The 2026 midterms are approaching fast, and multiple candidates are running in the Democratic primaries for Virginia’s 1st Congressional District (VA1) and the U.S. Senate. That makes this a good time to review how candidates get on the ballot as well as actions voters can take to help candidates run for office.
Rob Wittman
Who’s Running Against Wittman in CD1?
There’s been a lot of churn with candidates for the Democratic nomination in CD1 with several candidates joining the race and others ending their campaigns. Here’s an update on the Democrats hoping to unseat Rob Wittman next November:
Letter to the Editor: Compassion & Courage
Compassion and courage. The heart of a public servant with the grit of an ice hockey player. That’s me. I’m Ericka Kopp, candidate for Congress in Virginia’s First District. I stand for access and accountability, and I’m putting people and communities over partisan politics.
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2026 Challengers to Congressman Rob Wittman and Senator Mark Warner
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.Read More
Letter to the Editor: Why I’m Running For Congress
I’m often asked why a meteorologist would run for office. For me, the reasons are connected to what I remember growing up in Richmond. I have loved earth science ever since I was a kid in the ‘70s and vividly remember the thick haze that used to hang over the city every summer and the news stories about Kepone poisoning the James River. And I wondered why we could not do better. It turns out we could…
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Healthcare Town Hall: Exposing the Costs of the BBB
The meeting room at Twin Hickory Library was packed on 9/6/25 for Democracy Circle RVA’s town hall, Virginia Healthcare Under Attack: Exposing the Costs of Rob Wittman’s Vote for the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The event’s goal was to expose how the shifting public health landscape in America will affect everyone.
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How Healthcare Cuts in Big Beautiful Bill will Impact RVA
The worst of Donald Trump’s Medicaid cuts have not even arrived yet, and local doctors and hospitals are in a panic. While a lot of concern is focused on Southwest Virginia and rural areas that may face hospital closures, the fact is that Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, that was signed into law on July 4th, will kick more than 300.000 Virginians off of their healthcare, and affect all of us.
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Letter to the Editor: Wittman’s Medicaid Claims Deserve Closer Scrutiny
Affordable, accessible healthcare keeps people healthy and able to work, which is why I am working to protect Medicaid for low-income individuals by running for Congress in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District. Our current Representative recently made two claims that deserve closer scrutiny.
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Meet the Democratic Candidates Hoping to Unseat Wittman in 2026
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.
6/14/25 “No Kings Richmond” Protest
In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings. NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies. We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the… Read More
CD1 Holds Rob Wittman Accountable
Protestors are frustrated and disheartened at Rob Wittman’s support of legislation that could impact everyday Americans. His votes in affirmative for cuts to federal programs and lower taxes for billionaires weighed on the crowd, and multiple people brought up his refusal to communicate with his constituents in person.Read More
6/7/25 “Wittman Robbed Us” Protest
Rob Wittman voted to slash SNAP, gut Medicaid and protect tax breaks for billionaires and he’s hoping no one makes a fuss. Too bad we’re showing up right outside his Henrico office. Join us Saturday, June 7th, from 1–3 PM Corner of Dominion Blvd and Broad Street, Henrico 23060 This is a district-wide protest, with… Read More