Who's running in Virginia's 4th congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Jennifer McClellan currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Voting rights and restoring the Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court's 2026 ruling.
Abortion access and reproductive health care.
Environmental protection, including opposition to rescinding the Roadless Rule.
Oversight of ICE and Customs and Border Protection.
Federal workers' protections.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 4th District since March 2023; re-elected in 2024 with 67.3%.
First Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress.
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 to 2017 and the Senate of Virginia from 2017 to 2023; ran for governor in 2021.
Missed 15 of 1,754 roll call votes between March 2023 and July 2026, about 0.9% — better than the House median.
Voted against the House Republican continuing resolution funding the Department of Homeland Security in March 2026.
Won the June 16, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed.
Arguments in favor
The federal employees' union AFGE, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Vote Mama, Population Connection, J Street and the Jewish Democratic Council of America all endorsed her for 2026, and no Democrat ran against her.
— Endorsements from the organisations named
She works across the aisle on the region's defence economy, joining Republicans Rob Wittman and Jen Kiggans and Democrat Bobby Scott to press the Defense Department to protect Hampton Roads funding, and her attendance record is better than the House median.
— Joint congressional letter released by Rep. Bobby Scott's office; GovTrack attendance data
Arguments against
After the Virginia Supreme Court threw out the redistricting referendum three million Virginians had voted on, she said on national television that "all options" were on the table, including reforming the court. Conservative commentary treated that as a court-packing threat — a Townhall column argued Virginia Democrats' court-reform threats were practice for packing the United States Supreme Court.
— Townhall commentary on Virginia Democrats' court-reform statements, May 2026
What we couldn’t verify
No criticism of McClellan by name from Robert Murray, from Joan Andrews Bell, or from the National Republican Congressional Committee could be found. Searches covered NRCC materials, her name against criticism, opponent and voting-record terms, a Democratic primary challenger, and the Virginia Mercury, RVA Mag, Cardinal News and 13News Now. The NRCC chairman's public comment on Virginia was about the redistricting map rather than about her.
The Townhall criticism is of a position taken by Virginia Democrats collectively, of whom she was the most visible national spokesperson on the point; it does not allege anything about her conduct.
Her opponents' fundraising was reported as roughly a tenth of hers in the equivalent 2024 race; no 2026 figures for Murray or Bell were found.
Eliminating the federal individual income tax by 2032.
Donating the whole congressional salary to charities in the district.
Bringing 20% of overseas military personnel home by 2032.
Healthcare access and protecting Social Security.
Regulating artificial intelligence and technology to protect privacy without surveillance.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Former chief-information-officer advisory leader at IBM; has worked in business across five continents.
Says he has fifty years' connection to Virginia's 4th District.
Republican nominee for this district in 2026.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
He was the Republican nominee unopposed, and brings a career as an IBM chief-information-officer advisory leader working across five continents to a district he says he has been connected to for fifty years.
— His 2026 nomination; his own account of his professional record
Arguments against
Every forecaster rates the seat safe or solid Democratic — McClellan won it by more than thirty points in 2024 — and 13News Now reported the equivalent Republican candidate in that race raised about a tenth of her total.
— Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Decision Desk HQ ratings; 13News Now
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Murray by name could be found — not from Jennifer McClellan or her campaign, not from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and not in Richmond or Southside news coverage — and no published case for him beyond his own campaign site. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
His central proposal — eliminating the federal individual income tax by 2032 — is stated without published detail on what would replace roughly half of federal revenue.
No fundraising figures, endorsements or party backing beyond the nomination itself were found; 13News Now reported the equivalent 2024 Republican candidate raised about a tenth of McClellan's total.
Ending late-term abortion in Virginia — the single stated purpose of her campaign.
Using the candidate's right to broadcast time to show anti-abortion advertising.
Direct-action opposition to abortion, which she has practised for five decades.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Anti-abortion activist since the 1970s; her campaign cites more than 200 arrests.
Convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act over a blockade at a Washington late-term abortion clinic; sentenced in May 2024 to 27 months in prison and served roughly 16 months.
Pardoned by President Trump on January 23, 2025, along with 22 other anti-abortion activists convicted under the same law.
The Virginia certified candidate list gives her address as Montague, New Jersey.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Bell's candidacy by name could be found, and no published case for her beyond her own campaign site and sympathetic coverage in Catholic outlets. Because no case against her candidacy exists on the record, none is presented for her either. Her conviction and pardon are matters of record and are set out above.
Her campaign site does not name the incumbent or explain why she is running in this district. The state's certified list gives a New Jersey address; the Constitution requires House members to be inhabitants of the state when elected, and how that applies here was not established from the sources found.
Her positions on any subject other than abortion are not published anywhere that could be located.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Virginia held its primaries in 2026. Three candidates appear on the November ballot: Democratic incumbent Jennifer McClellan, Republican Robert P. "Family Man" Murray Jr. and independent Joan E. "Andrews" Bell. The roster is confirmed against the Virginia Department of Elections certified federal candidate list for the November 3, 2026 general election, revised September 8, 2026. The district takes in Richmond and runs down Interstate 95 through Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Emporia. McClellan won it with 67.3% in 2024 and every forecaster rates it safe or solid Democratic.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Virginia ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Virginia Department of Elections.