(The Center Square) — Republican incumbent Rep. Jen Kiggans has retained her position in Congress by just over 4% over Democratic challenger Missy Cotter Smasal after a long and spirited race, called almost 24 hours after polls closed.
Incumbents typically have the upper hand in elections, but judging by the level of campaigning and fundraising poured into District 2, Republicans didn’t consider the seat a shoo-in. Party leaders coalesced at a Chesapeake rally for Kiggans on the eve of Election Day.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares came to show their support, as they have for candidates across Virginia. However, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson also made an appearance at the Nov. 4 gathering.
The “road to keeping and growing our majority runs directly through Virginia, where we have two veterans who will win and deliver results for Commonwealth families,” Johnson told the New York Post.
Kiggans, a Navy veteran, raised close to $6 million, the second-highest amount raised by any Virginia House of Representatives candidate this election season.