Virginia's 6th Congressional District election, 2024

	2026 → ← 2022
Virginia's 6th Congressional District
	Democratic primary; Republican primary; General election
Election details
	Filing deadline: April 4, 2024
	Primary: June 18, 2024; General: November 5, 2024
How to vote
	Poll times: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Voting in Virginia
Race ratings
	Cook Political Report: Solid Republican; DDHQ and The Hill: Safe Republican; 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, 2024
See also
	Virginia's 6th Congressional District; U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th ; Virginia elections, 2024; U.S. Congress elections, 2024; U.S. Senate elections, 2024; U.S. House elections, 2024; Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House racesArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House racesFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House racesOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House racesTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House racesVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House racesSubmit

Virginia 2024 elections

U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Special state legislative • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • How to run for office

All U.S. House districts, including the 6th Congressional District of Virginia, held elections in 2024. The general election was November 5, 2024. The primary was June 18, 2024. The filing deadline was April 4, 2024. The outcome of this race affected the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 119th Congress. All 435 House districts were up for election.

At the time of the election, Republicans held a 220-212 majority with three vacancies.^[1] As a result of the election, Republicans retained control of the U.S. House, winning 220 seats to Democrats' 215.^[2] To read more about the 2024 U.S. House elections, click here.

In the 2022 election in this district, the Republican candidate won 64.4%-35.4%. Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 60.0%-38.4%.^[3]

For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 6

Incumbent Benjamin Lee Cline defeated Ken Mitchell and Robert Wells Jr. in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 6 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Benjamin Lee Cline (R)	63.1	256,933
	Ken Mitchell (D)	34.8	141,612
	Robert Wells Jr. (Independent)	2.0	7,980
	Other/Write-in votes	0.1	510

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 407,035
= 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. Ken Mitchell advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 6.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Rod Grandon (D)

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Benjamin Lee Cline advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 6.

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.

Ken Mitchell

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography: "Ken Mitchell is a father, veteran, entrepreneur, and small farmer. His family has a legacy of serving our great nation. He served 24 years in the military, and between them, Ken, his father, and his brother have a total of 78 years of military service. His last six years of active duty, he served in the White House in an apolitical role, supporting two Presidents of different political parties. His private sector career includes work for a large telecom corporation; small business owner as a licensed contractor, and he oversaw infrastructure renovations at Monticello. He also helped upgrade local water systems in the 6th District. Ken currently lives on a small farm in Rockingham County with his fiancee Michele. He is ready to bring principled leadership and pragmatic problem-solving to Congress."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Jobs and the Economy Ken Mitchell prioritizes revitalizing the economy and creating robust job opportunities for all Americans. Ken advocates for policies promoting job growth, fair wages, and worker protections. He understands the importance of investing in infrastructure, renewable energy projects, and small businesses to stimulate economic development and create jobs. Additionally, he champions measures to address income inequality and supports initiatives to provide training and educational resources to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to secure meaningful employment. Ken’s stance underscores the fundamental belief that a thriving economy should benefit everyone, not just the privileged few.

Education Ken is committed to ensuring every student can access a high-quality public education. With a deep understanding of the importance of education in shaping the future, Ken advocates for increased funding for public schools, support for teacher education programs in public universities, and paying educators the professional salaries they deserve. All students need adequate access to technology, including investment in rural broadband. Disparities between urban and rural schools in the Sixth District must be addressed. All children deserve equal opportunities regardless of ZIP code. Ken’s positive stance on education encompasses a vision of innovative learning environments that empower students to thrive and succeed.

Women’s Reproductive Rights Women’s rights are human rights, and in America, they’re under siege. The 2022 Supreme Court reversal of Roe v. Wade and efforts to restrict abortion and reproductive care are unacceptable. In Congress, I will champion federal legislation to protect women’s right to choose and defend bodily autonomy. Women also face ongoing struggles for equal pay and respect in the workplace. We must ensure equal pay for equal work and protect women from violence and harassment everywhere. I’m committed to securing the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution to guarantee gender equality.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Virginia District 6 in 2024.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Virginia

Election information in Virginia: Nov. 5, 2024, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

In-person: Nov. 5, 2024
By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 15, 2024
Online: Oct. 15, 2024

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

Yes

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

In-person: Oct. 25, 2024
By mail: Received by Oct. 25, 2024
Online: Oct. 25, 2024

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

In-person: Nov. 5, 2024
By mail: Postmarked by Nov. 5, 2024

Was early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What were the early voting start and end dates?

Sep. 20, 2024 to Nov. 2, 2024

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (EST)

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

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?

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/KenMitchell.jpeg

Ken Mitchell (D)

Jobs and the Economy

Ken Mitchell prioritizes revitalizing the economy and creating robust job opportunities for all Americans. Ken advocates for policies promoting job growth, fair wages, and worker protections. He understands the importance of investing in infrastructure, renewable energy projects, and small businesses to stimulate economic development and create jobs. Additionally, he champions measures to address income inequality and supports initiatives to provide training and educational resources to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to secure meaningful employment. Ken’s stance underscores the fundamental belief that a thriving economy should benefit everyone, not just the privileged few.

Education

Ken is committed to ensuring every student can access a high-quality public education. With a deep understanding of the importance of education in shaping the future, Ken advocates for increased funding for public schools, support for teacher education programs in public universities, and paying educators the professional salaries they deserve. All students need adequate access to technology, including investment in rural broadband. Disparities between urban and rural schools in the Sixth District must be addressed. All children deserve equal opportunities regardless of ZIP code. Ken’s positive stance on education encompasses a vision of innovative learning environments that empower students to thrive and succeed.

Women’s Reproductive Rights

Women’s rights are human rights, and in America, they’re under siege. The 2022 Supreme Court reversal of Roe v. Wade and efforts to restrict abortion and reproductive care are unacceptable. In Congress, I will champion federal legislation to protect women’s right to choose and defend bodily autonomy.

Women also face ongoing struggles for equal pay and respect in the workplace. We must ensure equal pay for equal work and protect women from violence and harassment everywhere. I’m committed to securing the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution to guarantee gender equality.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Ken Mitchell (D)

No one person can see all facets of problems and opportunities in our district. We are in this together.

Trickle-down economics has failed. In the Sixth District, 44% of workers can’t save or earn a living wage despite multiple jobs. Economic insecurity harms democracy, driving people away from civic engagement and towards divisive rhetoric.

To protect democracy, we must:

-Rebuild economic security and community support. -Address the mental health crisis by fostering mutual care. -Ensure Congress secures reproductive rights and protects all individuals’ dignity, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

-The government should stay out of personal medical decisions.

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

Ken Mitchell (D)

An effective elected official must embody a commitment to serving the people, guided by integrity, hard work, and innovation. Ken Mitchell demonstrates these principles through his extensive experience as a veteran, entrepreneur, and small farmer. He prioritizes Main Street over Wall Street, focusing on enhancing infrastructure, expanding high-speed broadband, improving public transportation, and supporting rural schools to ensure all children receive quality education. With a legacy of military service and a career dedicated to community development, Ken is ready to bring principled leadership and pragmatic problem-solving to Congress, continuing the traditions of mutual aid and respect that define the Shenandoah Valley.

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

Ken Mitchell (D)

As someone running for Congress in our rural community, I believe the core responsibilities of this office are rooted in serving the needs and values of our constituents. First and foremost, it's crucial to ensure that our voices are heard and our interests are represented in Washington. This means advocating for policies that support local farmers, small businesses, and rural infrastructure.

Another key responsibility is working to bring equitable resources and opportunities to our community, so that we have access to quality healthcare, education, and economic development. We must also focus on protecting our environment and natural resources, which are vital to both our way of life and our local economy.

Lastly, I believe in maintaining transparency and accountability, staying connected with the people I serve, and being a tireless advocate for the issues that matter most to our rural communities. By working together, we can ensure that our values and priorities are front and center in Congress.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Ken Mitchell (D)

This Land is Your Land.

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

Ken Mitchell (D)

As a candidate for Congress in rural Virginia, I believe the United States faces several significant challenges over the next decade that will require thoughtful leadership and innovative solutions.

Economic Disparity: Rural communities, including those in Virginia, have often been left behind in economic progress. We need to prioritize policies that invest in local infrastructure, support small businesses, and ensure access to high-speed internet. By fostering economic growth in our rural areas, we can create good-paying jobs and build resilient local economies.

Healthcare Access: Many rural areas struggle with limited access to healthcare services. It's essential to expand healthcare coverage and support rural health clinics. We must work towards making healthcare more affordable and accessible for everyone, regardless of where they live. Climate Change and Environmental Protection: Climate change is impacting agriculture, water resources, and natural landscapes in rural areas. We need to address these environmental challenges with sustainable practices and investments in clean energy to protect our communities and natural heritage for future generations.

Educational Opportunities: Our rural schools often face challenges with funding and resources. Investing in education is crucial for providing our children with the tools they need to succeed. We must ensure that all students, regardless of their location, have access to quality education and opportunities.

Political Polarization: The increasing division in our political landscape can hinder progress and compromise. It’s vital to promote dialogue and find common ground, focusing on issues that unite us rather than divide us.

Addressing these challenges will require a commitment to collaboration, empathy, and innovative solutions. As your representative, I will work tirelessly to ensure that the needs of our rural communities are heard and addressed in Washington. Together, we can build a brighter future.

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

Ken Mitchell (D)

Absolutely, compromise is not just necessary—it's essential for effective policymaking. In rural Virginia, we know that progress isn't about imposing one-size-fits-all solutions but about finding common ground and working together. Our communities are diverse, and our solutions must reflect that. Compromise allows us to craft policies that address the needs of all Virginians, respecting our unique challenges while building on our shared values. By coming together, we can ensure that every voice is heard and every need is met, leading to stronger, more resilient communities across our state.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Ken Mitchell (D)

IBEW, Newtown Action Alliance, Del. Sam Rasoul, SMART Union

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Ken Mitchell (D)

As a candidate running for Congress in rural Virginia, I understand the deep-seated values of integrity and accountability that define our community. Financial transparency and government accountability aren't just buzzwords—they are fundamental to restoring trust between the people and their representatives.

I believe that every taxpayer has a right to know how their hard-earned money is being spent. This means pushing for clear, accessible financial reports from government agencies and ensuring that there are strict penalties for those who mismanage public funds. Transparency also involves open communication about how decisions are made and the impact they will have on our rural communities.

Moreover, I am committed to supporting legislation that strengthens oversight mechanisms and reduces bureaucratic red tape, making it easier for citizens to hold their government accountable. In Washington, I will advocate for policies that enhance transparency in government spending and increase accountability to ensure that every dollar is used efficiently and effectively to benefit our district.

Our rural communities deserve representatives who not only talk the talk but walk the walk when it comes to financial integrity. I promise to be a champion for these values and work tirelessly to ensure that our government operates with the highest level of transparency and accountability.

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Benjamin Lee Cline	Republican Party	$1,030,467	$969,486	$328,322	As of December 31, 2024
Ken Mitchell	Democratic Party	$194,850	$192,653	$2,197	As of December 31, 2024
Robert Wells Jr.	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2024. 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." According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. * Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

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.^[4]
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.^[5]^[6]^[7]

Race ratings: Virginia's 6th Congressional District election, 2024
Race tracker	Race ratings
	November 5, 2024	October 29, 2024	October 22, 2024	October 15, 2024
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
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

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Virginia in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Virginia, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Virginia	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	1,000	$3,480.00	4/4/2024	Source
Virginia	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	1,000	N/A	6/18/2024	Source

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2024 U.S. House elections in the state.
Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.

District map

Competitiveness
Presidential elections

State party control

Below was the map in use at the time of the election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2024

This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in Virginia.

Virginia U.S. House competitiveness, 2014-2024
Office	Districts/ offices	Seats	Open seats	Candidates	Possible primaries	Contested Democratic primaries	Contested Republican primaries	% of contested primaries	Incumbents in contested primaries	% of incumbents in contested primaries
2024	11	11	2	53	22	6	3	40.9%	2	22.2%
2022	11	11	0	33	16^[8]	1	4	31.3%	2	18.2%
2020	11	11	0	31	15^[9]	4	2	40.0%	2	18.2%
2018	11	11	2	37	17^[10]	6	3	52.9%	2	22.2%
2016	11	11	2	29	20^[11]	1	4	25.0%	2	22.2%
2014	11	11	2	32	20^[12]	1	3	20.0%	2	22.2%

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in Virginia in 2024. Information below was calculated on June 16, 2024, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

Fifty-three candidates ran for Virginia’s 11 U.S. House districts, including 33 Democrats and 20 Republicans. That’s an average of 4.81 candidates per district.

This was also the most candidates who ran in primary elections in Virginia in the last 10 years.

The 7th and 10th Congressional Districts were open in 2024. The last time a seat was open in Virginia was in 2018 when two seats were open.

Incumbent Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-07) did not run for re-election because she will run for Governor of Virginia in 2025. Incumbent Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-10) retired from public office.

Sixteen candidates—12 Democrats and four Republicans—ran for the open 10th Congressional District, the most candidates who ran for a district in Virginia in 2024.

Nine primaries—six Democratic and three Republican—were contested in 2024. Between 2014 and 2022, an average of 5.8 primaries were contested each election year.

Two incumbents—Gerald Edward Connolly (D-11) and Bob Good (R-05)—were in contested primaries in 2024. Since 2014, there have been two incumbents in contested primaries in Virginia in every election year.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all 11 districts, meaning no seats are guaranteed to either party.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+14. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 14 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Virginia's 6th the 98th most Republican district nationally.^[13]

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2020 presidential election would have been in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by Daily Kos.

2020 presidential results in Virginia's 6th based on 2024 district lines
Joe Biden	Donald Trump
38.4%	60.0%

Inside Elections Baselines

See also: Inside Elections

Inside Elections' Baseline is a figure that analyzes all federal and statewide election results from the district over the past four election cycles. The results are combined in an index estimating the strength of a typical Democratic or Republican candidate in the congressional district.^[14] The table below displays the Baseline data for this district.

Inside Elections Baseline for 2024
Democratic Baseline	Republican Baseline	Difference
36.6	62.3	R+25.6

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Virginia, 2020

Virginia presidential election results (1900-2020)

17 Democratic wins
14 Republican wins

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020
Winning Party	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D

See also: Party control of Virginia state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Virginia's congressional delegation as of May 2024.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Virginia
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	2	6	8
Republican	0	5	5
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	11	13

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Virginia's top four state executive offices as of May 2024.

State executive officials in Virginia, May 2024
Office	Officeholder
Governor	Glenn Youngkin
Lieutenant Governor	Winsome Earle-Sears
Secretary of State	Kelly Gee
Attorney General	Jason Miyares

State legislature

Virginia State Senate

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	21
	Republican Party	19
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		40

Virginia House of Delegates

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	51
	Republican Party	49
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		100

Trifecta control

The table below shows the state's trifecta status from 1992 until the 2024 election.

Virginia Party Control: 1992-2024
Four years of Democratic trifectas • Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R
Senate	D	D	D	D	S	S	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D
House	D	D	D	D	D	D	S	S	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	R	R	D

District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2018.