Loading this candidate’s profile from the FEC filings and campaign records.
Where They Stand is a nonpartisan guide to everyone running for Congress: their money, their own words and how incumbents voted. Find your ballot →
Candidates › VA-02 race › 2025–2026
Elaine Luria
D Democratic nominee for U.S. House, VA-02
Has not served in Congress
- On the ballot
- On the general election ballotNov 3, 2026 · Virginia US House 2
- Where to vote
- Find your polling place (opens in a new tab) · More ways to vote
- Top priorities
- Protect Hampton Roads and the Chesapeake Bay
- Protect Our Seniors
- Strengthen our National Security and Care for our Military Families
- Honor America’s Promise to our Veterans
- Oppose Endless Wars that Raise Gas Prices and the Tariffs on Our Allies that Raise Costs on Americans
- Money
- $8M raised, $7.6M spent, $478.9K cash on hand (through Oct 14, 2026). Where it comes from
- Who gives
- 21% of individual money from donors at $200 or less · 41% from Virginia · largest committee giver PAC TO THE FUTURE, $10K
- Outside groups
- $845.5K supporting, $2.7M opposing Luria
- Backed by
- 314 Action Fund · DCCC Red to Blue Program · DMFI and 30 more. As the campaign lists them
- Polling
- 46% in the latest poll (Christopher Newport University). The polls
8 priorities from elaineforcongress.com, in the order they are listed there. Every heading and the text under it is copied exactly, as one passage for each page it is from, and links to that place on the page; hover a source to see which passage it opens.
Hampton Roads often feels the impacts of climate change before anywhere else in the Commonwealth or country.
In Congress, I secured funding to mitigate the impacts of sea-level rise, supported legislation to invest in climate resilient infrastructure, and founded the bipartisan Offshore Wind Caucus. I have also been a strong advocate for the Chesapeake Bay, leading the effort to fully fund the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program at $85 million — ensuring a clean and healthy Bay for our communities, our economy, and our way of life.
Kiggans feigned concern about how the One Big Beautiful Bill slashing clean energy tax credits would raise energy prices and threaten thousands of jobs in VA-02, but voted for the bill anyway.
I will continue to lead efforts to combat climate change’s impact on our local community, fight against offshore drilling, restore the Chesapeake Bay, and ensure Hampton Roads has clean air and water.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · elaineforcongress.com/issues
Seniors who worked hard their entire lives and paid into Social Security and Medicare deserve to be secure in retirement with the peace of mind that their benefits will be there when they need them—without cuts.
Kiggans’ decisive vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill enacted the largest SNAP cut in the program’s history, threatening to take away food assistance for more than 22,000 households in VA-02, including seniors.
The legislation introduces stricter Medicaid eligibility checks, imposes work verification requirements for near-elderly adults, and weakens nursing home staffing standards. It also allows expanded Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies to expire
We must honor our commitments to our seniors and retirees. I will continue to advocate for strengthening Medicare and Social Security, stand firm against any efforts to gut seniors’ hard-earned benefits, and oppose cuts to these critical programs.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · elaineforcongress.com/issues
As a 20-year Navy veteran, I know how important it is to protect the homeland and ensure that our men and women in uniform have the resources and equipment they need to fight for and defend our freedoms.
I used my experience in the Navy to champion legislation in Congress that provided troops with a pay raise, invested in our warfighters, strengthened naval seapower, and led efforts to deter our enemies like Russia, China, and Iran.
The war in Iran is another unnecessary and endless military intervention in the Middle East that is putting a strain on working families in Hampton Roads, and costing precious American lives and resources that should be spent here at home. Moreover, the war has left Americans no safer, and has emboldened Iran and done nothing to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions or support for terrorist proxies.
I also know that a strong border is essential to strengthening our nation’s security, and I was proud to support comprehensive efforts in Congress to deter illegal immigration and strengthen border security, while also providing a pathway to citizenship for those who follow our nation’s laws.
I will continue to fight to improve the quality of life for active duty military personnel and their families, ensure they have the resources they need to deter our adversaries and keep us safe, serve as a check against reckless foreign wars that put our servicemembers at risk, and cost American taxpayers, and strengthen our border security.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · elaineforcongress.com/issues
As a 20-year Navy veteran, I know firsthand the unique challenges that our veterans face as they transition out of service. There is nothing greater than fighting for and improving the lives of military families and veterans.
In Congress, I served on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and was instrumental in passing the PACT Act–the largest expansion of veterans’ benefits in our lifetime. I also introduced and passed the Gold Star Families Act to provide tax relief for Gold Star families and championed legislation to provide three cost of living increases to veterans.
I also pressed the Department of Veterans Affairs to find ways to make veterans jobs programs easier to use, cosponsored legislation to increase veteran access to employment programs, and cosponsored a bipartisan bill to increase education opportunities.
Kiggans was a major proponent of DOGE, calling it “so necessary” as the agency she backed caused “the termination of more than $8.3 million in grants,” many of which directly impacted military families and veterans throughout Hampton Roads.
In Congress, I will continue to fight for my fellow veterans to reverse the devastating DOGE cuts endorsed by Jen Kiggans that have gutted veterans’ care, work to cut red tape in the VA system, and ensure that our veterans get the care they need and deserve.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · elaineforcongress.com/issues
Gas prices and the cost of everyday items are spiking to levels that have left middle class families struggling to fill their tanks and feed their families because of Jen Kiggans’ lockstep support for Donald Trump’s agenda. She has voted 100% of the time with Donald Trump, including for his reckless tariffs and foreign policy.
In Congress, I will serve as a check on Trump’s bad decisions that are costing our families, fight to repeal the tariffs, and reverse legislation and policy decisions that have increased energy costs.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · elaineforcongress.com/issues
Throughout Hampton Roads, I hear the same story from Virginians and their families: “We’re working harder than ever, but we can barely keep up.” From gas and grocery prices to prescription drug costs, housing, and childcare, the rising cost of living continue to squeeze Virginians.
We can’t expect families to get ahead when they are barely getting by. Making life more affordable for Virginians means taking on Jen Kiggans’ and Donald Trump’s failed policies that have cost the average American household $1,700 more over the last year alone.
I will address the cost of living crisis that Kiggans unleashed and lower prices for working families.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · elaineforcongress.com/issues
In the Navy, when the mission isn’t going according to plan, you right the ship. That is what we need to do now more than ever in Washington.
I am running for Congress because I have fought for our country before, and I am ready to fight for it again.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · elaineforcongress.com/issues
- Ban Members of Congress and their Families from Trading Stocks While in Office – Serving the American people is about putting others above oneself. No one should profit off of holding office–especially members of Congress who write our nation’s laws, regulate industry, and receive classified briefings that members of the public cannot access. I support banning members of Congress and their families from trading individual stocks while holding office.
- End the Blatant Prediction Market Insider Trading – Members of Congress, congressional staff, executive branch employees, and political appointees should not use nonpublic information to buy, sell, or exchange prediction market contracts related to political outcomes or government policy. Public servants should never make money on the policies and decisions they help make and shape–especially those with access to classified or national security information. It’s unfair, and it’s wrong. Public service is about putting the American people first, not using insider information to enrich yourself.
- If a Politician Steals from Taxpayers, they face Mandatory Jail Time – The American people who work hard and pay their taxes should know that members of Congress are being good stewards of their taxes. Stealing from taxpayers is an egregious breach of trust and there’s no room in Congress for members who abuse their office. I believe that members who steal taxpayer funds, including blatant tax evasion, should serve mandatory jail time and be expelled from Congress. No questions asked.
- Reform Campaign Finance Laws and Get Dark Money out of Politics – The Citizens United decision has allowed dark money, special interests, and the ultra-wealthy to corrode and abuse our political system and democracy. Congress must pass a law to significantly reduce the influence that dark money and special interests have on our elections and in our system.I was proud to support legislation that overturns the disastrous Citizens United decision when in Congress, and I will continue to fight for the For the People Act to restore fairness and power back to the people.
- End the Broken Pardon System to Ensure Equal Justice for All – Politicians from both parties have abused the pardon system to reward their families and wealthy and well-connected donors with political favors. It’s true when then President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter and it’s true when President Trump pardoned a Chinese cryptocurrency billionaire who was in prison for enabling money laundering. That’s unacceptable, and we must reform the current system so that those with money and connections don’t get special treatment.
We need Congress to work for the working people of this country, not just Donald Trump’s friends and Kiggans’ ultra-wealthy donors. That’s why we must put an end to this corruption agenda that is leaving Virginians behind and driving up costs. Their policies are squeezing working families and raising the cost of living on everything from gas, groceries, and health care costs. Virginians deserve better.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · elaineforcongress.com/issues
Every Virginian deserves access to affordable, high-quality health care, regardless of their income or where they live. Jen Kiggans disagrees. Despite being a former Navy pilot and a nurse, Kiggans has voted time and time again to rip health care away from her fellow veterans and raise the cost of health care for middle-class families in order to give tax cuts to billionaires.
I have a different definition of public service. From lowering ACA premiums, to taking on Big Pharma to cut prescription drug costs, to cutting seniors’ out-of-pocket drug costs and capping insulin at $35 a month, I have a record of delivering affordable and accessible health care for every member of her community. Now I am running to cut the cost of care, cut the complexity of care, and close the rural health care gap, so no Virginian has to pay too much, spend too much time, or travel too far just to get the care they need.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · elaineforcongress.com/issues
- Cut health care costs for the middle class by restoring ACA premium subsidies.
- Cut health care costs for seniors by expanding the number of drugs Medicare can negotiate on and extending the reduced cost benefits to people on private insurance.
- Cut health care costs for working families by cracking down on predatory medical debt collectors, pharmaceutical monopolies, and Wall Street firms buying up hospitals for profit.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · elaineforcongress.com/issues
- Cut the complexity of care for military families by allowing military children to stay on their parents’ Tricare Plan until age 26.
- Cut the complexity of care for patients and providers by standardizing insurance paperwork and billing requirements, and modernizing the Prior Authorization process.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · elaineforcongress.com/issues
- Help rural hospitals stay open by restoring the $1 trillion Jen Kiggans and Donald Trump cut from Medicaid in order to give tax cuts to billionaires.
- Ensure equal health care access for rural Virginians by expanding federal loan repayment for doctors and nurses who commit to serving at least five years in rural communities.
- Expand access to telehealth, mobile health clinics, community health centers, and rural emergency medical services so geography isn’t a barrier to care.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · elaineforcongress.com/issues