Candidate for U.S. Representative, Virginia District 5
Tom Perriello
Democratic
Tom Perriello is a Democrat who represented the 5th District from 2009 to 2011 and later held State Department envoy posts, most recently as special envoy for Sudan in 2024–2025. His campaign focuses on lowering costs, including ending tariffs and the war with Iran, and on anti-corruption measures.
- Current or most recent role
- Former U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan; former U.S. Representative, Virginia District 5 (2009–2011)
- Hometown
- Charlottesville area
- Campaign website
- tomperriello.com
Why they say you should vote for them
The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.
- Says his most urgent priority is to "save families money" by ending tariffs and the war with Iran, which he ties to higher grocery, gas and fertilizer prices.[1]
- Points to his record in Congress, including his vote for the Affordable Care Act, and says he has kept a pledge to reject donations from lobbyists and corporate PACs.[1],[2]
- Says he will "clean house on corruption," including fighting to ban dark money and insider trading in politics.[1]
Background
- U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan, U.S. Department of State · 2024–2025[3]
- Executive director, U.S. Programs, Open Society Foundations · until 2023[3]
- Candidate for governor of Virginia (Democratic primary) · 2017[3]
- U.S. Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, U.S. Department of State · 2015–2016[3]
- Special Representative for the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, U.S. Department of State · 2014–2015[3]
- U.S. Representative, Virginia District 5, U.S. House of Representatives · 2009–2011[2],[3]
Education
Where they stand
- Economy & JobsSupports ending the tariffs he says raised grocery bills; says he has worked to double the minimum wage, outlaw predatory lenders and expand paid medical leave.[1],[2]
- Foreign PolicySupports ending the war with Iran, which he links to higher gas and fertilizer prices.[1]
- Elections & DemocracySupports banning dark money and insider trading in politics and restoring checks and balances; says he rejects donations from lobbyists and corporate PACs.[1]
- Health CareVoted for the Affordable Care Act and says he pushed for a public option or Medicare buy-in; says he later worked to expand Medicaid in Virginia and lower prescription drug prices.[2]
- Energy & EnvironmentSays he worked with Blue Ridge communities to defeat the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and to attract clean energy jobs, and that he was the first statewide Democrat to refuse corporate donations.[2]
Voting record
A selection of notable recorded votes. Not a complete record.
| Measure | Vote | Date |
|---|---|---|
| H.R. 1 – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Agreed to the conference report on the 2009 economic stimulus law. (U.S. House) | Yes[5] | Feb 13, 2009 |
| H.R. 2454 – American Clean Energy and Security Act House passage of the 2009 climate and energy bill that would have created a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions; it did not become law. (U.S. House) | Yes[6] | Jun 26, 2009 |
| H.R. 3590 – Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Final House passage of the 2010 health care law. (U.S. House) | Yes[7] | Mar 21, 2010 |
In their words
Sources
- Issues and Priorities, Tom Perriello for Congress
- About, Tom Perriello for Congress
- Tom Perriello, Wikipedia
- Former congressman Tom Perriello announces bid for Virginia's 5th District, WVIR 29 News, December 9, 2025
- Roll Call 70: H.R. 1, On Agreeing to the Conference Report, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, February 13, 2009
- Roll Call 477: H.R. 2454, On Passage, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, June 26, 2009
- Roll Call 165: H.R. 3590, On Motion to Concur in Senate Amendments, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, March 21, 2010
Photo: Official portrait, U.S. Department of State (via Wikimedia Commons) (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 5
- Cooke Harvey (Independent)
- John McGuire (Republican)