Redistricting means that most of the region will be in the 7th Congressional District beginning January 1st. The 7th shifted north from the Richmond suburbs and now based mostly in Prince William, Stafford and Spotsylvania.
The Republican primary today among six candidates will choose a candidate to take on Democrat Abigail Spanberger in the fall.
Spotsylvania Senator Bryce Reeves has represented much of the district in Richmond. Reeves has a long list of endorsements from local sheriffs and state lawmakers, as well as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and former Gov. George Allen.
Yesli Vega is the first Latina to serve on the Prince William Board of Supervisors. Born in Texas to Salvadoran war refugees, Vega recently published an ad saying she was inspired to join law enforcement after her brother was shot by MS-13 gang members. Vega has endorsements from the union for border patrol agents, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., Rep. Bob Good, former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and former congressman Dave Brat, who lost the 7th District seat to Spanberger in 2018.
Vega, who chaired Youngkin’s Latino outreach efforts last year, has also hired consultants with Axiom Strategies and the Poolhouse Advertising Agency, both of which worked on Youngkin’s winning campaign last year.
Derrick Anderson, a former Army Green Beret and Georgetown Law graduate, is also believed to be in the mix with Reeves and Vega, thanks to surprisingly strong fundraising.
The three other candidates in the 7th District primary are Crystal Vanuch, who chairs the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, Dave Ross, a member of the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors, and Gina Ciarcia, a self-described Marine wife and educator.
