober voices in the party. In the postscript to the 2025 gubernatorial elections, it seemed like there were a lot of incendiary devices verbally being thrown around. But you mentioned consultants. It’s been told to me that there are an awful lot of consultants that drive even the state central committee decisions.
Is that where the reform has to take place first? Because it will make it a lot harder, it seems, to recruit a candidate if you feel like the party isn’t going to be behind you the way the Democratic Party of Virginia is going to be behind Mark Warner.
REEVES: Well, I agree with you. You’re in the grassroots as well, Joe. You’ve been around long enough to understand that the party itself, the apparatus doesn’t function according to the way it should be functioning. It’s candidates and consultants, not consultants, but candidates are the ones who raise the majority of the money. The party doesn’t raise a ton of money to help. When I was the whip of the Senate, we were responsible for going out and finding great candidates, right?
It’s a difficult task to ask people to give up their lives and step forward into the breach. And it’s all consuming. And that’s a tough task. And then when you’ve got these consultants that are out there pitching other ideas and telling them different things, it makes it difficult.
So, I think there has to be reform there. I think there has to be reform in the party. I think too many people in the party want perfect and they let it be the enemy of good, a good candidate.
You’re not going to find a perfect candidate. They just don’t exist. And what we have to do is find people that want to serve, that have a servant’s heart first and foremost before anything else. And I think if you have good, godly people that want to try to make a difference, then they’ll listen and they’re coachable, that’s a lot of it.
There’s a lot to learn in the process. I mean, if I hadn’t been a precinct captain and a chairman of a committee, I wouldn’t have known how to do this stuff.
THOMAS: Well, that’s to me part of the institutional memory in it, Bryce, is knowing the community you’re coming into. And that’s the challenge of a Senate race is you’re running across a state that people may not know you in, even though you might be very popular in the precinct you’ve represented, maybe in the state house or in the state Senate.
And that’s why I feel like Mark Warner is up 10 points. It’s like the New England Patriots. So, let’s not get lippy on the sidelines when we’re down four scores or they’re going to open up the floodgates on us.
But given what is going to be coming in the midterms in terms of an effort being made to win over the Senate, win over the House, I want to get your thoughts on whether or not there’s even a voice in the party saying we can’t, we’re not going to be able to battle that one and therefore let’s keep our powder dry there. I’m sorry for the military [terminology]. You’re the Ranger, not me.
I want to get your thoughts on that in a second. Here we’re visiting with Bryce Reeves. Bryce, what’s your web address?
REEVES: BryceReeves.com. Just real simple.
THOMAS: He’s had it a long time. That’s when you could get a web address that was that simple back there. If you’re looking at a map of Virginia, Bryce Reeves represents an area that is lovingly referred to as Fred Vegas. It is the southern suburbs where, if they’re not already messing in politics, they are—this is where they live in the southern suburbs in Virginia because gosh, Maryland’s just too expensive for some of these folks to live in.
But that Fredericksburg area around that Northern Virginia area, yeah, there’s a conservative there and he has lived to tell the tale for it.
Bryce, we were talking about the incoming administration, and one of the sidebars to the story, I think, is that you said that you’re suspending and getting out of the U.S. Senate race, but you were going to stay in the Virginia Senate. And the institutional recognition of somebody who is a conservative, but is in an area that most people say is blue blue—and then just for variety sake blue—is important, too, because certainly I’m sure there are the political nose counters that would say it’s going to be hard for a Republican to win that seat if Bryce was blessedly successful at winning the U.S. Senate race.
REEVES: Well, I heard from my constituents, Joe, about that as well. They’d love to see me in the U.S. Senate, but they certainly didn’t want me leaving and vacating the seat, especially now that I have seniority and I actually can bring home some bacon.
Orange County was without water for 14 days due to aging infrastructure. Same with Greene County. And, working with Sen. Deeds, we were able to collectively put together about $25 million for localities to go for grants to try to help alleviate some of that.
That’s what government’s supposed to do: help fix problems. Water is a need that everybody has to have. That’s not a Republican or Democrat [issue]. And so, I love the job. I absolutely love the job.
I get to where I hate politics a lot more today because of all the—excuse my language—the crap that you have to deal with. Quite frankly, some of the people that are just keyboard heroes just don’t know you for anything.
Like even with my situation of bowing out, they’re making up this stuff, and it’s just irritating as h—. As much as I want to tell them, “Look, I’ve got a family member who’s dying of cancer. Like I’m not bowing out because I’m afraid of Mark Warner or anything else. It’s like I’ve got a need and if you can’t have enough respect for people like that than h— with you.” It’s just irritating.
THOMAS: And that’s you know, that’s why I don’t read anyone else’s stuff. I have enough trouble putting my own stuff together Most I listen to is four hours of my program. There are moments where I’m like, did I say that?
But Bryce Reeves on with us. You overlapped some of Abigail Spanberger’s congressional district, I believe in your Senate district or you’re very close to it. At some point today, there’s going to be a column posting at DailySignal.com.
By the way, speaking of health, prayers out also to Bryce’s mother-in-law, but to Victor Davis Hanson, who’s stepping away. And for at least a few months, I got to call him my coworker at Daily Signal so I can gain gravitas for circling his orbit.
But I penned a piece about stories I’m hearing, rumblings that Abigail Spanberger has become the darling of the 2028 set. That they’re looking at JB Pritzker and the continue flagging poll numbers of Gavin Newsom, and they’re like, “Hold this woman just won a seat that had been held by a Republican, It’s a purple state. This might be our answer” and that she might govern to the center.
The warning I have is don’t expect the veto pen to be thrown away this session because I think and I’ve been told by a lot of smart people that she’s going to govern moderately, and she might veto a lot of the nuttier stuff to put the planks under her towards a 2028 presidential run.
Are you sensing that? Would you even be hopeful for that if that’s the case, Bryce?
REEVES: Well, I will tell you this, and I don’t know if it was tongue in cheek, Joe, but during this last year’s session, she had made a visit down to Richmond and asked me if I was ready to go to work in her administration. And I said, “Really?” She goes, “Well, I need a secretary of veterans defense affairs because that’s my wheelhouse.”
And I said, “I’d love to, but I’d never be able to work in politics again after that.” Because it’s something near and dear to my heart.
But lo and behold, I think she’s made a phenomenal appointment with who she’s put into that position: our former adjutant general, Tim Williams, who led through several administrations as our adjutant general in the National Guard with almost 25,000 of our airmen and guardsmen forward in the theater. And now he’s going to be the secretary, hopefully, if we can get him confirmed as Veterans Defense Affairs.
People were beating on Gen. Williams right away because Abigail appointed him, but they don’t know who the guy is. I do, and that’s a great appointment. So that’s an indication I’m hopeful, yeah.
THOMAS: It’s mission. It’s look out for the veterans in a state that’s heavily veteran. Go figure. It’s how it’s supposed to work. I hate to feel like because a lot of people listening will say, “They’re just catfishing you, Joe. They’ll get you to think that, and then they’ll bite your ankle there with some gun grab and things like that.”
And I know you’ve been thinking that’s going to happen. Listen, those bills are coming back, and for everybody that doesn’t think they will, they’re going to come back because those members are still there. They’re mad that the governor vetoed 400 some odd of their bills over all these years.
Those bills may, if you think about a veto, ladies and gentlemen, that means it went through subcommittee, full committee, the floor debate, passed one chamber, went to the other chamber, went through the same process, made it all the way to the governor’s desk. And the governor had to use his big pen and veto it.
Now those bills are coming back. If you don’t believe me, go look at the bills on VPAP or go look them up on the state website. They’re there. They’re going to be refiled and they’re going to come back. So, there are going to be encroachments just like we talked earlier on the whole abortion up until the time of birth, the redistricting is coming through.
There was a bill that was filed about right to work, but Abigail’s on record at the Virginia Free event saying she will not sign that bill. So, they’re going to have their own internal struggles.
Our thing is people need to wake up and not wake up after session. It’s coming. It’s coming in the second Wednesday in January. We start session. Those bills will be filed or being dropped in the following couple of weeks. And if people really care, they need to engage.
Can people speak out enough and help you sway that one or two Democrats in the Senate?
REEVES: Absolutely. They have way more influence than the hired guns. The lobbyist. If I have a constituent in my office sitting with me and telling me how this bill is going to impact their lives, that’s way more than somebody who’s getting paid $10,000 a month to come in and advocate for something else, because that’s their job.
But if somebody takes the time out of their day to come to Richmond, absolutely. And I would encourage, and I don’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat, if there’s a bill down there that affects you or your livelihood, you need to speak up.
THOMAS: Last one for you, Bryce, and I’ll let you go, and I thank you for your blessing for your time as well. The redistricting, I had made the case, and because you’re a level-headed straight shooter, I have to ask you if you think I’m just nuttier than a bag of hair for this: I said that the peril that the Democrats might have, Don Scott and these folks, to stretch these blue districts, these 20-plus Democrat districts, far enough into the center of Virginia to create, maybe it’s plus 2 % now instead of plus 20% districts to make them all look blue from voting records creates great opportunity for hardworking Republicans who could win a D-plus-two historical district much easier than they’re ever going to try to win a D-plus 20.
Am I crazy about that?
REEVES: No, I think you’re right. We have actually talked about some of those, but I think the greater implication in all of this, and no one’s talking about— well, we are, those of us inside baseball—is just think of this. They talk about Congress taking it down 10 to one, right? That’s what they’re talking about, Congress right now.
But the reality is, if I’m doing it, and I already know that people don’t like what I’m doing, right? Why would I wait to do the House of Delegates and the State Senate? I’d pull the Band-Aid off all at once and take my licks and switch them all.
So, it’s not going to be just Congress if I’m running the show. I can’t think that my Democrat colleagues haven’t thought about this already because there’s some bright people there. But if they’re going to do that, why wouldn’t you just change the whole state in general and make the House of Delegates, the State Senate and Congress all Democrats to where it never gets undone again?
So, if people don’t want that, then they need to make their voice heard. It’s not always the best government to have one party in charge of everything. Let’s ask Minnesota how that’s been working for them.
THOMAS: Right, exactly. I appreciate it as always, Bryce. Prayers for your mother-in-law. And that’s a terrible kind of cancer to try to beat. I hope, you know, she’s…
REEVES: I’m glad you’re still here, Joe. Let me tell you, you know what it’s really like. You’ve been through it.
THOMAS: Well, I did have good doctors and good family, and that’s why we stand with you when you say that this is more important than a U.S. Senate race, and I can’t argue with that because you’re absolutely 100% right. But BryceReeves.com, give him an attaboy and say a prayer for his mother-in-law.
We love you, Bryce, and we’ll talk to you again as the session gets starting, I hope.
REEVES: Absolutely, we’ll come on as much as you need us to get the word out, Joe. Happy to do it.
THOMAS: God bless you sir, have a great day.
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