U.S. House · Virginia's 7th District

Central and northern Virginia, stretching across eleven localities including Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Culpeper and parts of Prince William County.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 30 claims re-checked against their sources · 1 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.

  • Context paragraph said 'seven other candidates' withdrew from the Democratic primary; Ballotpedia's withdrawn/disqualified list for VA-7 actually names eight (Dorothy McAuliffe, Joseph Cooney, Jonathan Schmeelk, Olivia Troye, Joseph Schiarizzi, Matthew Rainforth, Alex Thymmons, Dan Helmer). Corrected 'seven' to 'eight' and added 'or were disqualified' to match Ballotpedia's category label.

On the ballot · 6 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.

ISSUEEugene Vindman
D
Douglas Ollivant
R
Taner Demirci Lopez
LIB
Alaha Ahrar
IND
Joshua Ertle
IND
Randall Terry
IND
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsMixed[3][4][5][6]votes—————
Loosen zoning rules to build more housing—Supports[1]————
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsSupports[4][5][6]votes—————
Expand public health coverageSupports[4][5][6][7]votes—————
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsSupports[4][5][6]votes—————
Broad tariffs on imported goodsOpposes[8]votes—————

The candidates, in full

Eugene Vindman

DINCUMBENTU.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th District (since 2025)

Advanced from the Democratic primary unopposed after other candidates withdrew and the primary was canceled.

Eugene Vindman is the Democratic incumbent seeking a second term representing Virginia's 7th District. A retired U.S. Army colonel and former White House National Security Council attorney, he is running on affordability, government-ethics reforms and protecting federal workers.[1][2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • YesWar 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.
  • YesResolution 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.
  • NoConsolidated 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.
  • YesBreaking 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.
  • YesWar 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.
  • NoContinuing 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.
  • NoOne 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.
  • NoRescissions 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.
  • NoOne 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.
  • NoSAVE 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.
  • NoFull-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.

Positions on the issues

  • MixedExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.[3][4][5][6]

  • SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no 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 yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[4][5][6][7]

  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no 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.[4][5][6]

  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no 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.[4][5][6]

  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[8]

In their words — priorities

  • Lowering costs for working families and cracking down on anti-competitive business practices.[1]
  • Banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks or participating in prediction markets, and from lobbying former colleagues after leaving office.[1]
  • Protecting federal workers from political attacks and government shutdowns, and rebuilding federal agencies affected by DOGE-driven cuts.[1]

Background

  • Came to the United States at age four as a refugee from Soviet Ukraine; grew up in New York attending public schools and public university.[2]
  • Commissioned as a U.S. Army infantry officer through ROTC; served in the 82nd Airborne Division and as a company commander before transitioning to the Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps.[2]
  • As a JAG officer, served as an international law advisor in Iraq, senior prosecutor in the Army's busiest jurisdiction, and a White House National Security Council deputy legal advisor; retired as a Colonel in 2022 after 25 years of service.[2]
  • Received a bachelor's degree from Binghamton University, a master's degree from Central Michigan University and a J.D. from the University of Georgia.[1]

Campaign money

Raised $12.4M · spent $5.9M · $6.6M cash on hand (through 2026-07-15) FEC filing ↗

Douglas Ollivant

R

Won the August 4, 2026 Republican primary with 56.6% of the vote over Philip Harding and Rick Smithers.

Douglas Ollivant is the Republican nominee challenging incumbent Eugene Vindman. A retired U.S. Army officer and managing partner at a business-intelligence consulting firm, he is running on energy costs, housing supply and foreign policy.[1]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housing

    Says the best way to increase housing supply is to reduce regulation on development and redevelopment.[1]

    “The best way to increase supply is to reduce regulation for development, redevelopment, and building supply chains, while creating some legal protections against frivolous zoning disputes.”

In their words — priorities

  • Expanding energy supply through an "all-of-the-above" approach centered on small modular nuclear reactors and natural gas.[1]
  • Increasing housing supply by reducing regulation on development and redevelopment.[1]
  • Advancing a foreign policy focused on border security and protecting U.S. interests.[1]

Background

  • Served in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 1997.[1]
  • Works as managing partner at Mantid International, LLC, a compliance and business intelligence consulting firm.[1]
  • Received a bachelor's degree from Wheaton College, a master's degree from James Madison University and a doctorate from Indiana University.[1]

Campaign money

Raised $251K · spent $185K · $66K cash on hand (through 2026-07-15) FEC filing ↗

Taner Demirci Lopez

LIB

Taner Demirci Lopez is the Libertarian Party candidate for Virginia's 7th District, a scholar and former cultural advisor to U.S. government agencies running on reducing federal spending and taxation and reforming immigration policy.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

In their words — priorities

  • Reducing the influence of lobbyists, corporations and foreign interests on government, and cutting federal taxation and spending.[1]

Background

  • Earned a master's degree in Religions and Cultures and a doctorate in Theology from the University of Murcia in Spain, and worked as a cultural advisor supporting U.S. government agencies.[1]

Alaha Ahrar

IND

Alaha Ahrar is an independent candidate on the general-election ballot for Virginia's 7th District. Ballotpedia lists no campaign profile or key messages for her, and FEC filings show minimal campaign activity ($115 in receipts as of June 30, 2026).[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Campaign money

Raised $115 · spent $0 · $115 cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Joshua Ertle

IND

Joshua Ertle is an independent candidate on the general-election ballot for Virginia's 7th District. Ballotpedia lists no campaign profile, key messages, or campaign finance activity for him.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Randall Terry

IND

Randall Terry is an independent candidate on the general-election ballot for Virginia's 7th District. Ballotpedia lists no campaign profile, key messages, or campaign finance activity for him.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Research notes & limits

Ollivant's own campaign website was not independently fetched; his priorities and quotes are drawn from Ballotpedia's staff-curated candidate profile, which cites and quotes his campaign website. Ahrar, Ertle and Terry have no public campaign materials found beyond their ballot listing and minimal FEC filings.

Sources · 8

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

  1. 1.Virginia's 7th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.About Congressman Eugene Vindman · Office of Rep. Eugene Vindman Official record
  3. 3.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  4. 4.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  5. 5.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  6. 6.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  7. 7.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  8. 8.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record