Virginia Democratic candidates for Congress, from left, Abigail Spanberger, Jennifer Wexton, and Vangie Williams, prepare to speak during the Women’s Summit in Herndon, Va., on June 23, 2018. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
RICHMOND, Va. — If Democrat Abigail Spanberger beats incumbent Republican Rep. Dave Brat here Tuesday, she’ll become the first woman to represent Virginia’s 7th District, but she might not be the only one making history on Election Day.
The former CIA agent has already defied expectations by turning this reliably GOP district into a Toss-up race, as rated by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales.
Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock is one of the most vulnerable incumbents up for re-election next year. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Tuesday’s victories in Virginia and New Jersey had Democratic strategists practically tripping over themselves to predict 2018 good fortunes.
Democrats won the governor’s mansion in both states by wide margins. They picked up at least 16 state legislative seats in Virginia. That included a transgender Democrat defeating a longtime conservative Republican state legislator who authored a so-called bathroom bill. And in Maine, voters supported a ballot measure to expand Medicaid.
The liberal advocacy group Save My Care is attacking Arizona Rep. Martha McSally for her vote for the GOP health care plan. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Twenty-four GOP members of Congress home on recess this week will be greeted by a new six-figure ad campaign attacking them for their vote in the House last week for the Republican health care plan.
The liberal health care advocacy group Save My Care is launching a TV and digital advertising campaign worth more than half a million dollars on Monday that will run this week.
(Courtesy photo Scott Taylor)
Republican state Del. Scott Taylor has defeated Democrat Shaun D. Brown to win Virginia’s reconfigured 2nd District seat, The Associated Press projects.
Taylor led Brown 59.9 percent to 40.1 percent with almost a third of precincts reporting.
Virginia Rep. J. Randy Forbes was criticized by his GOP primary rival for carpetbagging into the state's 2nd District. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
In an upset, J. Randy Forbes became the second Republican incumbent in a week to lose a primary Tuesday night.
The Virginia Republican lost the nomination in Virginia’s 2nd District to state Del. Scott Taylor of Virginia Beach.
Rep. J. Randy Forbes, who currently represents Virginia's 4th District, is running for the GOP nod in the 2nd District. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Virginia Del. Scott Taylor hasn't taken well to Rep. J. Randy Forbes' decision to switch districts.
But new polling from the Taylor campaign suggests he may be competitive with the congressman in the Virginia Beach-based 2nd District.
Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is poised to head to Congress as a Democrat. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images file photo)
Former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker has declined to run in Florida’s 13th District, closing the book on a Republican scenario to hold the seat. Baker's decision makes it all but certain that a third GOP-held district will go to Democrats this cycle.
The court-mandated redrawing of Florida’s congressional map changed the 13th District from a competitive district to a Democratic-leaning seat that President Barack Obama won with 55 percent of the vote in 2012.
Rep. Scott Rigell, R-Va., is retiring from the House. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Democrats are desperately searching for opportunities to expand the House playing field in order to take advantage of a potential wave caused by Donald Trump or Ted Cruz at the top of the ballot. But their recruitment efforts fell short in a potentially competitive district in Virginia.
Also see: Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call Race Ratings map For the last few cycles, Democrats targeted GOP Rep. Scott Rigell in the 2nd District, which includes Virginia Beach and part of Newport News, but the congressman proved to be a formidable incumbent since his initial election in 2010.
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