Candidate for U.S. Representative, Virginia District 2

Elaine Luria

Democratic

Elaine Luria is a Democrat and retired Navy commander who represented the 2nd District from 2019 to 2023 and is seeking a rematch with Kiggans, who defeated her in 2022. Her campaign focuses on the cost of living, health care costs, congressional ethics rules, and veterans and military families.

Current or most recent role: Former U.S. Representative, Virginia District 2 (2019–2023)
Hometown: Hampton Roads
Campaign website: elaineforcongress.com

Why they say you should vote for them

The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.

Says she joined the Navy at 17, served 20 years on combatant ships, and then started a small business, the Mermaid Factory, in Hampton Roads.[1]
Says she will work to lower prices, make health care more affordable, create opportunities and improve the lives of veterans and military families.[1]
Offers a "Plan to Right the Ship" that includes banning stock trading by members of Congress and their families and reducing the influence of dark money and special interests in elections.[2]

Background

U.S. Representative, Virginia District 2; vice chair, House Armed Services Committee (2021–2023); member, Select Committee on the January 6 Attack, U.S. House of Representatives · 2019–2023[1],[3],[4]
Founder and owner, Mermaid Factory (Hampton Roads small business)[1]
Surface warfare officer; commander of Assault Craft Unit Two (2014–2017); retired as commander, U.S. Navy · 1997–2017[1],[3]

Education

B.S., Physics and History, U.S. Naval Academy[3]
M.S., Engineering Management, Old Dominion University[3]

Where they stand

Health Care
Supports restoring the Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, expanding the number of drugs Medicare can negotiate and extending those prices to private insurance, and letting military children stay on a parent's Tricare plan until age 26.[2]
Immigration
Says she supported border security measures in Congress while also backing a path to citizenship for those who follow the nation's laws.[2]
Social Security & Medicare
Says she opposes cuts to Social Security and Medicare and supports strengthening both programs.[2]
Elections & Democracy
Supports banning members of Congress and their families from trading individual stocks and barring officials from betting on prediction markets with nonpublic information; says she supported legislation to overturn the Citizens United decision while in Congress.[2]
Foreign Policy
Opposes the war with Iran, calling it "another unnecessary and endless military intervention in the Middle East"; supports repealing the administration's tariffs.[2]

Voting record

A selection of notable recorded votes. Not a complete record.

Measure	Vote	Date
H.R. 3684 – Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Final House passage of the 2021 federal infrastructure law funding roads, bridges, transit, broadband and water systems. (U.S. House)	Yes[5]	Nov 5, 2021
H.R. 4346 – CHIPS and Science Act Final House passage of the 2022 law funding domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research. (U.S. House)	Yes[6]	Jul 28, 2022
H.R. 5376 – Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Final House passage of the 2022 reconciliation law on energy tax credits, Medicare drug-price negotiation and corporate taxes. (U.S. House)	Yes[7]	Aug 12, 2022

In their words

“In the Navy, when the mission isn't going according to plan, you right the ship.”

Campaign website, priorities page[2]

“We can't expect families to get ahead when they are barely getting by.”

Campaign website, priorities page[2]

Sources

Meet Elaine, Elaine Luria for Congress
Priorities, Elaine Luria for Congress
Elaine Luria, Wikipedia
Former Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria launches bid for her old seat in Virginia, NBC News, November 12, 2025
Roll Call 369: H.R. 3684, On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, November 5, 2021
Roll Call 404: H.R. 4346, On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, July 28, 2022
Roll Call 420: H.R. 5376, On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, August 12, 2022

Photo: Official portrait, U.S. House of Representatives (Public domain (U.S. government work)).

Last reviewed October 10, 2026. Spot an error or something missing? Report a correction.

Also running for U.S. Representative, Virginia District 2

Matt Baker (Independent)
Jen Kiggans (Republican)
Bishop Staten (Independent)

Compare all candidates