Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) defeated Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal in the contest for Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, one of two competitive races in the state.
Kiggans won against Cotter Smasal with 51% of the vote and 97% of ballots counted so far. The Associated Press called the race at 5:28 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to be chosen to represent #VA02 in Congress again…!,” Kiggans said in a post to X early Wednesday morning. “I’m incredibly thankful that Southeast Virginia has once again chosen commonsense conservatism… together we will get our country back on the right track and secure America’s success…! THANK YOU!”
Kiggans winning a second term is a boon for Republicans as they seek to maintain their narrow majority. Both parties have highlighted Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District as key to controlling the House in the next Congress.
The Virginia Republican, a geriatric nurse and ex-Navy helicopter pilot, flipped the seat in 2022 when she defeated former Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria, who had held the seat for two terms.
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Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, which President Joe Biden narrowly won in 2022, underwent redistricting in 2021 that made it more favorable to Republicans, ultimately giving Kiggans an edge over Luria.
Recent polling showed the race between Kiggans and Cotter Smasal tightening in the final days before the election. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated the district as “leans Republican.”