(The Center Square) – Virginians can begin casting ballots this week as early voting opens ahead of the Aug. 4 congressional and U.S. Senate primaries.
Early in-person voting begins Friday and runs through Aug. 1, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.
The August primary is unusual for Virginia, where congressional primaries are typically held in June. Lawmakers moved this year’s election date through legislation approved earlier this year.
The election also marks the first congressional primary since the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a redistricting referendum and left the state’s current congressional map in place for the 2026 election cycle.
Voters will decide eight contested U.S. House primaries. Democrats have contested races in the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th and 9th districts, while Republicans have contested primaries in the 5th, 7th and 10th districts.
The largest field is in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District, where seven Democrats are seeking the nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Rob Wittman. Former Rep. Elaine Luria is among four Democrats running in the 2nd Congressional District primary, while former Rep. Tom Perriello is part of a three-way Democratic primary in the 5th.
On the Republican side, the 5th Congressional District primary matches Rep. John McGuire and challenger Melanie Lucero. Three Republicans are competing in the 7th District, while four Republicans qualified for the primary in the 10th District.
Several incumbents avoided primary opposition, including Democratic Reps. Bobby Scott, Eugene Vindman and Jennifer McClellan, along with Republican Reps. Jen Kiggans, Ben Cline, Morgan Griffith and Wittman.
Statewide, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner is seeking another term without primary opposition. Republicans Kim Farington, Bert Mizusawa and David Williams are competing for their party’s nomination to challenge him in November.
Winners of the Aug. 4 primaries will advance to the November general election.
The deadline to register to vote and request a mailed absentee ballot is July 24. Same-day voter registration begins July 25. Election Day is Aug. 4.
