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Virginia’s 2nd District covers a large portion of Hampton Roads, including the entirety of the cities of Virginia Beach, Suffolk, and Franklin, as well as Isle of Wight County, Accomack County, Northampton County, and parts of Chesapeake and Southampton County. The district has changed hands several times since 2008 at all levels and is considered one of Virginia’s most competitive congressional districts. Luria won the seat with 51.55% of the vote in 2020.
This election will be held on November 8, 2022. Incumbent Congresswoman Elaine Luria (D), a US Navy veteran who was first elected in 2018, faces State Senator Jen Kiggans (R), a former geriatric nurse practitioner and retired US Navy veteran. Kiggans has served in the Virginia State Senate since 2020.
Democratic incumbent Representative Elaine Luria has served Virginia’s Second District since 2019. She is a 20-year Navy veteran who served as a Surface Warfare Officer and nuclear engineer. She was one of the first women to attend the Naval Nuclear Power School. In 2013, she started a family business, Mermaid Factory, which created jobs and added over $250,000 to Hampton Roads’ economy. She currently serves on the House Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
Luria is a staunch advocate for clean air and water, as well as access to natural environments. She introduced the Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation for $85 million to fund clean up of the Chesapeake Bay. Additionally, she spoke out against offshore drilling, and in 2020, cosponsored the Great American Outdoors Act. Earlier this year, she introduced legislation that would authorize a study to designate Coastal Virginia as a National Heritage Area.
Access to quality and affordable healthcare is a top priority for Luria. She supports strengthening the Affordable Care Act and works to lower prescription drug prices. In early 2022, Luria advanced legislation supporting health care access to veterans with certain illnesses as a result of burn pits. She also pushed TRICARE to increase access to free COVID tests to service members and military families. Luria criticized the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, as well as Governor Youngkin’s plan to change abortion laws in Virginia.
Luria is a gun safety advocate who believes in commonsense measures to keep people safe from gun violence. She supports universal background checks for gun purchases and transfers, with certain exceptions. She cosponsored the Keep Americans Safe Act, which would prohibit the possession or transfer of large-capacity ammunition magazines, a common weapon used in mass shootings. Similarly, Luria cosponsored the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019, which prohibited the importation, sale, or transfer of semiautomatic weapons.
Racial equity is important to Luria, and she believes that systemic racism must be holistically addressed. She voted in favor of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which dealt with law enforcement accountability for misconduct and would restrict certain practices. She also supported the No Funding for Confederate Symbols Act. With the hope of fixing the Black maternal mortality crisis, Luria supported the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. To address racial equity in education, she secured $10 million for Historic Preservation Grants for HBCUs.
Luria is running against nurse practitioner, Navy veteran, and Virginia State Senator Jen Kiggans (R). This past session, Kiggans introduced legislation attempting to bar trans girls from playing school sports. She also patroned legislation aiming to ban the teaching of accurate history in public schools. She applauded the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, calling the moment a chance to “stand against the extremist Democrat policies…”
Due to Kiggans’ extreme views on abortion access and trans rights and her lack of support for public education, Congresswoman Luria is the most progressive candidate in this race.
Virginia Beach, District 2
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Democratic incumbent Representative Elaine Luria has served Virginia’s Second District since 2019. She is a 20-year Navy veteran who served as a Surface Warfare Officer and nuclear engineer. She was one of the first women to attend the Naval Nuclear Power School. In 2013, she started a family business, Mermaid Factory, which created jobs and added over $250,000 to Hampton Roads’ economy. She currently serves on the House Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
Luria is a staunch advocate for clean air and water, as well as access to natural environments. She introduced the Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation for $85 million to fund clean up of the Chesapeake Bay. Additionally, she spoke out against offshore drilling, and in 2020, cosponsored the Great American Outdoors Act. Earlier this year, she introduced legislation that would authorize a study to designate Coastal Virginia as a National Heritage Area.
Access to quality and affordable healthcare is a top priority for Luria. She supports strengthening the Affordable Care Act and works to lower prescription drug prices. In early 2022, Luria advanced legislation supporting health care access to veterans with certain illnesses as a result of burn pits. She also pushed TRICARE to increase access to free COVID tests to service members and military families. Luria criticized the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, as well as Governor Youngkin’s plan to change abortion laws in Virginia.
Luria is a gun safety advocate who believes in commonsense measures to keep people safe from gun violence. She supports universal background checks for gun purchases and transfers, with certain exceptions. She cosponsored the Keep Americans Safe Act, which would prohibit the possession or transfer of large-capacity ammunition magazines, a common weapon used in mass shootings. Similarly, Luria cosponsored the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019, which prohibited the importation, sale, or transfer of semiautomatic weapons.
Racial equity is important to Luria, and she believes that systemic racism must be holistically addressed. She voted in favor of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which dealt with law enforcement accountability for misconduct and would restrict certain practices. She also supported the No Funding for Confederate Symbols Act. With the hope of fixing the Black maternal mortality crisis, Luria supported the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. To address racial equity in education, she secured $10 million for Historic Preservation Grants for HBCUs.
Luria is running against nurse practitioner, Navy veteran, and Virginia State Senator Jen Kiggans (R). This past session, Kiggans introduced legislation attempting to bar trans girls from playing school sports. She also patroned legislation aiming to ban the teaching of accurate history in public schools. She applauded the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, calling the moment a chance to “stand against the extremist Democrat policies…”
Due to Kiggans’ extreme views on abortion access and trans rights and her lack of support for public education, Congresswoman Luria is the most progressive candidate in this race.Last updated: 2023-04-05
Depending on where you live, you may have the following district races on your ballot.
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The election for Virginia Beach City Council District 2 takes place on November 8, 2022. Prior to the 2022 election, Virginia Beach City Council had seven residential district seats and four at-large seats. This is the first city council election with ten residential districts. Elaine Fekete (I), Nanette Miller (R), Michael Mauch (I), Paul Telkamp (I) will face incumbent Barbara Henley (I), who has served on city council since 2006. She previously served from 1978-1990, and again from 1994-2002. Henley currently holds the Virginia Beach City Council Princess Anne District seat.Incumbent Barbara Henley has served on City Council since 2006 and two years as vice mayor. Henley is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's in urban studies. Henley is president of the Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society and serves as the City Council liaison to several organizations. She aims to “address flooding and restarting the city open space program and ensuring the city makes progress on the flooding prevention projects funded this past year.”
Henley also advocates for prompt COVID-19 response. In response to the COVID-19 vaccination availability Henley expressed the need for urgency when making vaccinations available to the public declaring that “the city needs to do whatever possible to prioritize vaccination distribution.” Henley also pressed for answers on the delay of vaccination availability, comparing Virginia Beach’s delay to cities that were already in the next phase of their treatments.
Henley is also running to improve the flooding conditions in Virginia Beach. Concerned about the severe flooding, she proposed a plan in order to combat the negative effects of flooding. Using a trees’ ability to act like a pump — capturing, storing and removing water from the environment, Henley suggested researching which existing forests are integral to prevent flooding and where strategic reforestation would provide the most benefits all in an effort to examine how forests could help with an issue that's plaguing the southern, rural part of the city.
Also on Henley’s campaign agenda is economic development and infrastructure. Henley was among the city council members to approve a new city council vision and worked with coordinators to create a master plan for future development in the Princess Anne area. The vision included mixing residential units and businesses among government buildings to diversify the area and make it more pedestrian-friendly while also offering shopping, restaurants, apartments, hotels and entertainment.
Lastly, Councilwoman Henley promotes city parks and recreation. Henley voted in favor of the construction of the Pungo Ferry Landing Park. She expressed interest in getting volunteers together to do an archaeological dig at the park, as it was a major crossing for Native Americans who lived in the area. Updates included a paved parking lot where Captain George's restaurant once stood, renovating the boat ramp, adding a walkway and fencing near the ramp and creating an informal kayak launch.
Henley is running against the following candidates: Paul Telkamp, Nanette Miller, Michael Mauch, and Elaine Fekete.
Paul Telkamp, (I) was a previous candidate for the At-large school board race. We are unable to find information on this candidate’s policies for this school board election at this time.
Republican candidate Nanette Miller currently serves as Vice-Chairwoman of the Virginia Beach Republican Party and helped Governor Youngkin win his election this past November. She has an extensive military history and reached the rank of Commander in the US Navy. Miller has a Master's degree in American Government from Regent University. Miller’s priority issues include underfunding crucial programs by lowering taxes and promoting second amendment rights.
A Virginia Beach native, first time Independent candidate, Michael Mauch is running for city council to protect agricultural resources. He plans to strengthen communities as well, ironically by allocating more money to police, despite their history of violence crimes and cover-ups towards those they are sworn to protect. Mauch also supports developing economic growth to keep Virginia graduates in Virginia. Mauch is currently the Vice President of the Atlantic Avenue Association, and the treasurer of the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association.
Independent candidate Elaine Fekete advocates for flooding solutions, lowering taxes and fees, and support for education and public safety. Fekete also pledges to campaign for transparency and accountability. An experienced realtor, Fekete started her advocacy fighting to preserve vacation renting in Sandbridge Beach. If elected as a member of city council, this first time candidate's first order of business will be “asking for relief on the city's prepared food/restaurant tax,” which would mean fewer services will be available for those who are most vulnerable.
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Incumbent Barbara Henley has served on City Council since 2006 and two years as vice mayor. Henley is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's in urban studies. Henley is president of the Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society and serves as the City Council liaison to several organizations. She aims to “address flooding and restarting the city open space program and ensuring the city makes progress on the flooding prevention projects funded this past year.”
Henley also advocates for prompt COVID-19 response. In response to the COVID-19 vaccination availability Henley expressed the need for urgency when making vaccinations available to the public declaring that “the city needs to do whatever possible to prioritize vaccination distribution.” Henley also pressed for answers on the delay of vaccination availability, comparing Virginia Beach’s delay to cities that were already in the next phase of their treatments.
Henley is also running to improve the flooding conditions in Virginia Beach. Concerned about the severe flooding, she proposed a plan in order to combat the negative effects of flooding. Using a trees’ ability to act like a pump — capturing, storing and removing water from the environment, Henley suggested researching which existing forests are integral to prevent flooding and where strategic reforestation would provide the most benefits all in an effort to examine how forests could help with an issue that's plaguing the southern, rural part of the city.
Also on Henley’s campaign agenda is economic development and infrastructure. Henley was among the city council members to approve a new city council vision and worked with coordinators to create a master plan for future development in the Princess Anne area. The vision included mixing residential units and businesses among government buildings to diversify the area and make it more pedestrian-friendly while also offering shopping, restaurants, apartments, hotels and entertainment.
Lastly, Councilwoman Henley promotes city parks and recreation. Henley voted in favor of the construction of the Pungo Ferry Landing Park. She expressed interest in getting volunteers together to do an archaeological dig at the park, as it was a major crossing for Native Americans who lived in the area. Updates included a paved parking lot where Captain George's restaurant once stood, renovating the boat ramp, adding a walkway and fencing near the ramp and creating an informal kayak launch.
Henley is running against the following candidates: Paul Telkamp, Nanette Miller, Michael Mauch, and Elaine Fekete.
Paul Telkamp, (I) was a previous candidate for the At-large school board race. We are unable to find information on this candidate’s policies for this school board election at this time.
Republican candidate Nanette Miller currently serves as Vice-Chairwoman of the Virginia Beach Republican Party and helped Governor Youngkin win his election this past November. She has an extensive military history and reached the rank of Commander in the US Navy. Miller has a Master's degree in American Government from Regent University. Miller’s priority issues include underfunding crucial programs by lowering taxes and promoting second amendment rights.
A Virginia Beach native, first time Independent candidate, Michael Mauch is running for city council to protect agricultural resources. He plans to strengthen communities as well, ironically by allocating more money to police, despite their history of violence crimes and cover-ups towards those they are sworn to protect. Mauch also supports developing economic growth to keep Virginia graduates in Virginia. Mauch is currently the Vice President of the Atlantic Avenue Association, and the treasurer of the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association.
Independent candidate Elaine Fekete advocates for flooding solutions, lowering taxes and fees, and support for education and public safety. Fekete also pledges to campaign for transparency and accountability. An experienced realtor, Fekete started her advocacy fighting to preserve vacation renting in Sandbridge Beach. If elected as a member of city council, this first time candidate's first order of business will be “asking for relief on the city's prepared food/restaurant tax,” which would mean fewer services will be available for those who are most vulnerable.Last updated: 2023-04-05
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The election for Virginia Beach City School Board District 2 takes place on November 8, 2022. Prior to the 2022 election, voters could vote for all eleven Virginia Beach School Board seats, regardless of where they live. This is the first school board election where voters will only vote for candidates in their district. There is one at-large seat that is not up for election this year. Amy L. Solares (R) and Alexis Cristy Gerdes (I) will face incumbent Kim Melnyk (D). Melnyk has served on the school board since 2015, and is the current vice chair of the Virginia Beach City School Board and holds the District 7 Princess Anne seat.
Residing in Virginia Beach for over forty years, Democratic incumbent Kim Melnyk is running for reelection to the school board. She believes her experience as a school board member and educator will aid her in advocating for making education a top priority. Melnyk wants to raise teacher pay and provide funding for necessary resources and services for our students. Melnyk intends to fully fund education, address students mental health, and invest in our working families.
Kim Melnyk is passionate about protecting children’s education while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. While Melnyk’s efforts to provide Virginia Beach students with Chromebooks before the closing of schools was a success, she is still concerned with other disparities that plague student learning remotely. She previously built and delivered over 2,000 desks to students in the community who did not have a place to do their school work. She stresses the need to provide access to broadband internet for the whole Commonwealth and continue to make investments in public education so we can improve our schools.
Melnyk, who was a teacher for ten years, is an advocate for teachers. She believes we need someone who believes in public schools and will protect them to serve on school boards. Melnyk campaigned this year to continue her efforts to raise teacher pay and provide school funding for necessary resources and services for the students of Virginia Beach.
Melnyk also advocates for resources that promote positive mental health in the lives of Virginia Beach students and to raise funding for services that support student individual development as well as their learning capabilities. Additionally, Melnyk uses her platform to fight for special education and full-day kindergarten.
Melnyk has been directly impacted by gun violence and supports keeping schools safe by passing common sense gun violence prevention measures like universal background checks, waiting periods for gun purchases, and closing existing loopholes that make it easy to obtain guns. She also wants to ban the sale of ghost guns and keep guns out of the wrong hands of people deemed to be a risk for themselves or others.
Melnyk is running against Amy Solores and Alexis Gerdes.
Republican Amy L. Solares has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida State University and a Juris Doctor from Widener University. Frustrated with Virginia Beach’s decision to keep schools closed as a result of COVID, Solares decided to run. We can’t recommend a candidate who would not prioritize student and teacher safety during a global pandemic.
Independent candidate Alexis Gerdes is a military wife and mother of three who wants to see students grow “academically, physically and emotionally for a prosperous future.” Gerdes believes parents should dictate curriculum and teachers shouldn’t be able to teach accurate history in schools. She also wants to bring cops back into schools, which has shown to make schools less safe for students of color.
Kim Melnyk is the most progressive choice for District 2 due to her advocacy of children's mental health and education andher prioritization of teacher needs.
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Residing in Virginia Beach for over forty years, Democratic incumbent Kim Melnyk is running for reelection to the school board. She believes her experience as a school board member and educator will aid her in advocating for making education a top priority. Melnyk wants to raise teacher pay and provide funding for necessary resources and services for our students. Melnyk intends to fully fund education, address students mental health, and invest in our working families.
Kim Melnyk is passionate about protecting children’s education while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. While Melnyk’s efforts to provide Virginia Beach students with Chromebooks before the closing of schools was a success, she is still concerned with other disparities that plague student learning remotely. She previously built and delivered over 2,000 desks to students in the community who did not have a place to do their school work. She stresses the need to provide access to broadband internet for the whole Commonwealth and continue to make investments in public education so we can improve our schools.
Melnyk, who was a teacher for ten years, is an advocate for teachers. She believes we need someone who believes in public schools and will protect them to serve on school boards. Melnyk campaigned this year to continue her efforts to raise teacher pay and provide school funding for necessary resources and services for the students of Virginia Beach.
Melnyk also advocates for resources that promote positive mental health in the lives of Virginia Beach students and to raise funding for services that support student individual development as well as their learning capabilities. Additionally, Melnyk uses her platform to fight for special education and full-day kindergarten.
Melnyk has been directly impacted by gun violence and supports keeping schools safe by passing common sense gun violence prevention measures like universal background checks, waiting periods for gun purchases, and closing existing loopholes that make it easy to obtain guns. She also wants to ban the sale of ghost guns and keep guns out of the wrong hands of people deemed to be a risk for themselves or others.
Melnyk is running against Amy Solores and Alexis Gerdes.
Republican Amy L. Solares has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida State University and a Juris Doctor from Widener University. Frustrated with Virginia Beach’s decision to keep schools closed as a result of COVID, Solares decided to run. We can’t recommend a candidate who would not prioritize student and teacher safety during a global pandemic.
Independent candidate Alexis Gerdes is a military wife and mother of three who wants to see students grow “academically, physically and emotionally for a prosperous future.” Gerdes believes parents should dictate curriculum and teachers shouldn’t be able to teach accurate history in schools. She also wants to bring cops back into schools, which has shown to make schools less safe for students of color.
Kim Melnyk is the most progressive choice for District 2 due to her advocacy of children's mental health and education andher prioritization of teacher needs.Last updated: 2023-04-05
Customizing the Progressive Voters Guide for your location...
Customizing the Progressive Voters Guide for your location...