Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Virginia's 5th Congressional District election, 2026
← 2024
|
Virginia's 5th Congressional District |
---|
General election |
Election details |
Filing deadline: Pending |
Primary: Pending General: November 3, 2026 |
How to vote |
Poll times:
6 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
Race ratings |
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican |
Ballotpedia analysis |
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026 |
See also |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th Virginia elections, 2026 U.S. Congress elections, 2026 U.S. Senate elections, 2026 U.S. House elections, 2026 |
All U.S. House districts, including the 5th Congressional District of Virginia, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.
Candidates and election results
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House Virginia District 5
Incumbent John McGuire, Mike Pruitt, Paul Riley, and Bob Good are running in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
John McGuire (R) | ||
Mike Pruitt (D) | ||
![]() | Paul Riley (D) ![]() | |
![]() | Bob Good (R) |
![]() | ||||
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. |
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I am a retired U.S. Army veteran with over 20 years of service as a military intelligence officer, including a combat tour in Iraq. After serving at duty stations around the world, my wife Jani and our family settled in Crozet in 2010, where we raised our three children: McKenna, Nathaniel, and Keegan. From 2010 to 2023, I worked at the National Ground Intelligence Center. Today, i continue my national service as a defense contractor and intelligence professional, advising on critical security issues facing the United States. Born in Norwich, New York, i graduated from Florida State University in 1989. My wife and I have been married for over 34 years. I enjoy the outdoors—hiking, fishing, hunting, and traveling—and remains deeply committed to my family and community."
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Virginia
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
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.
Collapse all
|
Paul Riley (D)
I believe we need a smarter approach: reduce tariffs that punish consumers, cut wasteful government spending, and focus on policies that bring supply chains closer to home and create good-paying jobs right here. Affordability should be the foundation of
Our tax system should be simple, fair, and work for working families—not just the well-connected. Too many middle-class families and small businesses are carrying the load while large corporations and special interests find loopholes to avoid paying their share. Here in our district, that means family farms, small manufacturers, and local shops are stretched thin while the biggest corporations exploit tax breaks and send profits overseas.
I believe we need a tax system that rewards hard work, not wealth hoarding. That means lowering the burden on working families, protecting retirement savings, and ensuring big corporations and the ultra-wealthy play by the same rules as everyone else. Fair and equitable taxes aren’t about taking more—it’s
In Virginia’s 5th District, over 48,000 veterans call this community home. They deserve more than empty promises—they deserve action. Yet, Washington continues to push cuts to the very services our veterans rely on, from healthcare to mental health support to timely claims processing. That is unacceptable.

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)
Equally important is the responsibility to exercise oversight—to ask hard questions, challenge bad policies, and make sure government is working the way it should. An elected official must also be a bridge builder, working across the aisle when possible to find real solutions while standing firm on core values.
At its heart, this office is about service. It’s about protecting freedoms, improving quality of life, and ensuring that future generations inherit a stronger, safer, and more prosperous America.
Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)
Second, our infrastructure requires urgent attention. Roads, bridges, and public transit systems are aging, and investments in modern infrastructure are essential to keep our economy competitive. This includes expanding high-speed rail to connect communities efficiently, and broadband access to rural and underserved areas so businesses, schools, and families can thrive in a digital economy.
Finally, all these efforts must support economic growth and opportunity. By modernizing infrastructure and investing in technology, we create jobs, empower local economies, and ensure every American has a chance to succeed. Addressing these challenges thoughtfully and decisively will determine whether the U.S. remains secure, competitive, and prosperous for generations to come.
Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)
Compromise does not mean abandoning principles or values. It means recognizing that complex problems—whether it’s healthcare, the economy, national security, or infrastructure—require collaboration and nuanced solutions. By working across the aisle, policymakers can craft laws that are balanced, sustainable, and widely supported, ensuring that decisions serve the people in practical, meaningful ways.
In today’s polarized political climate, compromise is even more critical. It helps prevent gridlock, builds trust between parties, and demonstrates to voters that their representatives are capable of governing responsibly. Ultimately, compromise is the mechanism that allows our government to function effectively while remaining true to the core democratic principle: that government exists to serve the people, not ideology.
Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)

Paul Riley (D)
You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:
Campaign finance
Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
John McGuire | Republican Party | $466,130 | $182,671 | $310,677 | As of June 30, 2025 |
Mike Pruitt | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
Paul Riley | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
Bob Good | Republican Party | $27,982 | $19,312 | $13,042 | As of June 30, 2025 |
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[1]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[2][3][4]
Race ratings: Virginia's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
9/16/2025 | 9/9/2025 | 9/2/2025 | 8/26/2025 | ||||||
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending | |||||
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | |||||
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week. |
Ballot access
This section will contain information on ballot access related to this state's elections when it is available.
District history
The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.
2024
See also: Virginia's 5th Congressional District election, 2024
Virginia's 5th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 18 Democratic primary)
Virginia's 5th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 18 Republican primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Virginia District 5
John McGuire defeated Gloria Tinsley Witt in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | John McGuire (R) | 57.3 | 249,564 | |
![]() | Gloria Tinsley Witt (D) ![]() | 42.3 | 184,229 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 2,046 |
Total votes: 435,839 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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. |
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 5
Gloria Tinsley Witt defeated Gary Terry and Paul Riley in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on June 18, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Gloria Tinsley Witt ![]() | 57.2 | 14,188 |
![]() | Gary Terry ![]() | 22.4 | 5,566 | |
![]() | Paul Riley ![]() | 20.4 | 5,063 |
Total votes: 24,817 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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. |
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 5
John McGuire defeated incumbent Bob Good in the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on June 18, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | John McGuire | 50.3 | 31,583 | |
![]() | Bob Good | 49.7 | 31,209 |
Total votes: 62,792 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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. |
2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Virginia District 5
Incumbent Bob Good defeated Joshua Throneburg in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Bob Good (R) | 57.6 | 177,191 |
![]() | Joshua Throneburg (D) ![]() | 42.2 | 129,996 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 588 |
Total votes: 307,775 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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. |
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Joshua Throneburg advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 5.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Andy Parker (D)
- Lewis Combs (D)
- Thomas McLellan (D)
Republican convention
Republican convention for U.S. House Virginia District 5
Incumbent Bob Good defeated Dan Moy in the Republican convention for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on May 21, 2022.
Total votes: 1,759 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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. |
2020
General election
General election for U.S. House Virginia District 5
Bob Good defeated Cameron Webb in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Bob Good (R) | 52.4 | 210,988 |
Cameron Webb (D) | 47.3 | 190,315 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 1,014 |
Total votes: 402,317 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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. |
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 5
Cameron Webb defeated Claire Russo, Roger Dean Huffstetler, and John Lesinski in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on June 23, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Cameron Webb | 66.6 | 35,965 | |
![]() | Claire Russo | 18.2 | 9,833 | |
![]() | Roger Dean Huffstetler | 9.9 | 5,337 | |
![]() | John Lesinski ![]() | 5.4 | 2,902 |
Total votes: 54,037 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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
- Kim Daugherty (D)
- Shadi Ayyas (D)
Republican convention
Republican convention for U.S. House Virginia District 5
Bob Good defeated incumbent Denver Lee Riggleman III in the Republican convention for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on June 13, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Bob Good (R) | 59.8 | 1,517 |
![]() | Denver Lee Riggleman III (R) | 40.2 | 1,020 |
Total votes: 2,537 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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. |
District analysis
This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.
See also
Virginia | 2026 primaries | 2026 U.S. Congress elections |
---|---|---|
Voting in Virginia Virginia elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 |
Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries |
U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018