Updated Nov. 13th: Sean Sublette has suspended his campaign. Jason Knapp filed to enter the race on Oct 6th, but there is no information on his website about his candidacy at this time so we do not have a profile update.
Two 2026 races are heating up: more candidates entered the VA1 Congressional Democratic Primary, and an underdog candidate launched a bid to challenge Senator Mark Warner.
In a previous article, Neighbors For Change introduced you to the first six Democratic candidates who hope to unseat Congressman Rob Wittman in 2026. The primary has since expanded with the addition of four new candidates: Ericka Kopp, Sean Sublette, Tim Cywinski, and Shannon Taylor.
Ericka Kopp is an attorney running on healthcare, supporting veterans, and putting “people over partisan politics.”
Sean Sublette is a meteorologist who wants to bring science to Congress.
Timothy Cywinski is a longtime grassroots advocate who envisions a new way forward by revitalizing the American Dream and getting big money out of politics.
Shannon Taylor served four terms as Henrico County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney (2011-Present). She ran in the 2025 Democratic primary for Attorney General. After attorney and former state delegate Jay Jones won the primary, Taylor set her sights on another race: Congress.
On 9/8/25, she officially launched her campaign, billing herself as “A Proven Fighter For Our Community.”
A week later, candidate Amanda Pohl ended her campaign, stating she could best serve VA1 and her constituents as the Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk. That leaves nine candidates in the 2026 VA1 Democratic primary.
Enter the underdog candidate for U.S. Senate
In another surprising twist for Virginia politics, Democrat Jason Reynolds announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate Democratic primary to challenge Senator Mark Warner. Reynolds believes that “Virginians deserve to have a progressive choice.”
“I am running for Senate because it’s time our government worked for regular people. For too long, our government has been dominated by special interests, the wealthy, and the well-connected, leaving most Virginians behind. We need people in Washington who will fight for the needs of us all.”
Reynolds may face an uphill battle. Incumbent Mark Warner is a longtime public servant who has served in the U.S. Senator since 2009. From 2002-2006, Warner was Governor of Virginia. As a centrist Democrat, Warner typically takes a bipartisan approach and has a strong interest in focusing on the country’s fiscal challenges. He also has significant experience in matters of national security and foreign affairs.
Despite the anti-establishment vs. establishment aspect of this face-off, races in other parts of the country indicate that the current political landscape increases the chances that progressive Democrats can win even in tough races.
For example, Zohran Mamdani “won New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary” despite fierce competition from former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.
In Iowa, first-time Democratic candidate Catelin Drey flipped a seat by eleven percentage points, breaking “a Republican supermajority in the Iowa Senate.” Mamdani and Drey both ran on making housing more affordable—an issue that hits close to home here in Virginia.
Regardless of outcome, the 2026 Congressional and Senate primary races give Virginians more options than ever to vote for candidates who align the closest with their values. That’s the power of choice.
Take Action
- Research the VA1 candidates by visiting their websites, press releases and social media.
