One U.S. Senate seat and every U.S. House of Representatives seat is up for grabs in this year's Virginia elections. And races in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Richmond likely will recast local governments.
Below, find a guide to what's on ballots — and what to do if you run into issues while casting a vote.
U.S. Senate
Incumbent Sen. Tim Kaine is a well-known quantity across the commonwealth, having served in a variety of elected roles for more than 20 years. He's being challenged for Virginia's junior U.S. Senate seat by Republican Hung Cao, a retired Navy veteran.
Both Cao and Kaine met at Norfolk State University for a debate and also recently responded to series of questions that touched on housing, federal abortion regulations, and aid for Ukraine and Israel.
U.S. House of Representatives
1st District
Republican incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman is facing Democrat Leslie Mehta in November’s election.
During his tenure, Wittman touted his efforts to support the military, create jobs in the commonwealth and provide students with a "21st-century education." He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and as vice chairperson of the House Armed Services Committee.
Mehta, a civil rights attorney who was the ACLU of Virginia's former legal director, worked on state commissions during the Northam and Youngkin administrations. Her campaign website identifies health care, public school funding, reproductive rights access, gun safety legislation, climate change and the protection of democracy as priorities.
2nd District
It’s a district that’s seen as a bellwether for national politics. Neither party has held the majority in the U.S. House without also holding Virginia’s 2nd District seat since 2001.
Republican incumbent Jen Kiggans is facing Missy Cotter Smasal. Read more about the candidates.
4th District
Rep. Jennifer McClellan, the incumbent Democrat, is running against Republican Bill Moher for the seat. McClellan is currently finishing out the remainder of Rep. Don McEachin’s term, following his 2022 death from cancer complications. McClellan is the first Black woman Virginia elected to Congress.
Moher failed to qualify for the Republican primary for the 7th District House race earlier this year. His campaign website lists the economy, education reform, health care and the border as priorities.
5th District
Republican state Sen. John McGuire defeated Rep. Bob Good in the June party primary. After unseating the incumbent, McGuire is facing Democrat Gloria Witt, president of the Amherst County NAACP, in the general election.
The two participated in one debate held in October at Hampden-Sydney College.
6th District
The Virginia Public Access Project refers to the district, which encompasses Harrisonburg, as "Strong Republican."
Fundraising totals seem to bear that out. Incumbent Rep. Ben Cline raised almost $1 million. His challenger, Democrat Ken Mitchell, has pulled in about $200,000.
Read more about the 6th District race.
7th District
U.S. Army Green Beret veteran Derrick Anderson is practicing attorney who lives in Spotsylvania County. He worked in the Office of National Drug Control Policy during the administration of President Donald Trump.
Eugene S. Vindman is a relative newcomer to Virginia politics. He retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel — despite serving as a colonel — due to military retirement protocol and previously worked at the National Security Council.
The pair met in Fredericksburg during early October for a debate.
Constitutional amendment
Tax exemptions
Virginians will consider tweaking an existing tax rule that exempts surviving spouses of military service members killed in action from property tax.
If passed, the amendment would expand the exemption's eligibility — from surviving spouses of service members killed in combat to surviving spouses of service members who died while on active duty.
The question as it appears on ballots is: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended so that the tax exemption that is currently available to the surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action is also available to the surviving spouses of soldiers who died in the line of duty?
Albemarle
School Board, Rio District
In the 2023 election, the Rio District’s Katrina Callsen won an uncontested race for state delegate. The board appointed Chuck Pace, who taught in the school district for 29 years, as her interim replacement.
Now, Pace is facing Jim Dillenbeck, a former Albemarle High School social studies teacher, for the position. The pair replied via email to a series of questions that touched on everything from student mental health to organized labor. Read their answers here.
Richmond
Mayor
Five candidates with a range of job and lived experiences are running to replace Mayor Levar Stoney, who's among those vying for lieutenant governor in 2025.
VPM News asked each candidate — Andreas Addison, Dr. Danny Avula, Michelle Mosby, Maurice Neblett and Harrison Roday — a series of six questions that spanned from City Hall efficiency to Richmond's housing crisis.
City Council and School Board
1st District
Andrew S. "Gumby" Breton, Paul Goldman and Zac Walker are competing for the council seat. Read the candidates' responses.
Matthew Percival is running unopposed for the School Board seat being vacated by Elizabeth Doerr. Read his responses here.
2nd District
Incumbent City Councilor Katherine Jordan is running unopposed. After multiple requests via email, her liaison told VPM News that she would not be submitting responses to a candidate questionnaire.
Incumbent Mariah White is facing Katie Ricard in this race. White didn't respond to multiple email requests. Read full responses from Ricard here.
3rd District
Incumbent City Councilor Ann-Frances Lambert is facing two challengers: current School Board member Kenya Gibson and Maria Carra Rose. Read the candidates' responses.
Ali M. Faruk, Charlene L. Riley and Kevin A. Starlings are competing for the School Board seat begin vacated by Gibson. Read full responses from 3rd District candidates here.
4th District
Sarah M.A. Abubaker is running unopposed for the council seat being vacated by Council President Kristen Nye. Read Abubaker's responses.
Garrett Sawyer is defending the post he was appointed to earlier this year against Angela Fontaine and Wesley Hedgepeth. Read full responses from 4th District candidates here.
5th District
Stephanie Lynch isn't facing another candidate to retain her council seat. Read Lynch's responses.
Stephanie Rizzi is defending the School Board post against challenger Mamie Taylor. Read full responses from 5th District candidates here.
6th District
Councilor Ellen Robertson is running against two challengers for the council seat: Willie Hilliard and Tavares Floyd, who's campaign has come under scrutiny. Read the candidates' responses.
School Board member Shonda M. Harris-Muhammed is running unopposed. Read her responses here.
7th District
Incumbent Cynthia Newbille didn’t respond to multiple email requests for responses to VPM News' council candidate questionnaire. Eric Sundberg is vying for the seat. Read his responses here.
Cheryl Burke didn't respond to multiple email requests. She's running unopposed for the School Board position.
8th District
Councilor Reva Trammell is being challenged by Frank Wilson Jr. for the seat. Read the candidates' responses.
E.J. "Emmett Jay" Jafari and PH "Cruz" Sherman are competing for the School Board seat. Read full responses from 8th District candidates here.
9th District
Nicole Jones took over the council seat in 2024, after being appointed to serve the remainder of the term of current Del. Mike Jones (no relation). Stephanie Starling is vying for the seat. Read the candidates' responses.
Shavonda Fernandez didn't respond to multiple email requests. She's running unopposed for the School Board position.
Harrisonburg
City Council
Three Democrats and one independent candidate are vying for three open seats on the five-person Harrisonburg City Council in November.
After a decade-long tenure on the board, Chris Jones lost his primary bid in June. Read more about the race.
School Board
Four candidates are vying for three open seats on the Harrisonburg board this fall, including Kaylene Seigle, who is seeking a third term. Newcomers Tim Howley, Hazzar Pastor Perdomo, Matt Snyder are running together as a liberal bloc. Read more about the race.
How do I know if I am registered to vote?
To check registration status online, head to the Virginia Department of Elections portal. If you believe you registered to vote but do not appear in the system, contact your local registrar’s office.
What do I need to bring to my polling location?
To cast an early in-person ballot, residents need to visit their local office with appropriate ID — like a drivers license, military or student ID. A list of what types of ID are valid in the commonwealth can be found on the Virginia Department of Elections website.
Virginia law requires all registered voters to show one acceptable form of ID to vote in person.
Polls in Virginia are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone in line at their polling station by 7 p.m. will be able to vote.
What if I am turned away from a polling location?
The Virginia Department of Elections advises that if you are turned away for any reason, ask to vote with a provisional ballot.
How can I file a voter complaint?
You can send a letter to the Virginia Department of Elections or file an informal complaint form online. To do that, visit the department’s website or send an email to [email protected].
Other questions about voting
If you’ve got a question about voting, call the state Department of Elections at 1-800-552-9745.
