Who's In the Race

Incumbent Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-4) faces Republican Robert Murray in the Nov. 3 general election in Virginia's 4th District. Independent candidate Joan Bell is also running in this race. ​

McClellan is a lawyer who served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 to 2017 and in the Virginia Senate from 2017 to 2023 before winning her congressional seat. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on Aug. 4.

Murray is a retired technology entrepreneur and corporate executive, according to Virginia Public Media (VPM).

Bell is an anti-abortion activist who, according to a Virginia Mercury voter guide, has highlighted 200 arrests connected to anti-abortion demonstrations.

What They Stand For

Jennifer McClellan has proposed that Virginians should have access to quality, affordable health care and should not lose coverage or be burdened by medical costs, according to her campaign website. She's also supported:

  • Lowering costs and building an economy that works for everyone, per her campaign website;
  • Meeting growing energy demand while building a cleaner, more sustainable future and lowering energy costs; and
  • Opposing cuts to Head Start and Title I funding for Virginia schools.

Murray says his campaign is about "fixing health, wealth, and respecting your civil rights," according to VPM.

Bell's website says she will say no to late term abortion in Virginia.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

The Cook Political Report rated the race "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball gave it the same rating as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections also rated it "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 2.

On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats, whose nominee is McClellan, a 97.06 percent chance of winning as of Oct. 13, compared to 2.94 percent for Republicans, whose nominee is Murray.

The district has voted Democratic by wide margins in recent cycles: A. Donald McEachin won it with about 65 percent of the vote in 2022, and McClellan carried it with about 67 percent in 2024. Statewide, Democrats won six of Virginia's 11 U.S. House seats in both 2022 and 2024. Democrat Kamala Harris carried Virginia in the 2024 presidential election with about 52 percent of the vote.

---

AllCiv makes it easy to stay politically informed and involved.

---

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article