With the politically highly vulnerable Trump rubber stamp Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA02) kicking off her 2026 reelection campaign today, see below for statements from the DCCC and from former Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA02), who is highly likely to retake the seat this November, whether new district lines kick in or not. As the DCCC says, “Kiggans has never been more vulnerable, and she has her own record to blame” (true, although she also is highly vulnerable because her cult leader, Donald Trump, is overwhelmingly unpopular – for good reason! – almong the American people in general, and among VA02 voters as well); and as former Rep. Luria says, Kiggans “has voted 100% of the time with President Trump to drive-up the cost of health insurance, rubber-stamp reckless tariffs that are raising prices, and abandon our veterans and service members.” For more on why Kiggans richly deserves to lose in November, see New Report Finds Virginia Beach Hardest Hit by Kiggans-Trump Agenda, Trump’s Dangerous and Poorly Planned Attack on Iran Gets a Big Thumbs-Up from Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA02), ICYMI: Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA02) Doubles Down on Vote to Jack Up Health Care Costs; Claims 3 Years “a very long time” for Families to Have Access to ACA Tax Credits, THE KIGGANS TWO-STEP: Jen Kiggans Promises Virginians One Thing, Only to Fold and Vote Against Them, Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA02) Set to Pal Around With Palantir in Jackson Hole – But Won’t Hold a Town Hall in Virginia Beach, “FOLDED”: Kiggans and Wittman Skewered in Local Press for Breaking Promise Not to Cut Medicaid, What Does Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA02) Have to Say About Mass VA Layoffs and Veteran Firings? “Thank you, Mr. Secretary”, etc., etc, etc.
DCCC Statement on Congresswoman Jen Kiggans’ Campaign Kickoff
In response to vulnerable Republican Congresswoman Jen Kiggans “kicking off” her losing re-election campaign today in Virginia Beach, DCCC Spokesperson Eli Cousin issued the following statement:
DCCC Spokesperson Eli Cousin:
“Jen Kiggans has never been more vulnerable, and she has her own record to blame. Kiggans lied when she said she’d protect health care but instead voted for the largest cuts to Medicaid in history; she lied when she swore she’d lower health care costs but allowed premiums to skyrocket; and she lied when she swore she’d protect Virginia Beach veterans but instead gutted their access to care. Virginia voters will hold Kiggans accountable for betraying her community come November.”CATCH UP QUICK ON WHY JEN KIGGANS IS MORE VULNERABLE THAN EVER:
1. Kiggans lied when she promised to protect Virginians’ health care, but then voted for the largest cuts to Medicaid in history.
- Kiggans spent weeks touting her alleged concerns about Republicans’ plan to gut Medicaid, but “folded” and cast a decisive vote for the health care cuts. Kiggans’ vote is the reason why three health clinics in Virginia have already closed their doors. It’s part of a larger track record for Kiggans: She once said she’d “like to eliminate” the ACA.
- READ: WHRO: House bill that would cut Medicaid passes, with Kiggans’ vote; The Virginian-Pilot: Editorial: In the end, Reps. Kiggans and Wittman sold out their constituents; National Memo: These House Republicans Opposed Trump’s Medicaid Cuts — Until They Voted ‘Yes’; The Virginia Independent: Rep. Jennifer Kiggans said during 2022 campaign that she’d ‘like to eliminate Obamacare’
2. Kiggans lied when she promised to extend the ACA tax credits, but then voted to spike health care costs for Virginians.
- Kiggans told anyone who would listen that she was sticking her neck out to extend the ACA tax credits, but then voted in favor of allowing health care premiums to spike for tens of thousands of Virginians.
- READ: Virginian-Pilot: Kiggans votes against 3-year ACA tax credit extension: ‘Not the right answer’; WTVR: Virginia ACA enrollment drops by more than 44,000 as federal tax credits expire
3. Kiggans inflicted pain on Virginia veterans and military families.
- Local news verified that Kiggans “cut veterans’ health care.” Kiggans was also a major proponent of DOGE, and her support reportedly led to “the termination of more than $8.3 million in grants and leases tied to the district, including funding streams connected to veterans services and facilities.”
- READ: Virginia Mercury: “From early praise to public defense, Kiggans backs DOGE cuts“; 13NewsNow: New political ad claims Rep. Kiggans cuts veterans’ healthcare | VERIFY
4. Kiggans lied when she promised to protect clean energy tax credits.
Kiggans claimed to be a proponent of clean energy and expressed public concerns about rolling back energy tax credits. But Kiggans “flip-flopped” and voted to take a “sledgehammer” to clean energy tax credits instead. Now, Virginia is losing millions of dollars in investment and electricity bills are rising because of Kiggans’ vote.
READ: Bloomberg: Republican Who Flip-Flopped on Energy Credits Risks Voters’ Ire
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From former Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA02):
Rep. Luria Releases Statement on Jen Kiggans’ Campaign Event Today in Virginia Beach
Rep. Luria outraised Kiggans raised more than $1.75 million in the first quarter of 2026, outraising Kiggans by more than $700K
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Today, former small business owner, 20-year U.S. Navy veteran, and two-term member of Congress Rep. Elaine Luria released the following statement on vulnerable Republican Jen Kiggans’ campaign event in Virginia Beach:
“Jen Kiggans promised Virginians that she would lower the cost of living and be an independent voice in Washington. Instead, she has voted 100% of the time with President Trump to drive-up the cost of health insurance, rubber-stamp reckless tariffs that are raising prices, and abandon our veterans and service members. Coastal Virginians should be able to get ahead, not struggle just to get by. I will work every day to make life affordable, to deliver for Hampton Roads, and to fight for the Virginians who are being squeezed by the policies of Jen Kiggans and the Trump Administration.”
Rep. Luria outraised vulnerable Republican opponent Jen Kiggans for the second straight quarter as momentum continues to build behind her campaign. Rep. Luria raised more than $1.75 million in the first quarter of 2026, outraising Kiggans by more than $700K.
Kiggans has established a pattern of promising Virginians one thing in public, only to turn around and vote the other way in Washington. Kiggans lied when she promised to protect access to health care, only to turn around and vote for the largest cuts to Medicaid in history. Kiggans lied when she said she would extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, but then voted to allow health care premiums to skyrocket. Kiggans lied again when she promised to protect clean energy tax credits, but then “flip-flopped” and voted to take a “sledgehammer” to the credits instead. Kiggans has voted 100% of the time with Donald Trump – demonstrating that she puts her D.C. party bosses ahead of the Virginians she claims to represent.
Kiggans was a major proponent of DOGE even as the agency wrecked Virginia’s economy and hurt veterans. Local media reported that “Kiggans embraced the program from the outset” and even said DOGE was “so necessary.” It has been reported that Kiggans’ backing of DOGE led to “the termination of more than $8.3 million in grants and leases tied to the district, including funding streams connected to veterans services and facilities.”
In addition to being added to the DCCC’s competitive Red to Blue program, Rep. Luria has secured key endorsements from Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Mark Warner, President Pro Tempore of the Senate of Virginia Louise Lucas, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, VoteVets, New Politics, 314 Action Fund, League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, EMILY’s List, DMFI, New Democrat Coalition Action Fund, and Elect Democratic Women.
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