FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Democrat Eugene Vindman has won his Virginia House race, keeping the suburban Northern Virginia seat blue after Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s retirement.
Vindman leads Republican Derrick Anderson, 51.1% to 48.9%, with 98% of votes counted, the Associated Press reports.
The race in Virginia’s 7th District was considered one of Republicans’ best chances to flip a House seat red this cycle, putting them one seat closer to protecting — or possibly expanding — the GOP House majority.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson rallied in two critical House districts in Virginia on election eve telling the Post that the “road to keeping and growing our majority runs directly through Virginia.”
Johnson appeared at events to drum up support for Anderson and vulnerable freshman GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans, who kept her seat in the Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District.
“Green Beret Derrick Anderson has served our country and will be a strong voice for Virginia’s 7th District to secure our border, fix our economy, and restore peace through strength,” Johnson told The Post.
Anderson ran a tight rice against Vindman, who gained national attention in 2019 as a whistleblower in the first impeachment attempt against the former president, which was sparked by the Ukrainian-born candidate’s reporting of a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Despite his national name recognition, Vindman ran an under-the-radar campaign, and participated in just one debate against Anderson.
When he finally sat down for his first interview of the campaign cycle, he gave the local TV outlet just 7 minutes. He spent the interview reciting talking points and dodging questions about his military record, which has come under scrutiny this cycle with claims that he embellished it.
Vindman’s working relationship with his twin brother Alexander also came under scrutiny this cycle for potential conflicts of interest.
