--- title: "Luria vs. Kiggans: 2026 Virginia’s 2nd District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-va-02" updated: "2026-10-07" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Virginia’s 2nd District race: Elaine Luria (D) vs. Jennifer Kiggans (R) Rating: Toss-up · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: October 7, 2026 The 2026 election for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District features a high-stakes rematch between Republican incumbent Jennifer Kiggans and former Democratic Representative Elaine Luria in one of the nation's closest battleground seats. The military-heavy district encompasses Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore, having flipped parties four times since 2008 and voted for Donald Trump by less than 0.2 percentage points in 2024. The race hinges on cost of living and inflation, healthcare affordability, veteran services, clean energy vs. domestic production, and government ethics. ## Candidates - **Elaine Luria** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://elaineforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elaine_Luria) - **Jennifer Kiggans** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://jenforcongress.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Kiggans) ## Issues ### Economy and Cost of Living Salience: high Luria focuses on lowering prices by repealing tariffs and subsidizing household costs, whereas Kiggans advocates for curbing federal spending and extending tax cuts. **Elaine Luria:** Lowering costs for working families Luria pledges to tackle the cost-of-living crisis by reducing prices on gas, groceries, housing, and healthcare. She blames Republican policies and trade tariffs for increasing inflation and squeezing middle-class household budgets. - Proposes repealing trade tariffs and reversing policy decisions that raise household energy costs - Pledges to lower prices on everyday necessities including gas, groceries, housing, and childcare - Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act during the 117th Congress > “The hardworking people of Hampton Roads deserve a government that lowers costs, creates opportunities, and works to improve their lives.” > — Elaine Luria, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elaine_Luria) > “I will address the cost of living crisis that Kiggans unleashed and lower prices for working families.” > — Elaine Luria, via [Campaign site](https://elaineforcongress.com/) **Jennifer Kiggans:** Cutting inflation and lowering taxes Kiggans emphasizes curbing federal overspending, cutting taxes, and reducing regulatory burdens to combat inflation. She advocates making the 2017 tax cuts permanent and eliminating federal taxes on tips and overtime pay. - Supported the Working Families Tax Cuts to make 2017 tax cuts permanent and eliminate taxes on tips and overtime - Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) in 2025 and the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 to curb federal spending - Advocates expanding the Child Tax Credit and removing federal regulations on small businesses > “My priority will always be lowering costs, putting more money back in your pocket, standing up for our families, and working across the aisle to deliver real results.” > — Jennifer Kiggans, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Kiggans) > “In Congress, Jen has prioritized cutting inflation and lowering the cost of living to create a more secure economy for the American people.” > — Jennifer Kiggans, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Kiggans) ### Healthcare Salience: high Luria seeks to lower costs through expanded federal ACA subsidies and drug price regulation, while Kiggans promotes market options, expanded telehealth, and nursing workforce reforms while opposing Medicare for All. **Elaine Luria:** Expanding healthcare access and lowering costs Luria focuses on reducing healthcare costs by extending ACA premium subsidies, broadening Medicare prescription drug price negotiations, and closing the rural healthcare gap. She opposes Republican-backed cuts to Medicaid and safety-net programs. - Proposes expanding Medicare drug price negotiation to private insurance and capping insulin costs - Wants to allow military dependents to remain on Tricare plans until age 26 - Supports federal loan repayment programs for doctors and nurses serving at least five years in rural communities > “People's healthcare is getting cut, and people's healthcare is getting more expensive. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.” > — Elaine Luria, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elaine_Luria) > “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.” > — Elaine Luria, via [Campaign site](https://elaineforcongress.com/) **Jennifer Kiggans:** Improving healthcare affordability and market options As a primary care adult-geriatric nurse practitioner, Kiggans advocates expanding telehealth, protecting Medicare, lowering prescription costs, and addressing healthcare staffing shortages. She opposes Medicare for All while co-leading bipartisan efforts on health tax credits. - Co-led the CommonGround 2025 framework to extend premium tax credit relief for working families - Serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus to address national healthcare staffing shortages - Introduced bipartisan legislation to lower prescription drug costs for military families and seniors while opposing Medicare for All > “In Washington, Jen’s fought to expand medicare coverage and improve access to virtual healthcare.” > — Jennifer Kiggans, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Kiggans) > “She opposes Medicare for All, which would ruin seniors’ healthcare.” > — Jennifer Kiggans, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Kiggans) ### Veterans and Military Families Salience: high Both candidates are Navy veterans emphasizing military advocacy, but Luria focuses on reversing DOGE budget cuts and expanding PACT Act benefits, whereas Kiggans highlights her legislative leadership on veteran mental health caregiver support and military childcare. **Elaine Luria:** Protecting veterans benefits and military families Luria highlights her 20-year Navy career and record of expanding veterans' benefits, including her leadership on the PACT Act. She pledges to reverse DOGE agency budget cuts that she states harmed local veterans' programs in Hampton Roads. - Instrumental in passing the PACT Act to expand healthcare access for toxic-exposed veterans - Author of the Gold Star Families Act to provide tax relief for surviving military families - Pledges to reverse DOGE funding cuts affecting veterans' care and employment programs > “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.” > — Elaine Luria, via [Campaign site](https://elaineforcongress.com/) **Jennifer Kiggans:** Fully funding veterans services and military quality of life Kiggans, a 10-year Navy veteran, chaired the House Veterans' Affairs Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee and supported record VA budgets. She prioritizes mental healthcare expansion for veterans and military family childcare access. - Passed the Caregiver Outreach and Program Enhancement (COPE) Act to expand mental health resources for veterans' caregivers - Introduced the bipartisan HERO in Child Care for Military Families Act to increase military childcare capacity - Championed legislation guaranteeing military troop pay during potential government shutdowns > “As a 10-year Navy veteran, daughter of a veteran, wife of a veteran, and mother to future veterans, Jen knows how important it is for our nation to honor its promises to our veterans...” > — Jennifer Kiggans, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Kiggans) ### Government Ethics and Reform Salience: medium Luria proposes comprehensive ethics rules including mandatory jail time for tax theft and prediction market bans, while Kiggans highlights her support for congressional stock trading restrictions. **Elaine Luria:** Banning stock trading and removing dark money Luria's 'Plan to Right the Ship' proposes banning members of Congress and their families from trading individual stocks or participating in prediction markets. She also advocates for mandatory jail time for public corruption and overturning Citizens United. - Proposes banning members of Congress and their immediate families from trading individual stocks while in office - Advocates prohibiting government officials from buying or trading prediction market contracts based on nonpublic information - Supports mandatory jail time and expulsion for officials who steal taxpayer funds or commit tax evasion - Co-sponsored the For the People Act to reform campaign finance laws and eliminate dark money > “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.” > — Elaine Luria, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elaine_Luria) > “I support banning members of Congress and their families from trading individual stocks while holding office.” > — Elaine Luria, via [Campaign site](https://elaineforcongress.com/) **Jennifer Kiggans:** Restricting congressional stock trading Kiggans supports legislation to restrict members of Congress from trading individual stocks while holding public office and criticizes Senate Democrats for delaying reform efforts. - Backed congressional legislation to restrict members of Congress from trading individual stocks - Voted in favor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405) in 2025 > “Senate Democrats today blocked legislation backed by Congresswoman Jen Kiggans to restrict Members of Congress from trading individual stocks.” > — Jennifer Kiggans, via [Campaign site](https://jenforcongress.com) ### Border Security and Immigration Salience: medium Luria pairs border security with earned pathways to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants, whereas Kiggans prioritizes border wall construction and stricter interior deportation mandates. **Elaine Luria:** Strengthening border security with legal pathways Luria supports securing the nation's borders while creating earned pathways to citizenship for immigrants who follow federal laws. She previously voted for protections for Dreamers and TPS recipients. - Voted for the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 (H.R. 6) to establish permanent residence pathways for TPS and Dreamer immigrants - Supports combining border deterrence investments with comprehensive immigration reform and legal pathways > “...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.” > — Elaine Luria, via [Campaign site](https://elaineforcongress.com/) **Jennifer Kiggans:** Securing the border and enforcing immigration laws Kiggans supports strong physical border infrastructure and strict interior immigration enforcement. She voted for major border wall funding and co-sponsored legislation expanding mandatory detention and deportation for non-citizens convicted of crime. - Voted for $47 billion in border wall and physical infrastructure funding - Co-sponsored and voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to require federal detention of undocumented immigrants arrested for burglary or theft - Voted for H.R. 875 to make driving while impaired grounds for deportation or debarment from admission > “Jen is a supporter of Trump’s efforts to secure our border after the disastrous Biden administration’s disastrous management of it.” > — Jennifer Kiggans, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Kiggans) ### Energy and Environment Salience: medium Luria supports clean energy subsidies, offshore wind development, and Bay conservation funding, while Kiggans prioritizes boosting domestic fossil fuel production and streamlining energy permitting. **Elaine Luria:** Investing in clean energy and protecting the Chesapeake Bay Luria advocates for clean energy investments to address sea-level rise in Coastal Virginia, founded the bipartisan Offshore Wind Caucus, and led funding efforts for Chesapeake Bay restoration. She strongly opposes offshore oil drilling. - Founded the bipartisan Offshore Wind Caucus and secured funding for local sea-level rise resilience infrastructure - Led efforts to fully fund the EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program at $85 million - Voted for clean energy investments in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - Firmly opposes offshore oil drilling off Virginia's coast > “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.” > — Elaine Luria, via [Campaign site](https://elaineforcongress.com/) **Jennifer Kiggans:** Boosting domestic energy production and reducing regulations Kiggans advocates for increasing domestic energy production across traditional oil, natural gas, and mineral sectors while cutting federal permitting delays to lower consumer costs. - Voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) to expand oil, gas, and mineral leases and streamline permitting - Voted for reconciliation legislation (H.R. 1) that reduced certain federal clean energy tax credits - Served on the House Natural Resources Committee focusing on water, oceans, and federal lands > “Jen focuses on pro-growth policies that empower small businesses to do what they do best: create jobs and grow our economy.” > — Jennifer Kiggans, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Kiggans) ### Abortion and Reproductive Rights Salience: medium Luria supports codifying federal abortion protections nationwide, whereas Kiggans opposes federal abortion mandates and favors state-level restrictions with exceptions. **Elaine Luria:** Protecting federal abortion rights Luria supports codifying federal abortion protections into law and prohibiting governmental restrictions on reproductive healthcare access. She is endorsed by major reproductive freedom organizations. - Voted for the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755) to prohibit governmental restrictions on abortion access - Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund and EMILY's List > “The Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives... prohibiting governmental restrictions on the provision of and access to abortion services...” > — Elaine Luria, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elaine_Luria) **Jennifer Kiggans:** Supporting state-level abortion limits with exceptions Kiggans advocates for abortion laws to be decided at the state level with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. She supports protecting access to IVF and expanding access to birth control. - Opposes federal abortion mandates and late-term abortions while supporting state-level limits with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother - Supports protecting access to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and expanding access to contraception without co-pays - Supported federal adoption resource programs and protections for born-alive infants > “While extreme politicians have overly politicized this issue, she believes abortion laws should be determined at the state level and is firmly opposed to the radical policies which would allow abortions up to the moment of birth.” > — Jennifer Kiggans, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Kiggans) ### Elections and Democracy Salience: low Luria supports federal legislation expanding voter registration and access, while Kiggans emphasizes strict voter ID and proof-of-citizenship mandates. **Elaine Luria:** Protecting voting access and election integrity Luria advocates for federal legislation expanding voter access and reforming presidential electoral procedures. She served on the January 6 Select Committee and voted for the Electoral Count Reform Act. - Voted for the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act and the For the People Act to expand early voting and same-day registration - Voted for the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 - Voted for the 2021 article of impeachment regarding the January 6 Capitol attack > “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.” > — Elaine Luria, via [Campaign site](https://elaineforcongress.com/) **Jennifer Kiggans:** Requiring voter ID and securing election integrity Kiggans focuses on voter identification requirements and preventing election irregularities to maintain voter confidence. She voted for federal legislation requiring proof of citizenship for election registration. - Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections - Supports mandatory photo ID laws, prohibiting ballot harvesting, and expanding electoral security controls > “She voted for the Save America Act, which would ensure secure elections by requiring photo ID.” > — Jennifer Kiggans, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Kiggans) ### Education and Parental Rights Salience: low Luria focuses on federal public school funding, whereas Kiggans advocates for school choice, parental oversight legislation, and restricting transgender women from female sports. **Elaine Luria:** Funding public education and supporting schools Luria supports expanding federal funding for public schools and teachers. She voted for pandemic relief measures providing funding to safely reopen classrooms. - Voted for the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to provide emergency funding for public school reopening and safety > “The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021... included funding to safely reopen schools...” > — Elaine Luria, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elaine_Luria) **Jennifer Kiggans:** Empowering parents, school choice, and protecting women's sports Kiggans advocates for parental rights in public education, school choice, and prohibiting Critical Race Theory. She voted for the Parents Bill of Rights and legislation restricting female athletic participation based on biological sex. - Voted for the Parents Bill of Rights to establish explicit federal guidelines for parent involvement in schools - Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28) - Opposes Critical Race Theory in public school curricula and supports school choice measures > “Jen stands against policies that divide our children – like Critical Race Theory – which segregates students into groups based on race and skin color, making unity impossible.” > — Jennifer Kiggans, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jennifer_Kiggans) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/va-02-house-election-winner) — VA-02 House Election Winner: Democrats 91.0%, Republicans 9.5% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/HOUSEVA2-26) — VA-02 House winner?: Elaine Luria 90.7%, Jennifer Kiggans 9.7% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXVA2D-26) — VA-02 Democratic nominee?: Elaine Luria 99.9%, Burk Stringfellow 3.4%, Patrick Mosolf 3.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-va-02)