Another Democrat – meteorologist Sean Sublette – is announcing his candidacy for the nomination in VA01 to take on the abysmal Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA01). Sublette joins a crowded field, including Salaam Bhatti, Amanda Pohl, Lisa Vedernikova Khanna, Melvin Tull, Andrew Lucchetti, James Shea and apparently Ericka Kopp (not sure if she put out a press release or has a website). Of course, there’s clearly no question VA01 (a tough, “red”-leaning district, but one targeted by the DCCC for 2026) badly needs a change in representation in Congress. So hopefully we’ll end up with a strong Democratic nominee who can really take it to Wittman!
METEOROLOGIST SEAN SUBLETTE ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR VIRGINIA’S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
RICHMOND, VA – Today, Meteorologist and Virginia native, Sean Sublette, announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in Virginia’s First Congressional District.
“I’ve decided to step forward and run for this seat because we need to stand up for working families who are getting ripped off, and I’m tired of waiting for someone else to fix a broken Washington,” said Sublette. “We need leaders who will stand up to Donald Trump and his billionaire cronies and break the status quo of lies and conspiracies in Washington. As the son of a single mother, a small business owner, and a political outsider, I have lived and understand the struggles that hardworking Virginians are facing every day.”
“I’ve spent my career as a meteorologist looking at data to understand the weather and help Virginians prepare for storms ahead, but you don’t have to be a weatherman to know that Washington has created a storm that is wreaking havoc on our country. It is time we acknowledge that our system is broken, and our leaders are not looking out for us. I am running to drive down the costs of living, save healthcare and the rural hospitals that Virginians depend on, stand up for veterans who’ve earned their benefits, and protect our environment in the face of climate change. For too long Rob Wittman has been left unaccountable as he sat by and let Donald Trump and right-wing extremists attack the very fabric of this country. If we want Congress to change, we need to change who we nominate to fight back against Wittman and his allies. It’s time to send in the meteorologist and change our country’s forecast.
BACKGROUND
Sean was born in Richmond and raised in Henrico County. Growing up in a working class family, he was the first in his family to go to college, scraping the money together with student loans and a small union-sponsored scholarship. From an early age, he developed a passion for science, especially weather, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree before working at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Sean then spent more than 20 years as a TV weatherman and newspaper/digital meteorologist in Virginia. He enters the race with 30 years of experience understanding media and an ability to take complex policy and distill it in a way that is relatable. Sean is deeply rooted in this community and will stand up to anyone to protect our Virginia values. Sean is a small business owner of Sublette Weather and Consulting and currently lives in Midlothian with his wife Erica. You can learn more about Sean at www.seanforva.com.
Virginia’s First Congressional District is one of the most competitive races and one of the greatest opportunities for the Democratic party to flip a seat in the 2026 cycle. The district is geographically diverse: stretching from the Northern Neck to Virginia’s Historic Triangle, continuing westward to include parts of Hanover, Henrico, and Chesterfield Counties. The seat is currently held by Rob Wittman (R) who was first elected in 2007.
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