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Speaker Mike Johnson will spend election eve campaigning in two key House districts in Virginia, exclusively telling The Post that the “road to maintaining and expanding our majority runs directly through Virginia, where we have two candidates who will win and deliver results for Commonwealth families.”
The Speaker plans to host events for Republicans Derrick Anderson, who is vying for an open seat, and freshman Rep. Jen Kiggans, and he will be accompanied by some special guests, the New York Post reported.
“Congresswoman Kiggans is a champion for veterans, our troops, and military families and works across the aisle to fight for Virginia’s 2nd District. Green Beret Derrick Anderson has served our country and will be a strong voice for Virginia’s 7th District to secure our border, fix our economy, and restore peace through strength,” Johnson told The Post.
“After campaigning in more than 250 cities across 40 states, I look forward to turning out the vote across Virginia on the eve of the most important election of our lifetimes,” he added.
Former President Donald Trump opened his Salem, Va., rally Saturday night with a bold prediction: “I’m here today in this incredible commonwealth for one very simple reason — because I believe we can win Virginia.”
Though a Republican presidential contender hasn’t won Virginia in two decades, the GOP made significant gains there in 2021, where the party’s candidates won the governorship, the lieutenant governorship, and the state attorney general’s office.
In Spotsylvania, Johnson will rally for Anderson with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, among other speakers, The Post reported.
Anderson is in a tight race against Democrat Eugene Vindman, who gained national recognition in 2019 as a whistleblower during the first impeachment attempt against Trump, which was prompted by the Ukrainian-born candidate’s reporting of a phone call between the former president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. His twin brother, Alexander, testified before Congress regarding the matter.
The race is viewed as one of the Republicans’ best opportunities to flip a seat and maintain their narrow House majority. Incumbent Democrat Rep. Abigail Spanberger is not running for reelection, as she has decided to campaign for Virginia governor in 2025.
Despite his national name recognition, Vindman has conducted a low-key campaign, participating in only one debate and largely avoiding the media.
He finally spoke with WUSA TV on Friday, providing just seven minutes of the requested 15 minutes; Anderson had previously committed to the entire time weeks earlier, The Post noted.
That approach reveals why Vindman has been steering clear of the press: he repeatedly recited talking points without directly addressing questions about his military record, which Anderson and others allege he has exaggerated. The Cook Political Report now rates the race as a toss-up, shifting it from a lean Democrat status in August.
In Virginia Beach, Johnson and Youngkin will rally for Kiggans alongside Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares.
Kiggans reclaimed the seat for Republicans in 2022 by defeating two-term Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria. Prior to that, Republican Scott Taylor represented the military and veteran-heavy district.
As the Republican incumbent, Kiggans enters this year’s electoral contest in a strong position, having successfully balanced the interests of both hardcore conservatives and moderate voters during her first term.
A September poll from Christopher Newport University showed Kiggans with a 5-point lead over Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal.
As for Vice President Kamala Harris, she has spent the past 24 hours in Pennsylvania, the biggest swing state, even going door to door in what some called a staged and desperate last-minute bid.
She has five campaign rallies scheduled in the state on Election Day, which is Tuesday.
