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