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Virginia's 7th Congressional District election, 2020
- Election date: Nov. 3
- Registration deadline(s): Oct. 15
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Recount laws
- Early voting starts: Sept. 18
- Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Nov. 3 (postmarked); Nov. 6 (received)
- Processing, counting, and challenging absentee/mail-in ballots
- Voter ID: Non-photo ID
- Poll times: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
2022 →
← 2018
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| Virginia's 7th Congressional District |
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 |
| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: March 26, 2020 |
| Primary: June 23, 2020 General: November 3, 2020 Pre-election incumbent: Abigail Spanberger (Democrat) |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Virginia |
| Race ratings |
Inside Elections: Tilt Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Democratic |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020 |
| See also |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th Virginia elections, 2020 U.S. Congress elections, 2020 U.S. Senate elections, 2020 U.S. House elections, 2020 |
Incumbent Abigail Spanberger (D) defeated Nick Freitas (R) in the November 3, 2020, general election in Virginia's 7th Congressional District.
Spanberger was first elected in 2018 after defeating incumbent David Brat (R) 50% to 48%. Heading into the 2018 election, the 7th District had been held by Republicans since 1971. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Spanberger to its Frontline Program, which provides campaign support to vulnerable incumbents. The National Republican Congressional Committee named Freitas to the third tier of its Young Guns program, which supports battleground district candidates' campaigns.
The 7th District was one of 31 U.S. House districts that Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election and a Democratic candidate won in the 2018 midterm elections. Trump received 51% of the vote to Hillary Clinton's (D) 44% in the 7th District.[1]
The outcome of this race affected partisan control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 117th Congress. All 435 seats in the House were up for election. At the time of the election, Democrats had a 232 to 198 majority over Republicans. The Libertarian Party had one seat. Four seats were vacant. Democrats defended 30 districts Donald Trump (R) won in 2016. Republicans defended five districts Hillary Clinton (D) won in 2016.
This race was one of 89 congressional races that were decided by 10 percent or less in 2020.
For more information about the Republican convention, click here.
For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
Post-election analysis
The table below compares the vote totals in the 2020 presidential election and 2020 U.S. House election for this district. The presidential election data was compiled by Daily Kos.
| Presidential and congressional election results, Virginia's 7th Congressional District, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race | Presidential | U.S. House |
| Democratic candidate |
49.8 | 50.8 |
| Republican candidate |
48.7 | 49 |
| Difference | 1.1 | 1.8 |
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Virginia modified its absentee/mail-in voting and candidate filing procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Drop-boxes to return absentee and mail-in ballots were used for the general election. The witness requirement for absentee voting was suspended, and all absentee and mail-in ballots had prepaid return postage.
- Voter registration: The state's voter registration deadline was extended from October 13, 2020, to October 15, 2020.[2]
- Candidate filing procedures: Petition signature requirements for unaffiliated and minor-party candidates for federal office in Virginia were reduced as follows: 2,500 signatures for presidential candidates; 3,500 signatures for U.S. Senate candidates; and 350 signatures for U.S. House candidates. The filing deadline for unaffiliated and minor-party congressional candidates was extended to August 1.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and election results
General election
General election for U.S. House Virginia District 7
Incumbent Abigail Spanberger defeated Nick Freitas in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Abigail Spanberger (D) | 50.8 | 230,893 |
 | Nick Freitas (R) | 49.0 | 222,623 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 823 | ||
| Total votes: 454,339 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Abigail Spanberger advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7.
Republican convention
Republican convention for U.S. House Virginia District 7
The following candidates ran in the Republican convention for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on July 18, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Nick Freitas (R) |
 | Pete Greenwald (R) | |
 | Andrew Knaggs (R) | |
 | John McGuire (R) | |
 | Tina Ramirez (R) | |
 | Jason Alexander Roberge (R) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Craig Ennis (R)
- Bridgette Williams (R)
- Mike Dickinson (R)
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[3] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: Yes
Political Office:
U.S. House (Assumed office: 2019)
Biography: Spanberger received her M.B.A. from a dual-degree German-American program between Purdue University and the GISMA business school. She was a federal law enforcement officer for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and a case officer for the CIA.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Virginia District 7 in 2020.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
Virginia House of Delegates (Assumed office: 2016)
Biography: Freitas received a bachelor's degree in intelligence management from Henley-Putnam University. He served in the U.S. Army as an infantryman and with the Green Berets. Freitas worked in intelligence services. At the time of the election, he was a defense contracting and intelligence consultant.
Show sources
Sources: YouTube, "Nick Freitas, Videos," accessed September 22, 2020; Freitas' 2020 campaign website, "Meet Nick," accessed June 29, 2020, LinkedIn, "Nick Freitas," accessed June 29, 2020, The Washington Post, "Va. Del. Nicholas J. Freitas joins Republican race to challenge U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger," December 2, 2019
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Virginia District 7 in 2020.
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
If you are aware of polls conducted in this race, please email us.
Campaign finance
The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abigail Spanberger | Democratic Party | $8,494,948 | $7,959,481 | $582,133 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Nick Freitas | Republican Party | $3,670,266 | $3,640,943 | $29,323 | As of December 31, 2020 |
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Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+6, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 6 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Virginia's 7th Congressional District the 182nd most Republican nationally.[4]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.88. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.88 points toward that party.[5]
Race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[6]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[7][8][9]
| Race ratings: Virginia's 7th Congressional District election, 2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| November 3, 2020 | October 27, 2020 | October 20, 2020 | October 13, 2020 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Tilt Democratic | Tilt Democratic | Tilt Democratic | Tilt Democratic | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season. | |||||||||
Noteworthy endorsements
This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.
Click the links below to see endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites, if available.
| Noteworthy endorsements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsement | Spanberger (D) | Freitas (R) | ||||
| Newspapers and editorials | ||||||
| The Washington Post editorial board[10] | ✔ | |||||
| Elected officials | ||||||
| President Donald Trump (R)[11] | ✔ | |||||
| Individuals | ||||||
| Former President Barack Obama (D)[12] | ✔ | |||||
| Former VA-07 Rep. Dave Brat (R)[13] | ✔ | |||||
| Former VA-07 Rep. Eric Cantor (R)[13] | ✔ | |||||
| Former U.S. Sen. John Warner (R-Va.)[14] | ✔ | |||||
| Organizations | ||||||
| U.S. Chamber of Commerce[15] | ✔ | |||||
Timeline
2020
Campaign advertisements
This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.
Abigail Spanberger
Supporting Spanberger
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Opposing Freitas
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Nick Freitas
Supporting Freitas
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Opposing Spanberger
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Satellite group ads
Opposing Spanberger
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Noteworthy events
Freitas granted filing extension
According to Virginia state law, candidates were required to submit qualification forms by June 9 in order to appear on the November 3 general election ballot. Reports emerged after the filing deadline had passed that Freitas did not file in time. According to The Washington Post's Jenna Portnoy, Freitas hand-delivered his forms on June 12.[16] The same day, the Virginia Republican Party contacted the state Department of Elections requesting that they consider granting an extension.[17]
On July 7, the Virginia State Board of Elections voted to allow Freitas an extension to file the necessary paperwork.[18] On July 14, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee filed a lawsuit against the Board of Elections arguing that Freitas should not appear on the ballot. The lawsuit was dismissed on Aug. 26.[19]
Click here to learn more.
Debates and forums
October 20, 2020
VPM News and ChamberRVA hosted a candidate forum. View a video here.
Campaign themes
- See also: Campaign themes
Abigail Spanberger
Spanberger's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
HEALTHCARE & PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS Throughout my first term in Congress, healthcare has been my top priority. I have been working to ensure that every person has quality, affordable healthcare. No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and getting the care, medication, or life-saving treatments they need. No one should lose or be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, and no one fighting a serious illness should face the fear of lifetime coverage caps. We can improve our healthcare system, while lowering costs, ensuring greater coverage, and achieving better outcomes, but it will take tremendous political will and a commitment to creatively looking at the options. Partisan assaults against our healthcare system, such as the removal of the individual mandate, are causing rising premiums and losses of coverage across our district and country. I support measures that would strengthen the framework of the ACA, such as reinstating the individual mandate, which mitigates risk, and moving the enrollment deadline to align with tax day. At town halls across Central Virginia during my first term, I’ve repeatedly heard from our neighbors about the extremely personal effects of rising prescription drug prices. I support measures that would help lower the cost of prescription drugs for Central Virginia seniors and families, such as giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices. I’ve been proud to lead bipartisan legislation passed in Congress that would bring greater transparency to prescription drug negotiations and help hold pharmacy benefit managers accountable. To increase coverage nationwide, I support pursuing universal coverage through a public option, specifically the proposed Medicare-X Choice Act. I support Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP and the vital resources they provide to our seniors and most vulnerable citizens and children. I also support protecting women’s access to reproductive healthcare, including federal funding to Planned Parenthood and other providers that ensure essential healthcare to women and men. Key Actions
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION Thousands of Americans die each year due to violence, suicide, or accidents involving firearms, and the unwillingness of some lawmakers to address this problem has left our citizens and our children vulnerable. As a former federal law enforcement officer, I used to carry a firearm every day for my job, and I support responsible gun ownership and our Second Amendment, but the ever-increasing number of Americans who die each day requires that we take action. Addressing gun violence and protecting lives should not be a partisan issue; it is a public safety issue. I am a cosponsor of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and support the application of the same background checks for all firearm purchases, regardless of where or from whom the purchases are made. States that require background checks for all purchases have fewer suicides by gun, fewer law enforcement officers shot and killed, and fewer women killed by an intimate partner. Ninety-four percent of Americans support background checks for all firearms purchases, as well as the Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police. During my first term in Congress, I have been proud to support commonsense gun policies like closing the Charleston Loophole and Extreme Risk Protective Orders. The implementation of Gun Violence Restraining Orders allow family, friends, and law enforcement to help people facing crisis who, with a firearm in their possession, might be a risk to themselves or others. I support ensuring that states have the ability to provide current information to the NICS database to ensure informed background checks, and I support funding the research of gun violence as a public health issue. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. Members of Congress must have the courage to address this problem and implement policies that will help keep our children and communities safe. Key Actions
PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE For decades, Central Virginia’s workers have paid into the Social Security and Medicare programs with the understanding that they were paying for retirement security later in life. I am wholly committed to protecting these programs and making sure they receive the urgent attention they deserve — especially at a time when many of my colleagues would like to gut these programs. I oppose any attempts to privatize these systems or to cut benefits. I am committed to ensuring their solvency and viability, and I will keep working to protect Social Security and Medicare, as well as expanding Medicare benefits, so we can meet our obligations to seniors, now and long into the future. Key Actions
JOBS AND ECONOMY COVID-19 has created a massive unemployment crisis, one that has altered the employment landscape for thousands of our neighbors and their families. In the months to come, we must take steps to promote long-term economic growth across our country, and we must ensure that our workforce training not only meets the needs of our region’s businesses, but also allows our workers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing, global economy. Our strength as a nation comes from the idea that anyone with a good idea can make it happen. This is why I support policies that empower small businesses (the backbone of our economy) to innovate and pursue bold entrepreneurial ventures, and during a time of uncertainty, I strongly support the goals of the Paycheck Protection Program to help businesses eventually return to normal operations. I also support organized labor, as unions have historically been a driver of economic stability within America’s middle class. This has been true for my own family, as my grandfather, a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, was able to raise his four children as a young widower because of the stability his union employment provided. From conversations with local employers, I know that union apprenticeship programs remain an invaluable asset as they train the next generation of skilled workers. I also know that many Central Virginia’s businesses and farms depend on access to strong export markets, and that’s why one of my top priorities last year was to help negotiate and pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Key Actions
EDUCATION As a proud graduate of Henrico County Public Schools and as a mother of children who attend public schools, I believe deeply in the value of public education. I will advocate for and work to strengthen our public education system, including our early childhood programs like Head Start. In Congress, I’ve supported increasing access to affordable workforce training and apprenticeship programs for Americans whose path to employment does not require a four-year degree. For those who attend two and four-year colleges, we should ensure that they are not saddled with debt when they graduate and enter the workforce. I’m proud to be a tireless advocate for our nation’s students from the day they enter school to the day they graduate. Key Actions
IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY The United States was founded as a nation of immigrants, but our current immigration system is broken. Too many politicians use immigration as a political talking point instead of actually trying to solve the problems. In Congress, I’m commtted to finding real, bipartisan solutions to fix our immigration system, and I will work with anyone to create a proposal for immigration reform that strengthens the security of our borders and ports of entry, takes into account the needs of our workforce, respects our values and history, gives certainty to DACA recipients, and creates an earned pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants currently living here as long as they abide by the law, work hard, and pay taxes. As a CIA officer, I worked on counterterrorism and international drug trafficking cases. I understand the security threats we face, and I know we can secure our borders and points of entry without breaking from American values or tearing families apart. And as a former federal agent, I oppose any efforts to create safe havens for violent criminals. I also believe that we must address the root causes of instability and violence in Central America that lead to illegal migration, and during my first year in Congress, the President signed into law my bipartisan legislation to combat narcotics trafficking and human smuggling networks in the region. Key Actions
GOOD GOVERNANCE The United States of America was founded on the principle that our government is of and for the people. We each have the right to engage in the political process, express our opinions and concerns, and vote for the representatives we want to be our voice in Washington. However, across the campaign trail and during my first term in Congress, I have been struck by how often people share the view that Congress is not working for them. People feel that their opinion doesn’t matter, that their needs do not matter, and that ultimately their vote doesn’t matter. If we are to live up to our principle of being a government of and for the people, we must ensure that voters have faith, not just in those whom they send to Washington, but also in our democratic process. To do that, I’ve worked to increase transparency and accountability in Congress, including in our federal budget process. Voters must know that their elected representatives are focused on serving them, not special interests or themselves. I believe that it is the responsibility of Members of Congress to hold themselves to the highest standards of ethical behavior and accountability, and commit to strengthening our system with reforms that will restore trust and give voters a stronger voice. Key Actions
NATIONAL SECURITY I worked to keep our country safe as an officer in the CIA’s clandestine service, and in Congress, I’ve been vocal in my support of a tough, smart national security strategy. As a Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I’ve advocated for Congress to reassert its constitutional authority in decisions to send U.S. men and women to put their lives at risk overseas. Our elected leaders should understand and acknowledge the interconnected nature of our national security, our foreign policy, and our economic prosperity. We must also continue to value and support our military, diplomats, intelligence officers, and civil servants, as they work together to serve our country and protect our nation. And as our nation continues to be threatened by foreign adversaries, we also need to take real, concrete steps to strengthen our election, telecommunications, and national security systems. Key Actions
RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND CIVIL RIGHTS Every person must be treated with dignity and have equal rights under the law. No person in a free and fair society should make less money, be denied government services, pay more for healthcare, lose a job or housing opportunities, or face discrimination in the community or workplace because of their gender, race, creed, national origin, disability, whom they love, or anything else that defines them. In recent months, Central Virginians have taken to the streets to demand changes to a system that does not always uphold the promise of equal justice, and as a Member of Congress, I am working to ensure that justice is realized and to honor the voices of advocates with my legislative actions. I am committed to applying a lease of equity to my legislative efforts, particularly in the areas of healthcare, education, housing, criminal justice, and banking policies; areas where disparities and structures exist that disadvantage some Americans on the basis of race. I support efforts to combat bias and increase accountability within law enforcement, and I’m committed to advancing policies that eliminate long-standing biases, ban chokeholds, improve training, increase accountability for those committing acts of hate, limit the continued militarization of local police departments, and rebuild strained community relationships. We cannot continue to live in a society where unarmed Black men and women feel threatened, or worse die at the hands of those sworn to protect them or those who take action with impunity. I will work to protect marriage equality and LGBTQ rights, and I’ve been proud to help introduce and pass the Equality Act. I also support the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. I support the rights of individuals with disabilities and will work to preserve the protections afforded under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I support protecting women’s access to reproductive healthcare and federal funding to Planned Parenthood and other providers that ensure essential healthcare to women and men. We must pursue criminal justice reform, but we must do more than talk about this problem. We need wide-ranging criminal justice reform to ensure that our justice system is fairly sentencing offenders regardless of race or economic status, and that we’re addressing issues related to addiction in our jails and prisons. I also support bolstering reentry efforts, which reduce recidivism and ensure that those who have paid their debt to society have the knowledge and resources necessary to become employed and engaged community members. Key Actions
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM The Citizens United ruling is one of the most destructive decisions ever handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court. It ushered in an era of unchecked and unaccounted for political spending, and our nation has paid a dear price for it. I support campaign finance reform and efforts to reduce the influence of money in politics. I support efforts to bring greater transparency to campaign finance, overturn the Citizens United decision, and block illegal foreign funds from influencing our elections. During my first term in Congress, I was proud to help introduce and pass the For the People Act, a landmark campaign finance and ethics reform package. As we’ve increasingly dealt with the effects of special interests in campaign finance, it’s important that all elected officials take a stand against letting a small group of funders influence our elections. And because of my commitment to campaign finance reform, I will continue to refuse any corporate PAC donations. I am proud that our campaign has earned the support of End Citizens United, a national organization committed to fighting for campaign finance reform. Key Actions
ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION Climate change is real, and it is a threat to our national security. We’re already seeing the effects right here in Virginia with rising sea levels, higher average temperatures, and stronger hurricanes. An investment in clean, renewable energy is an investment in our ecosystem, our health, and our economy. These efforts require significant coordination, as well as a shared baseline of facts, and I will stand up to attacks against science. As a kid, I cherished the time I spent outdoors, trekking through the woods or picnicking in parks with my family. As an adult, I know how lucky we are to have Virginia’s mountains, rivers, and beaches. It is our responsibility to protect these resources for our children and generations to come by investing in alternative and renewable energy sources and decreasing air and water pollution. An investment in clean, renewable energy is an investment in our ecosystem, our health, and our economy. As Chair of the House Agriculture Committee’s Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee, I know that Central Virginia is home to many successful conservation efforts, and I support businesses and farms working with local communities to build long-term climate solutions that are both beneficial for the environment and the economy. Key Actions
BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS Reliable access to high-speed broadband internet provides critical economic and educational opportunities. In Congress, I’ve led multiple efforts to expand internet access to everyone in Central Virginia’s rural communities and in underserved areas across the country. I also support net neutrality. Legislation protecting net neutrality is vital to ensuring that the internet remains a conduit for free speech and a free market, and that it’s available to those who rely on the internet to create opportunities or grow their business, whether they’re working from home in Louisa or managing a farm in Culpeper. In our rapidly changing and increasingly online economy, the internet is an essential service to small businesses, educators, and everyday citizens alike, and it must become and remain equally accessible to all users. Key Actions
COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of all Central Virginians, and we need to move forward with reopening in a way that is responsible and based in science. Since the pandemic began, I’ve fought to make sure our healthcare workers and others on the front lines have the personal protective equipment (PPE), funding, and training they need to keep themselves and others safe. Our most vulnerable populations, including our seniors citizens and those with pre-existing conditions, must continue to be protected. In response to the administration’s haphazard handling of the crisis during the pandemic’s early days, I’ve worked in Congress to demand answers about the Strategic National Stockpile’s mismanagement, delays in funding to nursing homes, and the lack of a comprehensive national COVID-19 testing strategy. This virus continues to be a persistent threat for all of us, and we cannot afford to leave any American behind or abdicate global leadership in the fight to find a long-term treatment for COVID-19. VETERANS & MILITARY FAMILIES Unemployment, homelessness, and suicide rates among our nation’s veterans are unacceptably high, and I’ve worked to ensure that we, as a country, make the process of transitioning from active duty to civilian life a positive one for our veterans. In Congress, I’m working to protect veterans’ continued access to quality healthcare through our VA system, and I will work to strengthen existing efforts to improve our veterans’ transitions to the civilian workforce through credentialing, education, and job training programs. I will never stop fighting to make sure our nation’s veterans and their families receive the benefits they’ve earned through their selfless service, including mental health benefits. KEY ACTIONS
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| —Abigail Spanberger's campaign website (2020)[21] | ||
Nick Freitas
Freitas' campaign website contained the following videos in the "Issues" section:
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District represented by a Democrat in 2020 and won by Donald Trump in 2016
This district was one of 30 Democratic-held U.S. House districts up in 2020 that Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Most were expected to be among the House's most competitive elections in 2020.
| 2020 Democratic-held U.S. House districts won by Donald Trump in 2016 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Incumbent | Ran in 2020? | 2018 congressional margin | 2016 presidential margin | 2012 presidential margin | ||||||||
| Arizona's 1st | Tom O'Halleran |
Yes | Democrats+7.7 | Trump+1.1 | Romney+2.5 | ||||||||
| Georgia's 6th | Lucy McBath |
Yes | Democrats+1.0 | Trump+1.5 | Romney+23.3 | ||||||||
| Illinois' 14th | Lauren Underwood |
Yes | Democrats+5.0 | Trump+3.9 | Romney+10 | ||||||||
| Illinois' 17th | Cheri Bustos |
Yes | Democrats+24.2 | Trump+0.7 | Obama+17 | ||||||||
| Iowa's 1st | Abby Finkenauer |
Yes | Democrats+5.1 | Trump+3.5 | Obama+13.7 | ||||||||
| Iowa's 2nd | Dave Loebsack |
Retired | Democrats+5.2 | Trump+4.1 | Obama+13.1 | ||||||||
| Iowa's 3rd | Cindy Axne |
Yes | Democrats+2.2 | Trump+3.5 | Obama+4.2 | ||||||||
| Maine's 2nd | Jared Golden |
Yes | Democrats+1.3 | Trump+10.3 | Obama+8.6 | ||||||||
| Michigan's 8th | Elissa Slotkin |
Yes | Democrats+3.8 | Trump+6.7 | Romney+3.1 | ||||||||
| Michigan's 11th | Haley Stevens |
Yes | Democrats+6.7 | Trump+4.4 | Romney+5.4 | ||||||||
| Minnesota's 2nd | Angie Craig |
Yes | Democrats+5.5 | Trump+1.2 | Obama+0.1 | ||||||||
| Minnesota's 7th | Collin Peterson |
Yes | Democrats+4.3 | Trump+30.8 | Romney+9.8 | ||||||||
| Nevada's 3rd | Susie Lee |
Yes | Democrats+9.1 | Trump+1.0 | Obama+0.8 | ||||||||
| New Hampshire's 1st | Chris Pappas |
Yes | Democrats+8.6 | Trump+1.6 | Obama+1.6 | ||||||||
| New Jersey's 3rd | Andrew Kim |
Yes | Democrats+1.3 | Trump+6.2 | Obama+4.6 | ||||||||
| New Jersey's 5th | Josh Gottheimer |
Yes | Democrats+13.7 | Trump+1.1 | Romney+3.0 | ||||||||
| New Jersey's 11th | Mikie Sherrill |
Yes | Democrats+14.6 | Trump+0.9 | Romney+5.8 | ||||||||
| New Mexico's 2nd | Xochitl Torres Small |
Yes | Democrats+1.9 | Trump+10.2 | Romney+6.8 | ||||||||
| New York's 11th | Max Rose |
Yes | Democrats+6.5 | Trump+9.8 | Obama+4.3 | ||||||||
| New York's 18th | Sean Maloney |
Yes | Democrats+10.9 | Trump+1.9 | Obama+4.3 | ||||||||
| New York's 19th | Antonio Delgado |
Yes | Democrats+5.2 | Trump+6.8 | Obama+6.2 | ||||||||
| New York's 22nd | Anthony Brindisi |
Yes | Democrats+1.8 | Trump+15.5 | Romney+0.4 | ||||||||
| Oklahoma's 5th | Kendra Horn |
Yes | Democrats+1.4 | Trump+13.4 | Romney+18.4 | ||||||||
| Pennsylvania's 8th | Matt Cartwright |
Yes | Democrats+9.3 | Trump+9.6 | Obama+11.9 | ||||||||
| Pennsylvania's 17th | Conor Lamb |
Yes | Democrats+12.5 | Trump+2.6 | Romney+4.5 | ||||||||
| South Carolina's 1st | Joe Cunningham |
Yes | Democrats+1.4 | Trump+13.1 | Romney+18.1 | ||||||||
| Utah's 4th | Ben McAdams |
Yes | Democrats+0.3 | Trump+6.7 | Romney+37.0 | ||||||||
| Virginia's 2nd | Elaine Luria |
Yes | Democrats+2.2 | Trump+3.4 | Romney+2.3 | ||||||||
| Virginia's 7th | Abigail Spanberger |
Yes | Democrats+1.9 | Trump+6.5 | Romney+10.5 | ||||||||
| Wisconsin's 3rd | Ron Kind |
Yes | Democrats+19.3 | Trump+4.5 | Obama+11 | ||||||||
| Source: Sabato's Crystal Ball and Daily Kos | |||||||||||||
Click here to see the five U.S. House districts represented by a Republican in 2020 and won by Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Five of 133 Virginia counties—3.8 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Buckingham County, Virginia | 11.28% | 2.43% | 0.87% | ||||
| Caroline County, Virginia | 5.02% | 8.24% | 11.97% | ||||
| Essex County, Virginia | 2.14% | 7.30% | 10.35% | ||||
| Nelson County, Virginia | 5.59% | 2.72% | 9.15% | ||||
| Westmoreland County, Virginia | 7.14% | 6.95% | 10.24% | ||||
Note: Although it is highlighted in the map above, the city of Chesapeake is not considered a county and not included in our calculations as such.
In the 2016 presidential election, Virginia was a battleground state. Hillary Clinton (D) won Virginia with 49.7 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 44.4 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Virginia voted Democratic 56.67 percent of the time and Republican 43.33 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Virginia voted Democratic three times (2008, 2012, and 2016) and Republican two times (2000 and 2004).
Candidate ballot access
The table below details filing requirements for 7th Congressional District candidates in Virginia in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Virginia, click here.
| Filing requirements, 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Signature formula | Filing fee | Filing fee formula | Filing deadline | Source |
| Virginia | 7th Congressional District | Qualified party | 1,000 | Fixed number | $3,480.00 | 2% of annual salary | 3/26/2020 | Source |
| Virginia | 7th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 350 | Fixed number (reduced by court order) | N/A | N/A | 8/1/2020 | Source |
District election history
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Virginia District 7
Abigail Spanberger defeated incumbent David Brat and Joe Walton in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Abigail Spanberger (D) | 50.3 | 176,079 |
 | David Brat (R) | 48.4 | 169,295 | |
 | Joe Walton (L) | 1.2 | 4,216 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 213 | ||
| Total votes: 349,803 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7
Abigail Spanberger defeated Daniel Ward in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Abigail Spanberger | 72.7 | 33,210 |
 | Daniel Ward | 27.3 | 12,483 | |
| Total votes: 45,693 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Janelle Noble (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7
Incumbent David Brat advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | David Brat |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent David Brat (R) defeated Eileen Bedell (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Neither candidate faced an opponent at the party nominating conventions.[22]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  David Brat Incumbent |
57.5% | 218,057 | |
| Democratic | Eileen Bedell | 42.2% | 160,159 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.2% | 947 | |
| Total Votes | 379,163 | |||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections | ||||
2014
The 7th Congressional District of Virginia held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. David Brat (R) defeated Jack Trammell (D) and James Carr (L) in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Brat |
60.8% | 148,026 | |
| Democratic | Jack Trammell | 36.9% | 89,914 | |
| Libertarian | James Carr | 2.1% | 5,086 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.1% | 325 | |
| Total Votes | 243,351 | |||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections | ||||
2012
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | E. Wayne Powell | 41.4% | 158,012 | |
| Republican | Eric Cantor Incumbent |
58.4% | 222,983 | |
| Write-In | N/A | 0.2% | 914 | |
| Total Votes | 381,909 | |||
| Source: Virginia State Board of Elections "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
2010
On November 2, 2010, Eric Cantor won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Rick E. Waugh, Jr. (D) and Floyd C. Bayne (G) in the general election.[23]
| U.S. House, Virginia District 7 General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Eric Cantor incumbent |
59.2% | 138,209 | |
| Democratic | Rick E. Waugh | 34.1% | 79,616 | |
| Green | Floyd C. Bayne | 6.5% | 15,164 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.2% | 413 | |
| Total Votes | 233,402 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2020
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2020
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Daily Kos, ""Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2016, 2012, and 2008,"" accessed June 24, 2020
- ↑ This change was not due to COVID-19. This deadline was extended after the state's voter registration website crashed.
- ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Washington Post, "Virginia’s Rep. Abigail Spanberger deserves a second term," October 24, 2020
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Culpeper Star-Exponent, "President Trump endorses Freitas in Virginia's 7th District," September 19, 2020
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 CBS 19 News, "Obama endorses Webb, Spanberger in congressional district races," updated August 24, 2020
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 The Hill, "Eric Cantor teams up with former rival Dave Brat in supporting GOP candidate in former district," September 8, 2020
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 CBS19, "Former Senator John Warner endorses Spanberger," October 26, 2020
- ↑ Augusta Free Press, "U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorses Abigail Spanberger for re-election in Seventh District," September 2, 2020
- ↑ Twitter, "Jenna Portnoy," June 12, 2020
- ↑ The Hill, "Virginia GOP to pick House nominee after candidate misses filing deadline," June 13, 2020
- ↑ Virginia Mercury, "Virginia elections board votes to allow Freitas, Good on ballot despite late filings," July 7, 2020
- ↑ Star Exponent, "Dismissal of suit clears way for Good, Freitas to appear on November ballots," Sept. 1, 2020
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Abigail Spanberger's 2020 campaign website, "Issues," accessed September 21, 2020
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "List of Candidates," accessed September 8, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
