ARLINGTON, Va. — Speaker Mike Johnson will spend election eve campaigning in two critical House districts in the Old Dominion, exclusively telling The Post the “road to keeping and growing our majority runs directly through Virginia, where we have two veterans who will win and deliver results for Commonwealth families.”
The speaker will host events for Republicans Derrick Anderson, who’s running for an open seat, and freshman Rep. Jen Kiggans — and bring along some special guests.
“Congresswoman Kiggans is a champion for veterans, our troops, and military families and works across the aisle to fight for Virginia’s 2nd District. Green Beret Derrick Anderson has served our country and will be a strong voice for Virginia’s 7th District to secure our border, fix our economy, and restore peace through strength,” Johnson told The Post.
“After campaigning in more than 250 cities across 40 states, I look forward to turning out the vote across Virginia on the eve of the most important election of our lifetimes.”
Former President Donald Trump opened his Salem, Va., rally Saturday night boldly saying, “I’m here today in this incredible commonwealth for one very simple reason — because I believe we can win Virginia.”
A Republican hasn’t won Virginia’s electoral votes in 20 years, yet 2021 victories in statewide offices show the party has made real gains.
In Spotsylvania, Johnson will rally for Anderson with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, among other speakers.
Republican Derrick Anderson hopes to flip Virginia’s 7th Congressional District seat in the 2024 election. Derrick Anderson for VA
Anderson is running neck and neck against Democrat Eugene Vindman, who gained national attention in 2019 as a whistleblower in the first impeachment attempt against Trump, which was sparked by the Ukrainian-born candidate’s reporting of a phone call between the ex-prez and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. His twin brother Alexander testified before Congress on the matter.
The race is considered one of Republicans’ best chances to flip a seat to retain their slim House majority. Incumbent Democrat Rep. Abigail Spanberger is not seeking reelection, opting to run for Virginia governor in 2025.
Despite his national name recognition, Vindman has been running an under-the-radar campaign, participating in just one debate and mostly shunning the media.
He finally sat down with WUSA TV Friday, giving just seven minutes of the 15 asked; Anderson sat down for the full time weeks ago.
And it made clear why he’s been avoiding the press: Vindman repeated word-for-word talking points and wouldn’t directly answer questions about his military record, which Anderson and others say he’s embellished.
Cook Political Report rates the race a toss-up, shifting it from lean Democrat in August.
Rep. Jennifer Kiggans is seeking a second term in the House of Representatives. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
In Virginia Beach, Johnson and Youngkin will rally for Kiggans with Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares.
Kiggans flipped the seat back into Republican hands in 2022 when she defeated two-term Dem Rep. Elaine Luria. Republican Scott Taylor represented the military- and veteran-heavy district before that.
The Republican incumbent comes into this year’s electoral contest in a decent position, having kept both hardcore conservatives and more middle-of-the-road voters satisfied with her first-term policymaking record.
A September Christopher Newport University poll showed Kiggans with a 5-point lead over Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal.
But Dems are targeting the seat using any means they can, with an AP report revealing the “independent” candidate in the race — Robert Reid — was able to get ballot access with the help of a Democrat-aligned group.
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