Derrick Anderson

Derrick Anderson (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Anderson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Derrick Anderson served in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2014. Anderson earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech in 2006 and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2019. His career experience includes working as an attorney.^[1]^[2]

Elections

2024

Virginia's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 18 Democratic primary)

Virginia's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 18 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 7

Eugene Vindman defeated Derrick Anderson in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Eugene Vindman (D)	51.2	203,336
	Derrick Anderson (R)	48.5	192,847
	Other/Write-in votes	0.3	1,116

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 397,299
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Craig Ennis (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on June 18, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Eugene Vindman	49.3	17,263
	Elizabeth Guzman	15.1	5,283
	Briana Sewell	13.4	4,706
	Andrea Bailey	12.5	4,381
	Margaret Franklin	5.8	2,034
	Carl Bedell	2.1	738
	Clifford Heinzer	1.8	621

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 35,026
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Mohamed Bourakba (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on June 18, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Derrick Anderson	45.2	16,338
	Cameron Hamilton	37.2	13,448
	Jonathon Myers	12.9	4,660
	John Prabhudoss	2.0	729
	Maria Martin	1.7	625
	Terris Todd	1.0	373

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 36,173
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Jeffrey Sacks (R)
Shaliek Tarpley (R)

Endorsements

Anderson received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Anderson's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R)
U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (R)
U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean (R)
U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R)
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R)
U.S. Rep. Ronny L. Jackson (R)
U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R)
U.S. Rep. Jennifer Kiggans (R)
U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko (R)
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R)
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn (R)
U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R)
U.S. Rep. Austin Scott (R)
U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R)
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R)
U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson (R)
U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R)
U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R)
U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym (R)
Former President Donald Trump (R)
Congressional Leadership Fund
Green Beret PAC
SEAL PAC Supporting Electing American Leaders PAC
The Washington Post Editorial Board
War Veterans Fund

Pledges

Anderson signed the following pledges.

U.S. Term Limits

2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 7

Incumbent Abigail Spanberger defeated Yesli Vega in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Abigail Spanberger (D)	52.2	143,357
	Yesli Vega (R)	47.6	130,586
	Other/Write-in votes	0.2	637

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 274,580
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Abigail Spanberger advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on June 21, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Yesli Vega	28.9	10,913
		Derrick Anderson	23.8	8,966
		Bryce Reeves	20.1	7,580
		Crystal Vanuch	17.0	6,400
	Submit photo	David Ross	6.1	2,284
		Gina Ciarcia	4.2	1,565

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 37,708
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Campaign themes

2024

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released September 18, 2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

Derrick Anderson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Anderson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Derrick Anderson was raised in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. His mother owned and managed local restaurants and as a teenager, he worked in the kitchen of his mother’s local diner, while attending Courtland High School. Derrick enrolled at Virginia Tech in the Corp of Cadets, making him the first person in his family to attend and graduate college.

Derrick graduated from Virginia Tech in 2006 and immediately commissioned into the Army. After completing Ranger school, and less than a year from graduation, he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division as a Platoon Leader where he deployed for 15-months in support of “the Surge” in Iraq.

Derrick became an A-Team leader in the Green Berets and served as a Detachment Commander for two Special Forces teams and the Company Executive Officer for two companies over the course of five deployments to around the Middle East.

Derrick graduated with his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2019. He then clerked for two separate federal judges.

Derrick also served in the White House during President Trump’s Administration, where he worked in the Office of National Drug Control Policy. In 2017, Derrick appeared on 60 Minutes with members of his Green Beret team to discuss his final mission in Afghanistan.

Derrick currently serves as a Major in the United States Army National Guard. He lives in Spotsylvania County with his dog, Ranger, a Dalmatian. Derrick is currently a practicing attorney.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Our border is broken. Our communities are less safe, our law enforcement is stretched thin, and the chaos at the border is threatening our communities daily with the endless stream of fentanyl crossing it and infiltrating our neighborhoods.
Our cost of living is through the roof. Under the current administration, everyday costs, like groceries and gas are stretching Virginia families further than ever before, in some cases as much as $1,100 more a month! This must change, and starts by reining in out-of-control spending and reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, which trickles down to American families in the form of higher costs.
I will stand up for our veterans to guarantee they receive the quality of care and benefits they deserve. Virginia’s 7th district is home to a future VA clinic, Quantico, and thousands of veterans and their families.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

- Constitutional Law

- Quality care and support for our veterans

- Safer communities, which starts with securing the border and standing up for our law enforcement

Farmers and our agriculture industry - VA-07 is predominantly made up of farmland. Our farmers are essential to the district and to the Commonwealth and their jobs are being made more difficult everyday by over burdensome regulations and higher costs of goods and equipment

- Well-maintained roads and bridges, especially I-95 which runs through the the heart of the district and is responsible for countless commuters whose livelihoods depend on the road

- Reducing overburdensome regulations that impact the everyday cost-of-living around the district

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My mother. She had me at age 18, and on her own, she ran multiple businesses and raised me into the man I am today. She has witnessed me graduate from college, serve in the Army, graduate law school, clerke for two federal judges, and watch me run for Congress–to represent my home, the place that raised me. Thank you, Mom.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The United States Constitution

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The motto of the Green Berets “De Oppresso Liber" means "To Free the Oppressed.” As an elected official I will lead as such. To be a servant and focus everyday on better serving those I represent, no matter what their ideology, wealth, upbringing, profession, might be. I believe this must be the mentality of an elected official, and with it comes the need to lead with humility, integrity, and transparency, all which I pledge to the people of VA-07.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

If the Army taught me anything, it was how to be a humble leader. To listen to those around you, no matter what rank, skillset, age, or background. I will serve in this same way.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Always represent the people of the 7th district. This means spending time in the district as often as possible to make sure those voices are heard in Washington. VA-07 is my home and the place that raised me. I will be representing my family, my friends, my former coaches, my mentors, everyone who has shaped my life, and I take that very seriously.

What legacy would you like to leave?

If after serving in Congress I leave the 7th district better off than it was when I took office, then that legacy is the one I hope to leave.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

September 11, 2001 - I was in high school when the attack occurred. It inspired and motivated me to attend Virginia Tech in the Corp of Cadets, become the first in my family to graduate college, and then serve in the United States Army, serving 6 deployments overseas and eventually becoming a Special Forces Green Beret.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked at my mom’s restaurant down the road from where I group in Fredericksburg, VA. I cooked, cleaned, served, anything and everything needed. My time working for my mom in one of her many small businesses gave me an appreciation for the American dream. That hard work and persistence can make that dream come true. It can also be ripped away by higher taxes and frivolous government regulations, which we see all too often unfortunately.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Green Berets by Robin Moore

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

CPT America (my favorite super hero)

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Everyday Americans representing their neighbors and families

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe all experience is useful for a Member of Congress. However, a Member must not become handcuffed by that experience and be open to other paths forward for success. Too often this happens, whether you come from the public service or the private sector, you must be ready to look at options and make the decision that is best for your constituents.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

- Reckless spending and skyrocketing costs

- Weakness in the face of our enemies

- A country united behind hating each other

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

The amount of money that flows into campaigns and the 24/7 news cycle, makes the campaign season longer, meaning that some members are spending half of their term campaigning, which takes away from their job in Washington. With that being said, I would not be opposed to extending a term length to 3 years, to allow for more problem solving and representation, rather than campaigning and fundraising.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I am in favor of elected officials eventually giving up control to their seat, even if the voters continue to elect them. Complacency leads to stagnant leadership and policy-making. In terms of the House of Representatives, a member needs at least three terms (6 years) to position themselves to get results. I would support term limits, but believe a Member of the House should be granted 5 terms (10 years) to be able to get things accomplished for their respective districts.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Congressman Mike Waltz

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I spend a good deal of time discussing issues that our local Sheriffs and their deputies face daily. It is truly disheartening to see how the border crisis has impacted my home district, whether it be the deadly flow of fentanyl, human trafficking, or the massive amount of time our law enforcement officers spend dealing with crimes committed by people that are not legally permitted to be in the U.S. It hits hard for me to see these things in my community, especially so close to home.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes. Our goal as Members of Congress is to better the lives of Americans. In order to do that, it involves passing legislation, which in a narrow majority, only occurs with compromise. Or else the Chamber remains static and isn’t doing it’s job, which isn’t bettering the lives of Americans.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

Raising revenue means raising taxes. I will not raise taxes as a Member of Congress, because I know there is waste, fraud, and abuse occurring that if addressed properly, will provide all the funding needed rather than asking citizens for more of their hard-earned income.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Rarely and with purpose. Let’s reduce the number of hearings for show and call them with a purpose: to reverse waste fraid, and abuse, make Americans safer, and make American lives better.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

To name a few - Senator Tom Cotton; Congressman Derrick Van Orden (Navy SEAL); Congressman Mike Waltz (Green Beret); Congressman Brian Mast (Army Ranger); Congressman Ronny Jackson; Speaker Mike Johnson; Majority Leader Steve Scalise; Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, House Conference Chair; Majority Whip Tom Emmer; Sheriff Chris Giles (King George County); Sheriff David Decatur (Stafford County); Sheriff Steve Smith (Greene County); Green Beret PAC, SEAL PAC, War Veterans Fund, Congressional leadership Fund

What committees interest you?

- Veterans Affairs

- Agriculture

- Transportation and Infrastructure

Each of these committees give me the best opportunity to impact VA-07 on day one.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Government has the responsibility to be transparent and truthful with the people they represent. With that comes transparent budget decision-making, open contracting processes, and periodic reviews of processes to eliminate inefficiency and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Derrick Anderson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Anderson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Derrick Anderson is a native of Spotsylvania County, a graduate of Courtland High School, was in the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech, and received his J.D. from Georgetown Law. He is a former Special Forces “Green Beret” with 6 tours of duty overseas, including 80 combat missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and various countries throughout the Middle East. Following his time in the Army and attending law school, he clerked for two federal judges. Derrick currently serves as a Major in the United States Army National Guard. He lives in Spotsylvania County with his dog, Ranger, a Dalmatian.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I am the only conservative combat veteran in the race. Having served as Green Beret team leader across the globe, with 6 tours of duty, and 80 combat missions in Afghanistan, I am best prepared to go toe-to-toe with Abigail Spanberger on all issues foreign policy-related.
I was raised in the district. The 7th is my home. I was raised in Spotsylvania County and relate to the problems our voters are facing under the current administration. I-95 and our general infrastructure and roads is the lifeblood of our district, and we must keep up with the increase in traffic and people coming through the 7th. Our farmers are taking the brunt of the increase in fuel prices and the struggling supply chains across the world. We must be better advocates for our agricultural community here in the district. As a veteran, I will be a fighter for them in Washington and in the district, including making the new VA in Fredericksburg is up to standards.
I am the only true political outsider in this race, having never run for office or held public office. Virginians are ready for new blood and political outsiders to lead.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I will be heavily focused on our veterans, infrastructure, and standing up for our farmers. The newest VA hospital in Virginia will be in Fredericksburg, and as a veteran myself, I will make it a top priority that our service members are given the care they deserve. In fact I will be setting up a congressional office in this VA if I am elected. I-95 runs through the heart of the district, and people rely on it to commute to and from their jobs, schools, grocery stores, and right now, it is unsustainable. We must make sure that our infrastructure can sustain the rapid growth of the district and the population that passes through the district. Our farmers feed the Commonwealth and the country, yet they are taking on undue burdens with rising fuel costs and supply chain problems. I will make sure our farmers and the agricultural industry as a whole in the district has a fighter in Washington looking out for them. Lastly, we must secure our border. The fentanyl alone spilling into our country is a pandemic, not to mention the danger and crime that is coming into our neighborhoods and communities. We must secure the border, this must be a top priority.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Anderson submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on June 18, 2022.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Derrick Anderson campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House Virginia District 7	Lost general	$3,408,434	$3,355,705
2022	U.S. House Virginia District 7	Lost primary	$637,085	$633,470
Grand total			$4,045,519	$3,989,175
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

External links

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Candidate

U.S. House Virginia District 7

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 23, 2022
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 14, 2024

[show]

Virginia's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Tim Kaine (D)

Mark Warner (D)

Representatives

District 1

Rob Wittman (R)

District 2

Jennifer Kiggans (R)

District 3

Bobby Scott (D)

District 4

Jennifer McClellan (D)

District 5

John McGuire (R)

District 6

Benjamin Lee Cline (R)

District 7

Eugene Vindman (D)

District 8

Donald Sternoff Beyer (D)

District 9

H. Morgan Griffith (R)

District 10

Suhas Subramanyam (D)

District 11

James Walkinshaw (D)

Democratic Party (8)

Republican Party (5)

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 23, 2022

[2] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 14, 2024

[1]

[2]

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Derrick Anderson

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 7

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

Pledges

2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 7

Democratic primary election

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Campaign themes

2024

Video for Ballotpedia

Ballotpedia survey responses

2022

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

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