Former Rep. Elaine Luria makes comeback bid in Virginia

Source: Roll Call

Posted November 12, 2025 at 6:00am, Updated at 12:47pm


Former Virginia Rep. Elaine Luria is launching a comeback bid, with the Democrat announcing Wednesday that she will seek the 2nd District seat she previously held for two terms. “​​I cannot sit back and watch as Republicans in Congress create chaos while failing to address the rising cost of living and the issues that matter to Coastal Virginians,” Luria said in a statement declaring her challenge to second-term Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans, who defeated her three years ago.

Luria’s move comes a week after Virginia Democrats had a strong election night, with former Rep. Abigail Spanberger winning the governor’s race and the party expanding its majority in the state House of Delegates. In her announcement, Luria indicated her campaign would echo Spanberger’s focus on affordability. “Virginians are hungry for change, and I look forward to getting back to work for Hampton Roads to make life more affordable for working families, grow our economy, cut health care costs, and strengthen our military,” she said.

A 20-year Navy veteran, Luria was first elected to Congress in 2018 as part of a group of Democratic women with national security backgrounds — including Spanberger and New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill — who helped their party win control of the House that year. Luria narrowly unseated Republican Scott Taylor in the coastal 2nd District, which has a large military and defense contracting presence, and won a rematch by a wider margin two years later.

In the House, Luria was considered a moderate and was known to sometimes break with her party. She was one of 14 House Democrats who in 2020 opposed a pandemic relief measure known as the Heroes Act, which later stalled in the Republican-led Senate. She served on the Armed Services, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs committees, as well as the panel that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. She opposed a ban on members of Congress trading stocks, which continues to be a debate on Capitol Hill.

Read more: https://rollcall.com/2025/11/12/elaine-luria-comeback-virginia-midterm-elections/