U.S. House · Virginia's 2nd District

Virginia's 2nd Congressional District (Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore)

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 24 claims re-checked against their sources · 5 corrected · 0 removed

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

  • Kiggans' background facts (birthplace, Navy service, education) were cited to Elaine Luria's Ballotpedia page, which doesn't contain them; re-cited to Jennifer Kiggans' own Ballotpedia page (added as new source).
  • Kiggans' committee-assignments record item claimed current (119th Congress) committees but was sourced to Ballotpedia data still showing her 2023-2024 (118th Congress) assignments and subcommittee names (e.g. 'Water, Oceans, and Wildlife'); corrected to her actual 119th Congress (2025-2026) committees and subcommittees per her official house.gov page (added as new source), including her current chairwomanship of the Veterans' Affairs Oversight & Investigations subcommittee.
  • J. Matt Baker's summary was cited to Elaine Luria's page, which never mentions Baker; re-cited to Baker's own Ballotpedia page (added as new source).
  • Bishop Staten's background item (birthplace, high school, civil-servant work) was cited to Luria's page, which doesn't contain it; re-cited to Staten's own Ballotpedia page (already a listed source).
  • Removed a duplicate/erroneous top-level 'electionDate' key (file already has one at the top of the schema).

On the ballot · 4 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEJennifer Kiggans
R
Elaine Luria
D
J. Matt Baker
IND
Bishop Staten
IND
Protect legal access to abortion—Supports[19][20]votes——
Stricter gun laws—Supports[15][16][17]votes——
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsSupports[6][7][8][9][10]votesOpposes[21][22]votes——
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsOpposes[7][8][9]votesSupports[14]votes——
Expand public health coverageOpposes[7][8][9][11]votesSupports[1]——
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsOpposes[7][8][9]votesSupports[13][14]votes——
Raise the minimum wage—Supports[18]votes——
Broad tariffs on imported goodsSupports[12]votes———
Universal, publicly funded child care—Supports[13]votes——

Key votes in Congress — side by side

VOTEJennifer KiggansElaine Luria
Laken Riley Act — final passage ↗
House · 2025-01-22
Yes
Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 ↗
House · 2025-03-11
Yes
SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration ↗
House · 2025-04-10
Yes
One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage ↗
House · 2025-05-22
Yes
Rescissions Act of 2025 ↗
House · 2025-06-12
Yes
One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage ↗
House · 2025-07-03
Yes
CLARITY Act — digital asset market structure ↗
House · 2025-07-17
Yes
GENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation ↗
House · 2025-07-17
Yes
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote ↗
House · 2025-11-12
Yes
Epstein Files Transparency Act ↗
House · 2025-11-18
Yes
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage ↗
House · 2025-12-10
Yes
War Powers Resolution on Venezuela ↗
House · 2025-12-17
No
Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension ↗
House · 2026-01-08
No
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding ↗
House · 2026-02-03
Yes
Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada ↗
House · 2026-02-11
No
War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities ↗
House · 2026-06-03
No
Build Back Better Act — House passage ↗
House · 2021-11-19
Yes
Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage ↗
House · 2022-08-12
Yes
Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage ↗
House · 2019-02-27
Yes
Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage ↗
House · 2022-07-29
Yes
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage ↗
House · 2022-06-24
Yes
Raise the Wage Act — House passage ↗
House · 2019-07-18
Yes
Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage ↗
House · 2021-09-24
Yes
Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage ↗
House · 2022-07-15
Yes
Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage ↗
House · 2023-05-11
Yes
American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage ↗
House · 2019-06-04
Yes
American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage ↗
House · 2021-03-18
Yes

The candidates, in full

Jennifer Kiggans

RINCUMBENTU.S. Representative, Virginia's 2nd District (since 2023)

Jennifer Kiggans is the incumbent Republican U.S. Representative for Virginia's 2nd District, a Navy veteran and nurse practitioner who previously served one term in the Virginia Senate. She is campaigning on her record on cost-of-living and government oversight.[1]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • NoWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • NoResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • YesConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • NoBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • NoWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • YesContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • YesRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • YesSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • YesFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • YesLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
  • YesSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · H.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · 2023-05-11 roll call ↗Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.

On the record — official actions

  • actionServes on the House Committee on Armed Services (Subcommittees on Seapower and Projection Forces, Military Personnel, and Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation), the House Committee on Natural Resources (Subcommittees on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries, and Energy & Mineral Resources), and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she chairs the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations, in the 119th Congress (2025-2026).[4]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted yes on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11).[6][7][8][9][10]

  • OpposesExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted no on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[7][8][9][11]

  • OpposesFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[7][8][9]

  • OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[7][8][9]

  • SupportsBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[12]

In their words — priorities

  • Says her priority is "lowering costs, putting more money back in your pocket, standing up for our families, and working across the aisle to deliver real results."[1]
  • Says she "fought to pass legislation to protect working families and small businesses from government overreach, reduce executive branch overspending, and bring much-needed oversight to federal agencies."[1]

Background

  • Born in Tampa, Florida in 1971; served in the U.S. Navy from 1993 to 2003 as a helicopter pilot.[3]
  • Earned a bachelor's degree in international relations from Boston University, a bachelor's in nursing from Old Dominion University, and a master's in nursing from Vanderbilt University; worked as an adult-geriatric nurse practitioner.[3]
  • Served in the Virginia Senate from 2020 to 2023 before her election to Congress.[3]

Campaign money

Raised $6.0M · spent $2.6M · $3.4M cash on hand (through 2026-07-15) FEC filing ↗

Elaine Luria

DFormer U.S. Representative, Virginia's 2nd District (2019-2023)

Won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary with 80.4% of the vote

Elaine Luria is a former Democratic U.S. Representative for Virginia's 2nd District (2019-2023) who lost her seat to Jennifer Kiggans in 2022 and is seeking a non-consecutive term in a rematch. She is a 20-year Navy veteran who later founded an arts and crafts business.[1]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • YesInflation Reduction Act — final House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–207 · 2022-08-12 roll call ↗Enacted clean-energy and climate tax credits, a 15% minimum tax on large corporations' book income, a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks, and Medicare drug-price negotiation.
  • YesAssault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 1808 · Passed 217–213 · 2022-07-29 roll call ↗Would have banned the sale, manufacture and import of many semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
  • YesWomen's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 8296 · Passed 219–210 · 2022-07-15 roll call ↗Passed after Dobbs; would have created a federal statutory right to abortion services and limited state restrictions.
  • YesBipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · S. 2938 · Passed 234–193 · 2022-06-24 roll call ↗Expanded background checks for buyers under 21, funded state red-flag and crisis-intervention programs, and narrowed the "boyfriend loophole."
  • YesBuild Back Better Act — House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–213 · 2021-11-19 roll call ↗Would have funded clean-energy tax credits, universal pre-kindergarten and child-care subsidies, and extended health-coverage subsidies; it did not pass the Senate.
  • YesWomen's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 3755 · Passed 218–211 · 2021-09-24 roll call ↗Would have created a federal statutory right for providers to offer, and patients to receive, abortion services, limiting state restrictions.
  • YesAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 228–197 · 2021-03-18 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • YesRaise the Wage Act — House passage · H.R. 582 · Passed 231–199 · 2019-07-18 roll call ↗Would have raised the federal minimum wage in steps from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2025.
  • YesAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 237–187 · 2019-06-04 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • YesBipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · H.R. 8 · Passed 240–190 · 2019-02-27 roll call ↗Would have required background checks for most firearm transfers between private parties.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsExpand public health coverage

    Campaigning on protecting and expanding healthcare access and reversing recent healthcare cuts.[1]

    “People's healthcare is getting cut, and people's healthcare is getting more expensive.”
  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.[13][14]

  • SupportsUniversal, publicly funded child careFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.[13]

  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.[14]

  • SupportsStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27). Voted yes on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29). Voted yes on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24).[15][16][17]

  • SupportsRaise the minimum wageFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).[18]

  • SupportsProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted yes on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15).[19][20]

  • OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04; 2021-03-18).[21][22]

In their words — priorities

  • Is campaigning on healthcare costs and access, saying "people's healthcare is getting cut, and people's healthcare is getting more expensive."[1]
  • Is campaigning on government transparency, including a proposal to ban members of Congress, congressional staff, and executive branch officials from trading on political prediction markets using nonpublic information.[1]

Background

  • Served 20 years in the U.S. Navy, reaching the rank of commander, before retiring in 2017 and founding an arts and crafts business called Mermaid Factory.[1]
  • Represented Virginia's 2nd District in the U.S. House from 2019 to 2023, serving on the House Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Homeland Security, and Armed Services, chairing the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.[1]
  • Lost re-election to Jennifer Kiggans in 2022, 52% to 48%.[1]

Campaign money

Raised $591 · spent $8,473 · $0 cash on hand (through 2025-07-15) FEC filing ↗

J. Matt Baker

IND

J. Matt Baker is an independent candidate running in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District general election.[5]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Bishop Staten

IND

Bishop Staten, a Suffolk, Virginia civil servant and community activist, is an independent candidate for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, campaigning on affordability, public safety, and equal opportunity.[2]

Little public record found for this candidate.

In their words — priorities

  • Lists his campaign's key messages as "Purpose Over Politics" and giving Hampton Roads a congressional candidate from within the district.[2]
  • Says he is personally passionate about affordability, public safety, and equal opportunity.[2]

Background

  • Born and raised in Suffolk, Virginia; graduated from Nansemond River High School; has worked as a civil servant.[2]
  • Ran for mayor of Suffolk in 2016 at age 30, becoming the youngest person to ever run for the office, and was runner-up for Commissioner of the Revenue.[2]

Research notes & limits

J. Matt Baker's Ballotpedia page had no biography, survey responses, or stated positions available within the research budget, so his entry is minimal. Bishop Staten's and J. Matt Baker's campaign finance filings show no reported receipts, consistent with minor campaigns.

Sources · 22

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.Elaine Luria · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Bishop Staten · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2025-01-01 Candidate's own words
  3. 3.Jennifer Kiggans · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  4. 4.About | Congresswoman Jen Kiggans · Office of Rep. Jen Kiggans Official record
  5. 5.J. Matt Baker · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  6. 6.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  7. 7.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  8. 8.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  9. 9.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  10. 10.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  11. 11.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  12. 12.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  13. 13.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  14. 14.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  15. 15.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  17. 17.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  19. 19.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record