Virginia’s 2026 General Election: What Northern Virginia Voters Need to Know
Virginia’s general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and early voting begins Friday, September 18, 2026. The deadline to register or update your registration is October 23, 2026. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is also October 23. Early, in-person voting is available through October 31, and polls will be open from 6:00 AM to 7 AM on Election Day. You can find early voting locations here.
Make a plan to vote and make your voice heard!
U.S. Senate
Virginia voters will choose a U.S. senator for a six-year term.
- Mark Warner (D), incumbent
- Bert Mizusawa (R)
U.S. House of Representatives
Virginia’s 11 congressional districts will each elect a member of the U.S. House.
- VA-01: Rob Wittman (R), incumbent; Shannon Taylor (D)
- VA-02: Jen Kiggans (R), incumbent; Elaine Luria (D)
- VA-03: Bobby Scott (D), incumbent; Edwin Rivera Jr. (R)
- VA-04: Jennifer McClellan (D), incumbent; Robert Murray Jr. (R)
- VA-05: John McGuire (R), incumbent; Tom Perriello (D)
- VA-06: Ben Cline (R), incumbent; Beth Macy (D)
- VA-07: Eugene Vindman (D), incumbent; Doug Ollivant (R)
- VA-08: Don Beyer (D), incumbent; Tony Sabio (R)
- VA-09: Morgan Griffith (R), incumbent; Joy Powers (D)
- VA-10: Suhas Subramanyam (D), incumbent; Dave Beckwith (R)
- VA-11: James Walkinshaw (D), incumbent; Arthur Grahame Purves (R)
The Virginia 2nd Congressional District is one of the state’s closely watched House races. The Cook Political Report currently rates the race between incumbent Jen Kiggans and former Congresswoman Elaine Luria as a Toss Up.
Three Constitutional Amendments
Every Virginia voter will see three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution. If approved by a majority of voters, the amendments will take effect January 1, 2027.
Amendment 1 — Reproductive Freedom
Would add constitutional protections for decisions concerning reproductive health care, including abortion, with provisions allowing certain third-trimester regulations.
Amendment 2 — Same Sex Marriage
Would remove Virginia’s constitutional language restricting marriage and provide for equal treatment of lawful marriages between two adults, regardless of sex, gender or race.
Amendment 3 — Voting Rights
Would automatically restore voting rights to people convicted of a felony once they are released from incarceration.
Local Bond Referendums
Some Northern Virginia voters will also see local bond questions. Bond referendums allow local governments to borrow money to pay for major capital projects, such as schools, parks and transportation infrastructure. Bond proceeds may only be used for the purposes specified in the referendum.
- Arlington County — 5 questions: transportation, parks and recreation, community infrastructure, public schools, and utilities. The five local bonds referenda total $264 million
- Fairfax County — 2 questions: $180 million for parks and park facilities, and $75 million for community health and human-services facilities.
- Loudoun County — 3 questions: funding for various county capital projects. The three local bonds referenda total $356.6 million
Local Sales Tax Referendums
Voters in Fairfax City and Stafford County will also see questions concerning an additional local sales tax of up to 1%.
Fairfax City: The referendum would authorize the City Council to levy up to a 1% sales tax for public-school capital projects and/or public transportation. The referendum itself authorizes the tax; it does not automatically impose it.
Stafford County: The proposed additional sales tax would be dedicated to public-school capital projects, including construction and major renovations.
Local Races in Northern Virginia
Each year the NVRPAC Trustees, a group of dedicated Realtors®, evaluate candidates for local office across the region based solely on their positions on real estate related issues. The candidates below were chosen by fellow Realtors® based on their support for our legislative priorities and their willingness to work with NVAR on policy priorities. This selection process requires the NVRPAC Trustees to review voting records and past positions taken by incumbent candidates and to conduct interviews and review questionnaires answered by challengers for each of the offices on the ballot.
Arlington County
The Arlington County Board is elected on a rotating, at-large basis, with one seat of the five-member County Board up for election in 2026. Incumbent Matt de Ferranti (D) is seeking a third term and is endorsed by NVRPAC.
City of Fairfax
The Mayor and all six members of the Fairfax City Council serve two-year terms and are up for election in 2026. Fairfax holds non-partisan elections. Voters in the City will choose a new mayor in 2026 as the current mayor chose not to run for reelection. Candidates for mayor include current City Council Member Tom Peterson and Kirsten Lockhart. NVRPAC has not endorsed a candidate for mayor.
In the race for City Council, NVRPAC Trustees have endorsed the following five City Council candidates:
- Rachel McQuillen, incumbent
- Anthony Amos, incumbent
- Steve Chang
- Kelly O’Brien
- Sandi Slappey Brown
Additional races across the region include local elections in Dumfries, Hamilton, Hillsboro, Haymarket, Herndon, Leesburg, Lovettsville, Manassas, Manassas Park, Occoquan, Purcellville, and Quantico.
Don’t Forget to Vote
Whether you vote early, by mail or on Election Day, take time to review your ballot before you vote. Check your registration, know your polling location and make a plan to participate. All the information you need to know can be found here at the Virginia Department of Elections.
