How To Use This Guide

1. Pick the issues you care about. Rank the two or three that matter most to you, such as electricity bills, data centers, health care or the war in Iran.
2. Find which office handles them. The U.S. House and U.S. Senate write federal law and set the federal budget. Federal lawmakers also set the rules for the regional power grid, though state and local officials decide where data centers and power lines go. The Senate also confirms federal judges and approves treaties. The three statewide questions would change the Virginia Constitution on reproductive rights, marriage and voting rights.
3. Compare the candidates. Read where each candidate stands on your top issues, then read the candidates’ own words and who funds each campaign.

The U.S. House Race

What This Office Does

U.S. House members serve two-year terms and vote on every federal law and the federal budget. All bills that raise taxes must start in the House. The 5th District includes Charlottesville, parts of Albemarle County, and Louisa, Fluvanna and Buckingham counties, and reaches south to the North Carolina border, according to Charlottesville Tomorrow’s candidate Q&A. Data centers have been a major local issue. So has the proposed Valley Link transmission line, which would run more than 100 miles from Campbell County to Culpeper County. ​

The district uses the same lines as in 2022 and 2024. Voters approved a redistricting amendment 52% to 48% on Tuesday, April 21. On Friday, May 8, the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled 4 to 3 that the General Assembly broke the required process for putting the amendment on the ballot, and it ordered the state to keep its 2022 and 2024 congressional map, according to NPR. The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rate the race Likely Republican, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates it Lean Republican, according to Ballotpedia’s race overview.

Candidates In Brief

Republican Rep. John McGuire (R-VA) of Goochland County is a former Navy SEAL who served six years in the General Assembly, according to VPM’s candidate survey. McGuire served as a SEAL from 1988 to 1998 and founded a fitness training company, according to McGuire’s Ballotpedia profile. In the 2024 primary, McGuire beat Rep. Bob Good by 366 votes after a recount, according to Cardinal News’ report on Perriello’s entry. McGuire then won the 2024 general election 57.3% to 42.3%. This year, McGuire won the Tuesday, Aug. 4 Republican primary with 84.4% of the vote over Melanie Lucero.

Democrat Tom Perriello lives outside Charlottesville. Perriello represented the 5th District from 2009 to 2011 and was U.S. special envoy to Sudan until 2025, according to VPM. Perriello earned a law degree from Yale and worked with international justice efforts in Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Darfur and Afghanistan. Perriello later led the Center for American Progress Action Fund, according to Perriello’s Ballotpedia profile. Perriello won the Aug. 4 Democratic primary with 79.8% of the vote.

Independent Cooke Costa Harvey of Amherst County works in construction and has not held office, according to VPM. Independent Chris Register is running as a write-in candidate.

Where They Stand

Data centers and Valley Link. McGuire says “Data centers are vital for winning the AI race against China and can create jobs, but they must not raise electricity bills for families, damage water tables or be forced on communities that don’t want them.” McGuire cosponsored and voted for the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would have large power users pay for the grid upgrades they need. McGuire also wrote to the governor urging that Valley Link be stopped. Perriello says “I oppose the Valley Link transmission line and data centers being forced on our communities.” Harvey says “Requiring data access from impact studies be provided to all localities would be a minimal first step.”

Cost of living. Perriello says “we need to get paychecks up and costs down” and would end tariffs that raise construction costs. McGuire attributes inflation to “poor immigration policies by previous administrations,” according to VPM. Harvey says “Ending the war in Iran is the most immediate relief to most citizens’ affordability issues.”

Iran. McGuire has consistently supported the war, and Perriello wants to end it, according to VPM. Harvey calls ending the war “the No. 1 immediate action.”

Health care. Perriello says health care premiums have risen 50% to 75% and blames McGuire’s votes. Harvey says “60+% of bankruptcies are due to healthcare costs, 80% of those individuals had private insurance.”

Ethics. Perriello wants to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks and to close the revolving door between Congress and lobbying. Perriello says Perriello takes no money from corporate PACs or lobbyists. Perriello’s campaign says McGuire “profited from stock trades in companies that had business before the committees he serves on.” McGuire calls Perriello’s statements lies, according to WSET’s report on the debate dispute.

In Their Own Words

John McGuire, in Charlottesville Tomorrow’s Q&A:

“Abundant, affordable American energy lets us grow without burdening the people of the 5th District.”

Tom Perriello, at the Senior Statesmen of Virginia forum on Wednesday, Sept. 9:

“This is a job interview. We’re asking the voters to hire us.”

Cooke Costa Harvey, in VPM’s candidate survey:

“Congress should consider mandatory environmental reporting by these private entities.”

Questionnaires And Debates

All three candidates answered Charlottesville Tomorrow’s questionnaire. Harvey answered most of VPM’s survey and Perriello answered three questions. McGuire did not respond, so VPM used McGuire’s public statements instead.

McGuire did not attend the Senior Statesmen of Virginia forum in Charlottesville on Sept. 9, and Perriello did, according to 29News. McGuire also passed on an ABC13 and University of Lynchburg debate set for Tuesday, Oct. 13, after saying Perriello should first apologize for accusing McGuire of insider trading, according to WSET. Perriello accepted.

Endorsements

Before the primary, President Donald Trump endorsed McGuire for reelection, according to the Washington Examiner’s endorsement tracker. AllCiv’s endorsement data also lists the National Federation of Independent Business, the International Franchise Association and AIPAC among McGuire’s backers.

Perriello’s endorsements:

  • Before the primary, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) endorsed Perriello in December 2025, according to Blue Virginia.
  • Also before the primary, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) endorsed Perriello on Tuesday, Jan. 13, according to The Hill.
  • After the primary, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Perriello to its Red to Blue program for top challengers on Thursday, Aug. 20, according to WDBJ.
  • Also after the primary, former Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman endorsed Perriello on Monday, Sept. 28, according to WHRO.

Who Is Funding Them

These figures are Federal Election Commission (FEC) totals for the 2026 cycle, as shown on AllCiv’s Virginia 5th District race page:

  • McGuire, as of Wednesday, Oct. 14: raised $2.4 million and spent $2.1 million, with $382,000 on hand and $210,000 in debt.
  • Perriello, as of Wednesday, Sept. 30: raised $3.5 million and spent $2.4 million, with $1.0 million on hand.

Harvey has not reported any fundraising. Donors who give more than $200 in a cycle are listed by name in FEC filings, while smaller gifts are reported only as a lump total.

The Incumbent’s Record

McGuire serves on the House Armed Services Committee, including its Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, and on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, according to Ballotpedia. McGuire voted for the 2025 tax and spending law, which passed the House 218 to 214 on Thursday, July 3, 2025, according to the House clerk’s roll call.

Perriello’s ads have drawn fact-checks:

  • Marriage age. A Perriello ad says McGuire was the lone state Senate “no” vote on raising the minimum marriage age from 16 to 18. WWBT rated it “Needs context.” The vote record is accurate, and McGuire says “Virginia already had strict, strict protections.”
  • Epstein files. The same ad says McGuire fought to keep the Epstein files secret. McGuire voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025.
  • AI rules. The House version of the 2025 law would have blocked state artificial intelligence (AI) rules for 10 years. The final law McGuire voted for did not.
  • Household costs. WWBT rated Perriello’s claims about rising household costs “Mostly true.” It found Virginia marketplace health premiums rose an average of 75% this year, more than the 50% the ad claimed.
  • Data center tax break. Cardinal News called “true but selective” Perriello’s claim that McGuire voted for a $362 billion corporate tax break for data centers. The tax break in the 2025 law applies to all manufacturers, not just data centers, according to Cardinal News’ report on the data center claims.

Challengers’ Records

Perriello served one term in the U.S. House, from 2009 to 2011, and later served as special envoy to Sudan, an appointed federal post. Harvey has not held public office.

The U.S. Senate Race

What This Office Does

U.S. senators serve six-year terms and vote on every federal law and the federal budget. The Senate also confirms presidential nominees, including federal judges and Cabinet members, and approves treaties. In this race, the candidates have clashed most over the war in Iran, data centers and artificial intelligence.

Candidates In Brief

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner is seeking a fourth term and says it would be Warner’s last, according to Radio IQ and WHRO. Warner helped assemble the investors who created Nextel, served as governor and was first elected to the Senate in 2008. Warner had no primary opponent.

Republican Bert Mizusawa is a West Point and Harvard Law School graduate. Mizusawa served in the U.S. Army from 1979 to 2016 and retired as a major general, according to Mizusawa’s Ballotpedia profile. Mizusawa has also run a contracting firm and a law practice, according to WJLA. Mizusawa won the Tuesday, Aug. 4 Republican primary with 51.5% of the vote over David Williams and Kim Farington, according to Ballotpedia’s Senate race overview.

Where They Stand

Iran. Warner calls the war “a fiasco of historic proportions” and expects Iran to “extract some kind of toll on the strait of Hormuz,” according to Cardinal News. Mizusawa supports the president’s actions and says “I think we have to trust the president on that account.”

Data centers. On data centers’ power and water use, Warner says “companies shouldn’t be able to hide those details behind secret deals.” Warner also wants data centers to “pay for the grid upgrades they require,” according to Warner’s answers to VPM’s candidate survey. Mizusawa says “data centers should not be put in any local community that doesn’t want it” and that localities “should have a veto right over them,” according to WSET. Mizusawa told Radio IQ “I would put them in remote locations.”

Artificial intelligence and jobs. Warner’s campaign says “Washington is largely unprepared for the coming AI jobs crisis.” The campaign wants AI companies to pay a fair share of the energy demands AI puts on the grid, according to Warner’s campaign plan. Mizusawa says employers “should be held accountable for decisions made by AI systems,” according to WTKR’s report on a disability rights forum.

Cost of living and housing. Warner’s plan says the country is “3.7 million homes short” and calls for faster permitting and help for first-time buyers. Warner also says tariffs raise prices on everyday goods.

Health care. Warner supports universal health care and says the system “remains too expensive.” Mizusawa says Medicaid changes should strengthen the program while still supporting people with “legitimate needs.”

Energy, spending and debt. Mizusawa says “Nuclear power is clean, cheap, reliable and safe.” Mizusawa also makes reducing federal spending and the debt a priority and supports returning to a commodity-based money system such as the gold standard.

Elections. Mizusawa says election concerns can be addressed by “verifying voters while keeping the voting process accessible.” Warner says some policies could make voting by mail harder.

In Their Own Words

Mark Warner, per Radio IQ and WHRO:

“We need a vision to chart a new path, and effective leadership to get it done.”

Bert Mizusawa, per Radio IQ and WHRO:

“I don’t really want to run for Senate, I want to be in the Senate.”

Questionnaires And Debates

Warner answered VPM’s written candidate survey. Mizusawa did not, so VPM added answers from a Radio IQ interview with Mizusawa on Thursday, Oct. 22.

AARP Virginia and CBS 6 planned a debate for Wednesday, Oct. 7, in Richmond. Mizusawa had accepted, but the debate was canceled after Warner’s campaign said Warner could not commit, citing an “unsettled and expectedly busy official Senate calendar,” according to Cardinal News’ report on the canceled debate. The candidates gave back-to-back speeches at the Buena Vista Labor Day event and answered questions separately at a virtual forum hosted by disability advocacy groups.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia lists American Veterans Vote as an endorser of Mizusawa. Before the primary, Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA)endorsed Mizusawa, according to the Northern Virginia Daily. Mizusawa says Mizusawa can work with Trump. Mizusawa was a foreign policy adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign and a member of Trump’s transition team.

Who Is Funding Them

These figures come from FEC reports for the 2026 cycle through Wednesday, Oct. 14, as compiled by Ballotpedia:

  • Warner reported raising $27,493,348, spending $21,664,081 and holding $6,217,677 in cash.
  • Mizusawa reported raising $1,141,130, spending $987,432 and holding $154,034.

Fellowship PAC reported $150,000 in spending supporting Warner. Ballotpedia lists no outside spending for Mizusawa.

The Incumbent’s Record

Warner is vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and ranking member of the Banking Committee’s Securities, Insurance and Investment Subcommittee. Warner also serves on the Budget, Finance, and Rules and Administration committees. Warner helped write the Affordable Care Act.

In the current Congress, Warner has voted in 831 of 869 roll-call votes and voted against a majority of Senate Democrats 77 times out of 820, according to Legis1 records. Warner voted against the 2025 tax and spending law. Mizusawa’s campaign says Warner “opposed cutting taxes on social security,” a reference to the law’s temporary $6,000 tax deduction for seniors.

Challengers’ Records

Mizusawa served as deputy under secretary of the Army, an appointed federal post, and as a senior adviser to the Central Intelligence Agency director. Mizusawa ran for Congress in Virginia’s 2nd District in 2010 and lost the Republican primary.

Scorecards Readers Can Check

All three of these groups grade McGuire and Warner:

Each group picks different votes, so their ratings measure different things.

Also On Your Ballot

Every Virginia voter will see three proposed constitutional amendments. The General Assembly passed each one in two sessions, as the Virginia Constitution requires before a public vote. Each takes effect if a majority of voters approve it.

Question 1: Reproductive freedom. A Yes vote adds a right to make decisions about prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management and fertility care. It also bars the state from penalizing patients or providers for those decisions. The state could regulate third-trimester abortion, but it would have to allow one when a doctor finds it necessary to protect the patient’s life or health or when the pregnancy is not viable, according to the state’s official explanation of Question 1. A No vote leaves the constitution without an explicit reproductive rights provision. State Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax), the amendment’s sponsor, says it is “based on the current laws that we have on the books,” according to Cardinal News’ amendment guide. Former Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) is touring the state urging a No vote.

Question 2: Marriage. A Yes vote removes the 2006 constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and establishes a right for two adults to marry regardless of sex, gender or race. It also bars denying them a marriage license on those grounds, according to the state’s official explanation of Question 2. The ban has been unenforceable since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. A No vote keeps the ban in the constitution, where it could take effect again if that ruling were overturned. Former state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) carried the amendment, HB 612, and says “It’s not a radical change.” Earle-Sears is campaigning against the measure and asks “Why include gender?” Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation, also opposes it, according to VPM’s Question 2 explainer.

Question 3: Voting rights. A Yes vote does three things, according to the state’s official explanation of Question 3:

  • It declares a fundamental right to vote.
  • It automatically restores voting rights to people convicted of felonies when they are released from prison.
  • It limits the loss of voting rights for people with mental disabilities to those a court finds do not understand the act of voting.

Today, only the governor can restore a person’s voting rights after a felony conviction. A No vote keeps the current rules. State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-Alexandria) says it creates “a transparent, fair process that applies to everyone equally.” House Minority Leader Del. Terry Kilgore (R-Scott) says it “doesn’t serve justice” because rights would return before probation, fines and restitution are complete.

Before You Go

Still Ahead

  • Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and anyone in line by 7 p.m. may vote. You must vote at your assigned polling place, which you can find with the Virginia Department of Elections polling place lookup.
  • Same day registration: If you missed the registration deadline, you can register in person through Election Day and vote a provisional ballot, according to the state’s same day registration guide.
  • Mail ballots returned in person are due by 7 p.m. on Election Day at your general registrar’s office, a drop-off location or your polling place. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive by noon Friday, Nov. 6, according to the state’s absentee voting guide.
  • ID: Bring a Virginia driver’s license or state ID, a U.S. passport, a military, student or employee photo ID, or a Virginia voter ID card. A utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government document with your name and address also works. Without ID, you can sign an ID Confirmation Statement and vote a regular ballot, according to the state’s Election Day voting guide.
  • Sample ballots: See your locality’s sample ballot, such as the Hanover County sample ballot.
  • Questions: Call the Virginia Department of Elections at 800-552-9745, or call the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), per Election Protection’s Virginia guide.

Deadlines That Have Passed

  • Early voting ran from Friday, Sept. 18, through Saturday, Oct. 31, according to the Department of Elections’ early voting announcement.
  • Standard registration and mail ballot requests closed Friday, Oct. 23.
  • Emergency absentee ballot requests for hospitalization, illness or another emergency closed at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2.

Sources

AllCiv Profiles and Race Pages

Official Records

Candidate Statements and Questionnaires

News

Ballot Measures

Endorsements

Scorecards

Voting Information

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