Jennifer Wexton's Congressional Seat Up For Grabs, Primaries To Determine Candidates

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — While the presidential election is the nation's most closely-watched race this year, Virginia voters will also have congressional races on the ballot. One of the key races is the 10th congressional district, currently represented by Rep. Jennifer Wexton.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 18, 2024 for the Democratic and Republican primary elections.

Wexton (D-Loudoun) is not seeking re-election after receiving a progressive supra-nuclear palsy diagnosis, which she described as "Parkinson’s on steroids." Republican and Democratic primaries will be held to choose 10th congressional district candidates for the November general election. Because Virginia voters are not registered by party, they may cast a ballot in either the Democratic or Republican primary.

Whoever wins the primaries will be part of a closely-watched general election race. The Virginia Public Access Project labels the 10th congressional district as a competitive district.

Wexton had flipped the seat in 2018 by defeating Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Loudoun). The district covers Loudoun County, part of Prince William County, part of Fairfax County, Fauquier County, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, and Rappahannock County.

What's on the Ballot

Candidates in the Republican primary for the 10th congressional district are Mike Clancy, Alex Isaac, Aliscia Andrews and Manga Anantatmula.

Democratic primary candidates include Eileen Filler-Corn, Suhas Subramanyam, Atif Qarni, Dan Helmer, Marion Devoe, Krystle Kaul, Jennifer Boysko, Adrian Pokharel, Michelle Maldonado, Mark Leighton, David Reid and Travis Nembhard.

As reported by WAMU, the 10th congressional district primaries are drawing significant campaign spending. Helmer, a Virginia delegate, leads Democratic fundraising with more than $1.5 million, according to Virginia Public Access project records. The second-highest fundraiser is Subramanyam, a state senator endorsed in the primary by Wexton, with over $1 million raised. Kaul, a national security expert, has also raised over $1 million.

Depending on the locality you live in, there may be local primary elections in addition to the 10th congressional election. There is also a Republican U.S. Senate primary to determine a challenger for Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine. Candidates include Hung Cao, Eddie Garcia, Jonathan Emord, Chuck Smith and Scott Parkinson.

Virginia voters are not registered by party, so they may vote in the Democratic or Republican primary.

How to Vote

The deadline for voter registration was May 28, but same-day registration is available to let voters cast a provisional ballot. Voters who will be 18 by the next general election on Nov. 5, 2024, can register to vote in the primary.

To vote on Election Day (Tuesday, June 18), visit your assigned polling place during voting hours from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check your polling place using the Virginia Department of Elections citizens portal. An acceptable form of ID is required to vote in person.

If you received a mail-in ballot, return the completed ballot by 7 p.m. on June 18 or have it postmarked by June 18. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot was June 7. Voters may return the ballot by mail or by other methods specified by their elections office.

After polls close at 7 p.m. on June 18, preliminary election results will be tallied on the Virginia Department of Elections website. Patch will provide coverage of the 10th congressional district primary as well as other key races in Northern Virginia.

For more information on voting, see the website for the elections office in your locality:

• Loudoun County
• Prince William County
• Manassas City
• Manassas Park City
• Fauquier County
• Rappahannock County