(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.
On Nov. 3, Kiggans posted a video on X of conservative congresswomen voicing their support for their colleagues and women in Congress.
“We are proving that women are truly the ones who get things done in Washington, D.C.,” said Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-02, in the video.
“I cannot recommend anyone more highly to serve our nation once again,” said Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y.
Between Nov. 1 and 7 p.m. on election day, Kiggans posted or reposted to X 30 times. At 2:17 a.m. on Nov. 6, after about 90% of District 2’s votes had been tallied, Kiggans wrote a victory post on the platform.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to be chosen to represent #VA02 in Congress again…! I’m incredibly thankful that Southeast Virginia has once again chosen commonsense conservatism… together we will get our country back on the right track and secure America’s success…! THANK YOU!” Kiggans wrote.
Kiggans’ district includes the most Southeasterly parts of the commonwealth, overlapping significantly with the “swingy” Hampton Roads. In a recent Christopher Newport University poll, Kiggans polled only 1 point ahead of Smasal, contributing to predictions of a tight race.
