Instead, the Republican and Democrat kept redirecting and accusing each other.
Sparks, but few answers, flew during Wednesday night’s debate between Republican Derrick Anderson and Democrat Eugene Vindman in Fredericksburg.
Both men are vying to represent Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, one of a handful of Virginia districts that could play into control of the US House of Representatives.
The sprawling open seat includes eastern Prince William County; all of Caroline, Culpeper, Greene, King George, Madison, Orange, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties; the City of Fredericksburg; and a sliver of Albemarle County. Incumbent Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, is not seeking re-election in order to run for governor in 2025.
The candidates exchanged barbs at the University of Mary Washington on the economy, national security, abortion rights and climate change. At many points, both used their time not to answer questions with policy specifics but instead attempted to brand the opponent as “extreme” — often returning to the same phrases over and over again to do so — and questioned each other’s character.
He also repeatedly accused Anderson of failing to answer “the most important question in this race” — whether the Republican would support reproductive rights post–Roe v. Wade. (Anderson said he believed the US Supreme Court had acted reasonably in its Dobbs v. Jackson decision by sending the power to restrict abortions back to states, and added that he was not in favor of additional restrictions on IVF and over-the-counter contraceptives.)
Anderson, a former Army Green Beret–turned-lawyer who worked in President Donald Trump’s administration, tied many of his responses to the economy, immigration and his Spotsylvania County roots. He routinely painted Vindman as a “far-left radical” focused on “a revenge tour” after his dismissal from Trump’s National Security Council for whistleblowing during his first impeachment.
Vindman did not himself reference the incident, seemingly by design: At the end of the debate, he turned to Anderson and said, “I don’t think I mentioned his name once.”
Candidates did not outline their stances on the economy and prices, point blank.
In a response to how they would cut spending, Vindman’s answer indicated he would focus on taxing the wealthy more and there was “fat” and “regulations” to cut.
Anderson did not say what he would cut, but referenced the administration’s spending. He also suggested ramping up domestic fossil fuel production would help boost the local economy.
Similarly, Vindman said increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour was a “good step,” without saying outright he wanted to increase it. Anderson didn’t say he opposed a minimum wage hike — and instead said the free market was the best means of determining wages.
On prices, Anderson said regulations and increasing energy prices were the problem. Vindman placed blame for inflation on corporate profits. The president of the Richmond Federal Reserve recently said that the Fed’s near-term inflation expectations were on track to its goals, but he wasn’t ready to “declare victory.”
One of the night’s most contentious exchanges occurred during a question about the “most significant” national security threats.
Anderson noted his concerns about the U.S.–Mexico border, then pivoted to conflict in the Middle East. He attributed the recent escalations in Gaza, Iran, Israel and Lebanon to “weak leadership” from President Joe Biden, “who my opponent 100% supports.”
“This is a perfect example of the difference between experience and knowledge I have with my opponent,” Vindman fired back. “The news of the day is about Iran, but the most serious threats we face are from Russia and China.”
Anderson used his rebuttal time to question his opponent’s military service record. In advance of the debate, he’d called for Vindman to release his DD-214, an official document summarizing an individual’s military service.
The exchange utterly derailed the following question about the ongoing longshoreman’s strike affecting East Coast ports, which JP Morgan has estimated costs the United States up to $5 billion per day.
Vindman said management and striking union workers should have time to reach a settlement, but with the holidays approaching they should be brought in to negotiate — and then ridiculed Anderson for recent campaign footage of him posing with a friend’s family.
Those holiday card–like images, first reported by The New York Times, depict Anderson as part of the family. While they haven’t featured in an Anderson campaign ad, the Times reported that they “can be found on Mr. Anderson’s official YouTube page and is also posted on a website paid for by the National Republican Campaign Committee.”
“Derrick is lying about his fake family,” Vindman said, echoing a campaign ad released hours before Wednesday’s debate. (Anderson is engaged and has no children.)
Vindman also referred to himself as “a family man.”
“If you are going to lie about something as fundamental,” he asked, “how can you be trusted on more serious topics?”
In a rebuttal, Anderson suggested the longshoremen are striking because “the economy is not working for people,” a fact he also blamed on the Biden administration. In response to Vindman’s attack, Anderson characterized the image as “a picture that I took with supporters in the district” and criticized Vindman for distracting from questions about his military record.
The candidates’ exchange on climate change was similarly vague. Anderson said he understood that climate change was an issue, but spent the rest of his answer time arguing the U.S. should be focused on domestic oil and gas production.
“Let's stop buying oil and gas from countries overseas that don't have the regulations that we do in the United States,” Anderson said. “We should be producing it here so we can monitor and make sure that it's clean energy.” He also called Vindman too radical and attempted to tie him to electric vehicle mandates.
“So I’m not sure I heard how Mr. Anderson plans to address climate change,” Vindman began in response.
But he went on to provide few specifics, pointing again to Project 2025 and then expressing support for an “all-of-the-above energy approach” until a transition to solar, wind and nuclear energy becomes feasible.
The candidates were similarly combative on the subject of reproductive rights.
Vindman’s opening statement put abortion as the top issue facing voters. Later, he directed a question to Anderson about his stance: “I would like to hear him say definitively that he would vote against a national abortion ban.”
“I do not want to re-federalize this issue so I will not vote on a national abortion ban,” said Anderson. “I support IVF and OTC contraceptives.”
Anderson also falsely claimed that former Gov. Ralph Northam supported abortion “after birth.”
It was during this exchange that members of the audience began to shush their seatmates: Partisan supporters had repeatedly heckled and laughed as candidates answered. Moderator Stephen Farnsworth, a professor at UMW, paused the proceedings here.
“I want to remind all of you that you need to be neighborly to the people who want to hear this debate,” he said. “Your comments that disturb the people next to you can hear the answer.”
Although jeers and cheers came from both sides, Vindman told his supporters to be respectful. Anderson did not.
Candidates did not have to answer a question on where they stood on Trump’s proposal to change how federal workers are classified and move them out of the DC metropolitan area. Roughly 15% of the District’s workforce is composed of federal civilian employees.
The 7th District race is expected to be one of Virginia’s closest congressional contests this election cycle, with Republicans eyeing a possible pick-up opportunity — and Democrats fighting to keep it in their quest to retake House control. A mid-September poll put out by the Anderson campaign showed a dead heat between the two candidates among likely voters, with more than 10% of the electorate undecided.
Virginia’s 7th is also shaping up to be this year’s most expensive race in the commonwealth. Vindman enjoys a significant cash-on-hand and fundraising advantage, but both are receiving millions in outside and out-of-state spending from their respective House leadership PACs.
Those efforts yielded mutual criticism, too: Vindman labeled Anderson’s House Republican support as “MAGA bankrollers” and Anderson alleged that many of Vindman’s donations come from California.
1 of 26 — Vindman, wearing a gray suit, white shirt, blue and red tie, stands behinds a podium, as Anderson, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and a gray shirt, stands behinds a podium
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
2 of 26 — Vindman, wearing a gray suit, white shirt, blue and red tie, stands behinds a podium, as Anderson, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and a gray shirt, stands a behinds a podium as the moderators and mc listen
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
3 of 26 — Vindman, wearing a gray suit, white shirt, blue and red tie, stands behinds a podium, as Anderson, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and a gray shirt, coughs behinds a podium
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
4 of 26 — Journalists take notes from the balcolny as candidates debate
Journalists observe from the balcony as Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
5 of 26 — Anderson speaks in front of a golden stage cloth
Republican Derrick Anderson participates in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
6 of 26 — Vindman, wearing a gray suit, white shirt, blue and red tie, stands behinds a podium, as Anderson, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and a gray shirt, speaks behinds a podium with his hand raised towards Vindman
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
7 of 26 — Anderson, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and gray tie speaks in front of a golden stage cloth
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
8 of 26 — Vindman, wearing a gray suit, white shirt, blue and red tie, stands behinds a podium, as Anderson, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and a gray shirt, stands behinds a podium
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
9 of 26 — Vindman, wearing a gray suit, white shirt, blue and red tie, speaks behinds a podium
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
10 of 26 — two people listen to a debate
Attendee listen as Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
11 of 26 — A supporter, wearing a shirt that reads “DERRICK ANDRSON FOR CONGRESS” listens
Supporters listen as Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
12 of 26 — Supporters listen with hands on their heads
Supporters holds their hands to their face as they listen to Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
13 of 26 — Anderson, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and gray tie speaks in front of a golden stage cloth
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
14 of 26 — Vindman, wearing a gray suit, white shirt, blue and red tie, speaks behinds a podium
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
15 of 26 — Vindman, wearing a gray suit, white shirt, blue and red tie, stands behinds a podium, as Anderson, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and a gray shirt, stands behinds a podium
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
16 of 26 — Candidates are seen through a television camera
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
17 of 26 — Vindman, wearing a gray suit, white shirt, blue and red tie, stands behinds a podium, as Anderson, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and a gray shirt, stands behinds a podium
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson participate in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
18 of 26 — Supporters applaud after candidate Vindman gave his closing arrugment
Supporters applaud after Democrat Eugene Vindman gave his closing remarks during a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
19 of 26 — Vindman, wearing a gray suit, white shirt, blue and red tie, gives a thumbs up
Democrat Eugene Vindman gives a thumbs up after giving his closing remarks in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
20 of 26 — Anderson supporters applaud after Anderson gave his closing remarks
Supporters applaud after Republican Derrick Anderson gave his closing remarks in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
21 of 26 — Anderson waves
Republican Derrick Anderson waves after giving his closing remarks in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
22 of 26 — Vindman and Andreson shake hands
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson shake hands after participating in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
23 of 26 — Vindman is escorted off stage by an aid
Democrat Eugene Vindman is escorted off stage after participating in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
24 of 26 — Anderson chats with supporters
Republican Derrick Anderson chats with supporters after participating in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
25 of 26 — Andrson chats with Louden
Republican Derrick Anderson chats with Clive Louden after participating in a debate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
26 of 26 — Hershey is lit in street light as he talks about a debate
Brian Hershey talks about the debate between Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.