Six candidates are running in the Republican primary for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District on June 21, 2022. Derrick Anderson, Bryce Reeves, Crystal Vanuch, and Yesli Vega have raised the most money. Incumbent Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) is running for re-election in the redrawn 7th District.
Anderson served as a Green Beret in the U.S. Army. After retiring from active duty, he received a J.D. from Georgetown University. In Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Survey, Anderson listed his three priorities as “standing up for our veterans, keeping our country and communities safe, and stand up for our conservative values.” Based on fundraising totals reported to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) in April 2022, Anderson led the field in fundraising and spending. U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Greene County Supervisor Davis Lamb endorsed Anderson.
Reeves was elected to the Virginia State Senate in 2012. He served in the U.S. Army and worked for the Prince William County Police Vice/Narcotics Bureau. Reeves raised and spent the second most of the six candidates. Reeves has campaigned on his legislative record and his history of winning in what he called “Democrat districts,” citing victories in 2011 and 2019. The National Republican Congressional Committee, U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Del. Nick Freitas endorsed Reeves.
Vanuch serves on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors and has experience working in the health care field helping individuals with terminal or chronic illnesses find affordable treatment. In Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Survey, Vanuch listed her three priorities as decreasing government spending, defending law enforcement, and supporting the right of parents to make decisions for their children. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) endorsed Vanuch.
Vega serves on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors and has experience working in law enforcement. Her campaign website detailed a platform that included advocating for the “conservative values of freedom, limited government, the rule of law, and a firm reliance on our Creator.” Former U.S. Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.), who lost to Spanberger in 2018, endorsed Vega, along with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
The general election is expected to be competitive. Three independent race forecasting outlets rated the race Toss-up, Lean Democratic, and Tilt Democratic. Nathan Gonzales of Roll Call said that President Joe Biden (D) would have won the district by seven points in the 2020 presidential election and Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) would have won the district by six points in the 2021 gubernatorial election. Spanberger defeated Brat by two points in 2018 and Freitas by two points in 2020.
Also running in the primary are Gina Ciarcia and David Ross.
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