The son of a World War II Marine veteran, Mark Warner grew up in a working-class household. His family moved every few years but he was always able to attend good public schools. Mark was the first person in his family to graduate from college - putting himself through George Washington University through a combination of jobs and student loans.<\/p>
Early in his career, Mark Warner invested his life savings - a few thousand dollars - into starting a company. It failed after six weeks. So he tried again, and the next business failed after six months.<\/p>
But Mark didn't give up, and his third venture broke through: a cell phone company back when everyone was still using landlines.<\/p>
The values that defined Mark's early career continue to guide him every day in the Senate: a commitment to innovation, persistence in the face of a new challenge, and the notion that everyone - regardless of their background - should get the same fair shot that he did.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":"
Sharing seven children and four grandkids with wife, Amy. Virginia resident since 1966. Retired Major General and Silver Star recipient with four combat deployments. Harvard Law School, Harvard Kennedy School and MacArthur Fellow in International Security. National security advisor to President Trump<\/p>"}}},{"id":6588,"slug":"website","title":"Website","description":"","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"individual_1","order":0,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":"
https:\/\/www.markwarnerva.com<\/a><\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" BertForSenate.com<\/a><\/p>"}}},{"id":6573,"slug":"1-biggest-challenge-us","title":"1. Biggest challenge \/ U.S.","description":" What's the biggest challenge facing the United States and how would you propose to address it?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":0,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" Artificial intelligence is going to transform virtually every sector of our economy, and we are nowhere near prepared for what that means for American workers. I am AI-long: I believe this technology can create enormous opportunities, but we can't pretend there won't be real disruption along the way. We need to start preparing now, and AI companies and big corporations that stand to massively profit must do their part. My comprehensive AI legislation would establish much-needed guardrails, including federal standards for data centers to prevent developers from passing their costs onto communities. It would also promote competition and safety, protect our national security, and generate new revenue from AI companies and data center developers to invest in workers impacted by AI-related disruption. AI companies will make enormous profits from this transformation. We need to make sure American workers share in the upside rather than simply bearing the costs.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" Our biggest challenge is our national security. Under Biden, our adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran were allowed to walk all over us. Dealing with these regimes takes true resolve and experience. As a retired Major General of the United States Army, former Commander of the Combined Joint Interagency Task force in Afghanistan, and Trump's trusted advisor on national security, I am ready to face that challenge.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6574,"slug":"2-biggest-challenge","title":"2. Biggest challenge","description":" What's the biggest challenge facing Virginia and how would you propose to address it?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":1,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" The cost of everything has gotten out of control. From groceries, to housing, to the utility bill, costs are climbing and Virginians are feeling the squeeze in their pockets. Trump's reckless tariffs are a tax hike on American consumers, a tax on nearly everything. I introduced legislation to require full refunds of Trump's illegal tariffs to put money back in the pockets of Virginians. The housing crisis is also contributing to the affordability crisis. We're millions of homes short in this country. I am proud to have co-authored the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, a landmark package of legislation. It has key provisions to cut red tape, make affordable housing easier to build, and stops private equity from buying up homes. I'm also fighting to make sure developers, not residents, pay for costs associated with data centers.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" The biggest challenge facing the Commonwealth is our current leadership. Spanberger and her allies have shown that they are closer to Mamdani and AOC than everyday Virginians - attempting to rig our congressional elections, pushing for billions of dollars in tax increases, infringing on our Second Amendment rights, and joining Green New Deal initiatives like the RGGI that are hurting Virginians no matter their political affiliation. Unlike Warner, I will push back against the policies in the Senate instead of enabling them.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6575,"slug":"3-hr-1-aka-the-one-big-beautiful-bill","title":"3. HR 1, aka the One Big Beautiful Bill","description":" How would you assess the impact of that legislation?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":2,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" HR 1 slashed health care, nutrition assistance, and other critical programs that Americans rely on in order to pay for massive tax breaks to the very rich. It has already forced over 100,000 Virginians off their health care plans by jacking up the cost of premiums, and its massive Medicaid cuts put roughly 300,000 Virginians at risk of losing their health insurance and threaten rural hospitals that are already struggling to keep their doors open.<\/p> The bill also caused the largest SNAP cut in the program's history, putting over 200,000 Virginians at risk of losing the program that helps put food on the table. I voted against it and fought to strip out some of its most damaging provisions. Congress should be lowering costs for working families, not asking them to sacrifice so people at the very top can get another tax break.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" The Working Families Tax Cuts (OBBB) has lowered taxes on Virginians virtually across the board and it allows families to keep more of their hard-earned money including no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on social security. Not only that, but it has also directed much-needed funding to modernize our military and secure our borders.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6576,"slug":"4-health-care","title":"4. Health care","description":" What are your views on how Americans can better afford health care? Would you support the so-called \"Medicare for All\"? Why or why not?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":3,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" We need universal health care. Americans shouldn't lose health coverage because they lose a job, and no Virginian should have to choose between groceries, rent, and medicine. As long as we keep arguing over who gets covered, we'll never actually get to have a real conversation about bringing down costs. <\/p> I helped write the Affordable Care Act, which massively expanded health care access and ensured that no insurance company could discriminate against you for your medical history. I helped cap insulin at $35 a month and cap what seniors pay out of pocket for prescriptions at $2,000 a year. And when the middlemen were hiding how they set drug prices, I helped force them to open their books.<\/p> I'm less interested in arguing over labels than I am in getting to universal coverage and bringing costs down. We ought to build on what works, fix what doesn't and make sure every American can get quality, affordable health care.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" Socialized health care, \"Medicare for All,\" would cost the American taxpayers trillions of dollars and will never be a viable solution to health care in the United States. It would decrease the quality of care that people receive and lead to longer wait times at the doctor's office. There are real solutions to this issue like fostering free market competition so pharmaceutical companies and hospitals don't price gouge working families.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6577,"slug":"5-rural-hospitals","title":"5. Rural hospitals","description":" Up to 10 rural hospitals in Virginia have been listed as endangered. What would you propose to make sure they stay open?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":4,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" Rural hospitals were already operating on incredibly thin margins, and the massive Medicaid cuts from HR 1 made the situation much worse. While the wealthy got trillions in tax breaks, rural Virginians are at greater risk of losing access to care. I fought against those cuts and offered amendments to protect Medicaid and rural health care, but Republicans blocked them.<\/p> I'm also working to strengthen rural hospitals by addressing some of the services most at risk of disappearing. My Keeping Obstetrics Local Act would increase Medicaid payment rates for labor and delivery services to help rural hospitals keep maternity wards open and ensure families don't have to travel hours to have a baby.\tI also authored the Save Struggling Hospitals Act to ensure that rural hospitals are fairly reimbursed for their services by the federal government.<\/p> I'll keep fighting to protect Medicaid, strengthen rural hospitals and make sure your ZIP code doesn't determine whether you can get quality health care.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" Rural hospitals are key to communities across Virginia. However, this is an issue of failed state leadership to provide adequate resources and support for rural hospitals. These issues need to be addressed to ensure that we are not shortchanging our rural communities for vanity projects in Portsmouth or Alexandria.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6578,"slug":"6-immigration","title":"6. Immigration","description":" What are your views on immigration? Does the U.S. need more immigrants or fewer? What should be the criteria for entry and deportation? Under what circumstances should undocumented immigrants already here be given a pathway to citizenship?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":5,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" We're the one country where you can come here, play by the rules, embrace our democracy, and become an American. That's what makes our country so strong. But our immigration system has been broken for years. I fought for a bipartisan border deal that would have bolstered our national security, provided better technology to stop fentanyl and implemented major reforms to our asylum system. Donald Trump killed it at the 11th hour.<\/p> A screwed-up border is not a license for the level of cruelty and chaos that has been unleashed on the streets, with masked, undertrained agents engaging in illegal acts of violence, grabbing people heading to work and folks who showed up to their own court hearing, shooting Americans dead in the street - none of this is making us safer. <\/p> We need secure borders, a fair and consistent immigration process for people who have lived and contributed here for years, and law enforcement that follows the law. Those things are not mutually exclusive.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" America is a country of immigrants, but we are also a country of law and order. We must keep our borders secure while making legal immigration for those seeking the American Dream available. Those who broke the law and came here illegally should not be given a free path to citizenship over those choosing to do it legally.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6579,"slug":"7-israel-gaza","title":"7. Israel \/ Gaza","description":" Would you support an arms embargo on Israel? Why or why not? What else should we know about your views on Israel and Gaza?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":6,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" We can stand firmly with Israel's security while also speaking out against actions that jeopardize peace and stability in the region. While I'm a friend to the Israeli people, I do not support all of the actions of Netanyahu's government. Earlier this year, I voted to cut off American aid that could have enabled more illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The conflict that followed the October 7th attacks in Gaza resulted in significant and devastating human cost. Extremist settlers continue to commit violence and displace Palestinian families in the West Bank, while the Israeli government enables illegal settlement expansion. Israel is escalating military actions in southern Lebanon and other areas of the region that are not in Israel or America's long-term interest. Israelis should be able to live in security with a two-state solution that honors the humanity of Israelis and Palestinians, and there must be an end to the ongoing geopolitical conflict in the region.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" No, I would not support an arms embargo against Israel. Israel is one of America's greatest allies, and we cannot allow them to become a sitting duck for their enemies who have vowed to destroy them.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6580,"slug":"8-ukraine-russia","title":"8. Ukraine \/ Russia","description":" What, if any, aid should the United States be supplying to Ukraine? Why or why not? What are the consequences if Russia succeeds in militarily claiming part of Ukraine?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":7,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" Supporting Ukraine isn't charity - it is squarely in America's national security interest. Ukraine is fighting for its sovereignty against Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion, and the United States should make sure Ukrainians have the tools they need to defend themselves. Their fight is not just about Ukraine's sovereignty. It is about defending the democratic values and principles that protect our own. Ukrainians are literally fighting and dying for these values and in doing so, they are dealing a devastating blow to one of America's top adversaries without sending a single American service member into combat. <\/p> Russia, China and every other American adversary are watching what we do in Ukraine. If Putin can invade a neighbor, seize territory by force and simply wait out the West, the lesson will be heard far beyond Ukraine.Walking away from Ukraine would make America less safe. <\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" Obama allowed Crimea to be seized and Biden's failed foreign policy empowered Russia to try and finish the job. Thanks to President Trump, we are no longer in a losing position around the world. Europe is finally picking up their part of the tab that U.S. taxpayers were paying, and any further U.S. assistance must have U.S. interests in mind.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6581,"slug":"9-artificial-intelligence-data-centers","title":"9. Artificial intelligence \/ data centers","description":" What, if anything, should the federal government do to either encourage or discourage development of artificial intelligence? Please address data centers as part of this.<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":8,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" Artificial intelligence will reshape nearly every aspect of our economy and society. The only question is whether Congress is going to do something about it or try to play catch up. <\/p> My comprehensive AI legislative framework addresses four key priorities: building AI infrastructure responsibly; promoting competition and safety; preparing workers for economic disruption and technological change; and strengthening America's national security advantage.<\/p> Data centers use enormous amounts of power and water. Virginians deserve to know the impact a new data center will have on their community, and companies shouldn't be able to hide those details behind secret deals. I've introduced legislation to require greater transparency about energy and water use and other impacts, make data centers pay for the grid upgrades they require instead of passing those costs on to residents, and condition valuable tax benefits on meeting strong efficiency standards.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" Democrats have fought against local control across Virginia, and we need to let local communities decide what is best for themselves. Let me be clear: You should decide what gets built in your community, not politicians in Richmond or Washington DC. Data centers have exposed the failure of the Democrats' Green New Deal energy policies that restrict energy production and communities should be empowered to restrict data centers and control their own land use policies.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6582,"slug":"10-energy-offshore-wind","title":"10. Energy \/ Offshore wind","description":" President Trump has tried to block development of offshore wind energy. Dominion Energy is building an offshore wind facility off the coast of Virginia Beach and has long-range plans for more. What should the federal government'sposture on offshore wind be? And energy development in general?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":9,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project is a product of years of work and is the largest commercial-scale offshore wind project in the United States. It is providing clean, reliable energy to Virginians. I am proud of what I've done with Dominion Energy and other partners in the region to secure federal funding for the project, improve local maritime infrastructure, and create good-paying jobs. The project will provide Virginians with greater price stability, fuel savings, and protection against future energy shocks, such as those being created by the Trump administration's war in Iran. I look forward to working on growing Virginia's clean energy economy.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" Offshore Wind is one of the most expensive and least productive forms of energy. America should rely on proven energy sources that produce the levels of power required by Americans now and in the future, and wind off the coast will never be either cost efficient or sufficient to power our economy. The wind turbines off Virginia Beach are not just an eyesore, they cost more to create than they will ever generate and we all got stuck with the bill.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6583,"slug":"11-tariffs","title":"11. Tariffs","description":" How would you assess the impact of the tariffs that President Trump has imposed?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":10,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" The across-the-board tariffs are reckless. <\/p> I support targeted trade enforcement when countries like China cheat, steal intellectual property, or manipulate markets. But indiscriminately taxing imported goods and then pretending another country is picking up the tab is simply not how tariffs work. A tariff is a tax, and American businesses and consumers are the ones who are paying it in the form of higher prices.<\/p> When courts ruled many of these tariffs illegal. I introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026 to require the government to return the money it collected with interest.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" President Trump correctly sees tariffs as an instrument to level the playing field with other nations whose import policies unfairly treat U.S. goods and services. Many countries had trade practices that were supremely one-sided to their own benefit and costly to America. It was time that we stood up to those who were taking advantage of us.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6584,"slug":"12-trump-administration","title":"12. Trump administration","description":" How would you assess the performance of President Trump? What actions would you take to support or oppose his agenda? For Democrats: Would you support impeachment? Why or why not?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":11,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" President Trump has spent far too much of his presidency testing the limits of his office instead of lowering costs and solving problems for Americans. I've opposed him when he has undermined the rule of law, weakened our national security, or pursued policies that hurt Virginia families. But I've never believed my job is to reflexively oppose everything an administration from the other party does. When an administration has a good idea for Virginia or the country, I'll work with it. When it's wrong, I'll fight it.<\/p> Regarding impeachment: if we didn't have the votes to convict Trump after the violent insurrection on January 6, we aren't going to have those votes in January 2027, either. My strong preference for my party would be to focus on delivering for voters and actually lowering costs, rather than pursuing another impeachment that is unlikely to get the results the folks pushing it want. <\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" President Trump deserves far more credit than he often receives for rebuilding the Republican coalition and making our party a national winner again. I worked with him during the 2015-2016 campaign and authored candidate Donald Trump's foreign policy doctrine. In the U.S. Senate, I will work with President Trump help him challenge the decades of failed domestic and foreign policy, take on wasteful government spending, and bring a business-minded approach to protecting taxpayer dollars.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6585,"slug":"13-abortion-contraception","title":"13. Abortion \/ contraception","description":" What changes, if any, to federal law would you like to see?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":12,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" In the years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, we've seen the consequences unfold in real time: women denied lifesaving care, doctors forced to navigate confusing and dangerous legal gray areas, and families left to deal with the fallout. Decisions about pregnancy should be made between a woman and her doctor, not by politicians. That's why I introduced the Women's Health Protection Act, legislation to guarantee access to abortion care across the country. It would once and for all restore the constitutional right to abortion, permanently making it safe and legal nationwide.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" I support the Dobbs decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that the Constitution does not have a federal role in abortion.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6586,"slug":"14-guns","title":"14. Guns","description":" What legislation, if any, would you support regarding firearms?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":13,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" I believe law-abiding Americans have a right to own firearms. I also believe our kids should be able to go to school, families should be able to go to the grocery store, and people should be able to worship without fearing they'll be the next victims of a mass shooting.<\/p> Those beliefs are not incompatible. We need commonsense measures that respect responsible gun ownership while keeping dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands. That means requiring comprehensive background checks for gun purchases and banning assault weapons that can inflict enormous casualties in a matter of seconds. These steps won't prevent every act of gun violence, but they will save lives. Congress has waited far too long to act.<\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" I believe that our Second Amendment rights \"shall not be infringed\" just as our founders intended. We're already seeing gun bans in Virginia by Abigail Spanberger and her allies, and I will ensure the federal government never restricts our constitutional freedoms.<\/p>"}}},{"id":6587,"slug":"15-other-issues","title":"15. Other issues","description":" What else should voters know about you?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":14,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14272":{"content":" I've always believed government works best when people are willing to roll up their sleeves, work across the aisle and actually solve problems.<\/p> Before politics, I was an entrepreneur. My first business failed in six weeks. My second failed in six months. Eventually I helped build a successful company in an industry - cellular phones - that was transforming the economy. That experience taught me not to be afraid of change, but also not to underestimate how disruptive technological change can be.<\/p> I've carried that approach into public service: be willing to try something new, work with people you don't always agree with, and never forget that the goal is to give every American the same fair shot I had at success. <\/p>"},"14273":{"content":" I want to lead on common sense solutions to help families stay safe and prosper.<\/p>"}}}],"template":[{"component":"row","children":[{"component":"column","attributes":{"width":"33%"},"children":[{"component":"individual_candidates","children":[{"component":"candidate_card","children":[{"component":"portrait"},{"component":"name"},{"component":"individual_questions","attributes":{"zone_id":["candidate_card"],"title":"Short summary","help_hint":"Brief fields (like demographics) for a summary card. 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She grew up in agriculture and has spent her life in the rural communities she now hopes to represent.<\/p> Powers adopted her son from foster care, and the two are proud public school advocates as he heads into first grade. She studied at Virginia Tech and spent her twenties in international agricultural advocacy and education, partnering with rural communities around the world to strengthen their farming systems. <\/p> Her agricultural roots run deep. A product of FFA, she served as a State FFA Officer and a Virginia 4-H All-Star. She has chaired the Bedford County Fair and was appointed to the Bedford County Agricultural and Economic Advisory Board.<\/p> A different kind of Democrat, Powers is rooted in rural life and focused on practical solutions over partisan performance. She's running to fight for the Ninth District she calls home.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4368,"slug":"website","title":"Website","description":"","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"individual_1","order":1,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" JoyforVA.Com<\/p>"}}},{"id":4369,"slug":"biggest-challenge-us","title":"1. Biggest challenge \/ U.S.","description":" What's the biggest challenge facing the United States and how would you propose to address it?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":0,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" The biggest challenge facing this country is that a small class of billionaires and giant corporations has gathered enough wealth and power to bend the government to their interests, while everyone else is told to work harder and expect less.<\/p> Income inequality is at its highest in a century. The people at the top have never done better, and working families have never felt more squeezed. That's not the free market working. It's what happens when corporations have a seat at every table in Washington and the people paying the price don't.<\/p> You feel it here. Drug companies set the price of insulin. A few firms decide what you pay for groceries. Wall Street treats a rural hospital as a line item to close.<\/p> I'd put power back where it belongs: stand up to corporate consolidation, close the loopholes that let the wealthiest pay less than the people who work for them, and get corporate money out of our politics.<\/p> I'm not against anyone doing well. I'm against a rigged game.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4370,"slug":"biggest-challenge-virginia","title":"2. Biggest challenge \/ Your district","description":" What's the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you propose to address it?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":1,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" The biggest challenge facing the Ninth is that opportunity has been draining out of the region for years, and everything else follows from it. When the jobs go, the young people go. When the people go, the hospital closes and the school consolidates. Folks here have watched that cycle for a long time while being told it's just the way things are. I don't accept that. <\/p> This district has the land, the workforce, and the grit to build something. What it's lacked is a representative who fights to make sure federal investment actually reaches rural communities. So I'd focus on breaking the cycle: protect the rural hospitals still standing and bring care closer to home, invest in the jobs, trades, broadband, and childcare that let families stay, and stand up for the farmers and working people who keep this region going. People here don't want a handout. They want a fair shot and a representative who knows this place well enough to fight for it.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4450,"slug":"hr-1-aka-the-one-big-beautiful-bill","title":"3. HR 1, aka the One Big Beautiful Bill","description":" How would you assess the impact of that legislation?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":2,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" The BBB was sold as a gift to working people, but for a place like the Ninth, we can see straight through that. The biggest piece for us is healthcare. The law cuts about a trillion dollars from Medicaid over the next decade, and the people who feel that first are folks in rural areas, older people, kids, and families already driving too far for care. Congress put in a rural hospital fund to soften the blow, but the people who run these hospitals will tell you it's not enough, and most of it can't even be spent keeping the doors open on the services we already have. We were already losing hospitals out here. This makes that worse. On top of that, it tightens food assistance for working families, elderly and children who are barely getting by, while the tax breaks benefit toward people at the top. I don't think a bill is beautiful because it has a nice name. I think you judge it by whether life gets easier or harder for the people who live here. By that measure, this was one was ugly.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4385,"slug":"health-care","title":"4. Health care","description":" What are your views on how Americans can better afford health care? Would you support the so-called \"Medicare for All\"? Why or why not?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":3,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" Let's be honest about where we are. In 2026, the United States is the only wealthy nation on earth that still lets people go bankrupt or go without care because they can't afford it. Every other developed country figured out a long time ago that healthcare is something a serious nation guarantees its people. We're behind, and folks here are paying the price for it. So yes, I believe we need universal healthcare, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise to sound moderate. A country as rich as ours can make sure every person can see a doctor without losing the farm. Medicare-for-all is one honest path to that, and plenty of people here are already on Medicare and will tell you it works. <\/p> What I care about is that we actually get there and that we're straight with people along the way. That means protecting the Medicaid that keeps our rural hospitals open right now, bringing down what families pay for prescriptions and procedures, and never threatening the coverage someone is already counting on. I'll judge every plan by one question: does it get every person covered and care closer to home. Guaranteeing healthcare isn't radical. It's the baseline for a developed country, and it's long past time we acted like one.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4395,"slug":"rural-hospitals","title":"5. Rural hospitals","description":" Up to 10 rural hospitals in Virginia have been listed as endangered. What would you propose to make sure they stay open?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":4,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" The Medicaid cuts in last year's budget law are what tipped these hospitals toward the edge, partly by restricting the provider taxes and directed payments states use to fund them. I'd work to restore that funding so the money these hospitals run on stops shrinking. Second, fix the rural health fund Congress passed. Right now most of that money can't even be spent keeping existing services open. I'd change the rules so it pays to keep the doors open and the lights on. Third, protect the 340B drug pricing program, which lets rural hospitals buy medications at a discount. There's bipartisan support for strengthening it for rural providers, and I'd be part of that. Fourth, fix the Rural Emergency Hospital option. It was meant to be a lifeline, but as written it forces hospitals to give up inpatient beds and lose 340B access to take it. Fifth, I'd expand staffing through incentivizing expanded residencies and physician placements in rural areas to ensure rural patients have access. <\/p>"}}},{"id":4451,"slug":"immigration","title":"6. Immigration","description":" What are your views on immigration? Does the U.S. need more immigrants or fewer? What should be the criteria for entry and deportation? Under what circumstances should undocumented immigrants already here be given a pathway to citizenship?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":5,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" Our immigration system is broken, and both parties have spent decades pointing fingers instead of fixing it. I want it fixed, and I want us to stay human while we do it. Yes, we need a secure border and an orderly, legal system. A country has the right to know who is coming in, and I won't apologize for that. But what's happening right now isn't that. Families are being pulled apart. Children are coming home to a parent gone. People who've lived here for years and built lives among us are living in fear. That's not security. That's criminal and it's cruelty. <\/p> Enforcement should focus on people who commit serious crimes, not neighbors, parents, and longtime workers who threaten no one. We can be a nation of laws without terrorizing our own. And for those already here who've put down roots, worked hard, and stayed out of trouble, I support an earned path to citizenship, with a background check and getting right with the law. The kids brought here who know no other home deserve that chance too.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4393,"slug":"israel-gaza","title":"7. Israel \/ Gaza","description":" Would you support an arms embargo on Israel? Why or why not? What else should we know about your views on Israel and Gaza?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":6,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" I'll say this plainly, because people are tired of politicians who won't. Benjamin Netanyahu is under an international arrest warrant for war crimes, including using starvation as a weapon against civilians. His military has used white phosphorus over civilian areas in Lebanon, a weapon that burns people alive. I'm not going to dress that up in diplomatic language. It is wrong, and our country should not be paying for it. <\/p> So yes, I would cut off the American weapons and taxpayer dollars that make us complicit. We send Israel's government billions every year with no real conditions and no accountability. I don't believe families in this district, the ones struggling to afford groceries and keep their hospitals open, should be footing the bill for a government credibly accused of these crimes. <\/p> And I'll be honest about something else. Our foreign policy should be made in Washington, in the interest of the American people, not dictated by a foreign government or the lobbyists who carry its water. I won't take my orders from AIPAC or anyone like them. I answer to the people of the Ninth District, period. I want the hostages home. I want safety and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis alike. But a real friend tells the truth, and right now the truth is that we should stop funding and arming what a genocide.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4438,"slug":"ukraine-russia","title":"8. Ukraine \/ Russia","description":" What, if any, aid should the United States be supplying to Ukraine? Why or why not? What are the consequences if Russia succeeds in militarily claiming part of Ukraine?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":7,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" Yes, we should keep helping Ukraine defend itself, and I'll tell you why in plain terms.<\/p> Russia invaded a smaller neighbor and is trying to take its land by force. If Putin gets away with that, he doesn't stop. He moves on to the next country, and some of those are NATO allies we're treaty-bound to defend, which could put American troops in a war that's far bigger and far costlier than what we're paying to avoid now. Helping Ukraine hold the line is a whole lot cheaper, in dollars and in lives, than the alternative.<\/p> It's worth being clear about what this aid actually is. Most of it is weapons, a lot of it made right here in America, and replacing older stockpiles which also supports jobs at home. We are not handing over a sack of cash. But still I'd insist on real accountability for every dollar invessted, and I'd push our wealthy European allies to carry more of the load, because it's their continent and their security on the line too.<\/p> Now, what happens if Russia wins. It tells every dictator watching that borders can be redrawn with tanks, which makes the world more dangerous, including for Taiwan. And it hits home in ways people feel. When that part of the world is at war, grain and energy markets get thrown into chaos, and families here end up paying more at the pump and the grocery store. A stable world is cheaper for working people than a chaotic one.<\/p> I'm not for endless blank checks. I am for keeping our word, spending smart, and not handing Vladimir Putin a victory that costs us more down the road.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4387,"slug":"artificial-intelligence","title":"9. Artificial intelligence \/ data centers","description":" What, if anything, should the federal government do to either encourage or discourage development of artificial intelligence? Please address data centers as part of this. <\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":8,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" The way data centers are being forced onto Virginia is a raw deal, and I'd fight it. We're the data center capital of the world, and we're learning what it costs: huge demands on water and power, a grid working families are asked to pay to expand, and Big Tech taking the profit while a retiree gets the bill.<\/p> So, plainly: these companies pay their own way, in full, for every power line, plant, and drop of water. Not most of it. All of it. We need mandatory environmental standards written into law, not voluntary pledges they break when no one's looking. And this technology was built on taxpayer-funded research and our own data and labor. Now they want tax breaks to replace jobs people pay taxes on, the jobs that fund our schools and ambulances. If they use public resources to wipe out taxable work, they owe it back. No community should have this forced on it from above. I'm not anti-technology. But Washington should must protect the citizen and the land rather than the corporations.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4388,"slug":"offshore-wind","title":"10. Energy \/ Offshore wind","description":" President Trump has tried to block development of offshore wind energy. Dominion Energy is building an offshore wind facility off the coast of Virginia Beach and has long-range plans for more. What should the federal government'sposture on offshore wind be? And energy development in general?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":9,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" The wind project off Virginia Beach shows what's wrong with how Washington handles energy. It's most of the way built, Virginia families have already paid billions toward it through their bills, and it's now putting power on the grid. Then the federal government tried to halt it on national security claims so thin a judge tossed them and let work restart. Stopping a nearly finished project we've paid for doesn't lower anyone's bill. It raises them and risks thousands of Hampton Roads jobs. So Washington should stop sabotaging energy projects already approved and under construction, and give builders a stable, predictable process instead of yanking leases for politics. On energy, I'm all-of-the-above and practical, not ideological. We need every reliable, affordable source we can build safely, and I'll stand with our energy workers, including in coal country. My test: does it keep the lights on, keep bills down, create good jobs here, and while still protecting our land, air, and water?<\/p>"}}},{"id":4380,"slug":"tariffs","title":"11. Tariffs","description":" How would you assess the impact of the tariffs that President Trump has imposed? <\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":10,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" Trump's tariffs are a tax on working families, plain and simple. He said other countries would pay it. They didn't. We did. The average household paid about a thousand dollars more last year, on groceries, tools, car parts, the everyday things people here already struggle to afford. Our farmers got hit hardest. When you tariff the whole world, the world hits back, and it hits back at agriculture. Our growers lost markets and watched their costs climb while being told to be patient.<\/p> And the constant chaos made it worse. Rates went up one week, changed the next, and got struck down in part by the Supreme Court. No farmer or small business owner can plan, invest, or hire in that kind of mess. I'm not against ever using a tariff. A targeted one that protects American workers from real cheating has its place. But slapping tariffs on nearly everything isn't toughness. It's a tax on the people who can least afford it, and I'd fight it.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4397,"slug":"impeachment","title":"12. Trump administration","description":" How would you assess the performance of President Trump? What actions would you take to support or oppose his agenda? For Democrats: Would you support impeachment? Why or why not?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":11,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" This Presidency has made life harder here in VA CD9. The tariffs hit families and farmers like a tax, and his budget law cut the Medicaid our rural hospitals depend on. I'll oppose what hurts this district and work with anyone on what helps. <\/p> But this goes deeper than policy, because no one is above the law, including the president. There are credible concerns is using his office to enrich himself and his family, and that demands a real investigation. In addition, survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes deserve the full truth and justice, no matter how powerful the people involved. I support the complete release of the Epstein files, no more cover-ups, and an investigation that follows the evidence wherever it leads. If it shows anyone broke the law, including Trump or his family, they must be held accountable like anyone else. Impeachment is a constitutional duty, not a weapon. If the evidence is there, Congress must act, and I wouldn't hesitate.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4437,"slug":"abortion-contraception","title":"13. Abortion \/ contraception","description":" What changes, if any, to federal law would you like to see?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":12,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" The decision to end or continue a pregnancy belongs to a woman, her family, her faith, and her doctor, not to politicians, and I'd write that back into federal law. I'd vote to restore the protections we had under Roe, so a woman's rights don't depend on what state she lives in. I respect that people here hold deep and differing beliefs, and I'm not asking anyone to abandon theirs. I'm saying the government shouldn't make this call for your family.<\/p> I'd also protect contraception. Birth control shouldn't be controversial, and I'd vote against any effort to restrict it. And this is personal for rural places like ours. Many women here live hours from a clinic, and medication and telehealth are how they get care, including for miscarriages. There's a push in Washington and the courts to strip that away. I'd fight it. When you already drive too far for a doctor, taking away safe options doesn't protect women, it endangers them.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4391,"slug":"guns","title":"14. Guns","description":" What legislation, if any, would you support regarding firearms?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":13,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" Let me be clear up front. I support the Second Amendment, and I'm not interested in taking guns from law-abiding people. Out here, guns are part of life. We hunt, we sport shoot, and a lot of folks live far from the nearest deputy. I respect that, because it's my life too. So I'm not for confiscation, and I won't treat responsible owners like the problem. What I do support is universal background checks, and I won't apologize for it. The same quick check a licensed dealer already runs should apply to every sale. That's not a registry, and it's no burden on honest people. It just keeps guns from those the law already bars, like felons and domestic abusers. Most gun owners I know agree. I'd also go hard after illegal trafficking and straw purchases, because the problem isn't the lawful owner. And I'll always back our law enforcement with the resources, training, and mental health support they need. Backing the badge and backing background checks go together.<\/p>"}}},{"id":4381,"slug":"other-issues","title":"15. Other issues","description":" What else should voters know about you?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":14,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"7877":{"content":" A few things I'd want Ninth District voters to know. I'm a different kind of Democrat. I support the Second Amendment, I think Washington wastes too much of your money, and I don't take orders from any party or any lobby. What I care about is whether life here gets easier or harder. And right now it's harder. After more than a decade of the same representation, people in the Ninth are still driving farther for healthcare, paying more for groceries, and watching their kids leave to find opportunity. That's not an accident. It's what happens when a place gets taken for granted.<\/p> My answer as to why I'm running for Congress is simple: I'm running because I'm rooted in rural Southwest Virginia and I know these communities, these roads, and these struggles as my own. This region deserves someone who will show up, tell the truth, and actually fight for it. That's the whole reason I'm doing this.<\/p>"}}}],"template":[{"component":"row","children":[{"component":"column","attributes":{"width":"33%"},"children":[{"component":"individual_candidates","children":[{"component":"portrait"},{"component":"name"},{"component":"individual_questions","attributes":{"zone_id":["individual_1","individual_2"]}}]}]},{"component":"column","attributes":{"width":"66%"},"children":[{"component":"ticket_questions","attributes":{"zone_id":["ticket_1","ticket_2"]}}]}]}],"layout":{"groups":"dropdown","topics":"directory","responses":"auto","wrap":"auto"}}]},{"id":2599,"slug":"mayor","title":"Mayor 2026","blocks":[{"type":"raceitems","race_type":"election","race_id":2160,"race_description":"","groups":[{"custom_id":null,"slug":"rural-retreat-mayor","name":"Rural Retreat mayor","content":null,"show_heading":true,"hide_map_shape":false,"candidates":[{"id":11874,"slug":"timothy-g-litz","name":"Timothy G. 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Yontz","party":null,"photo_sm":null,"photo_lg":null,"order":0},{"id":14382,"slug":"jeffrey-c-butz","name":"Jeffrey C. Butz","party":null,"photo_sm":null,"photo_lg":null,"order":1},{"id":14383,"slug":"michael-k-duncan","name":"Michael K. Duncan","party":null,"photo_sm":null,"photo_lg":null,"order":2}]},{"custom_id":null,"slug":"wytheville-town-council-3-seats-available","name":"Wytheville Town Council \/ 3 seats available","content":null,"show_heading":true,"hide_map_shape":false,"candidates":[{"id":14503,"slug":"cathy-dunkley-pattison","name":"Cathy Dunkley Pattison","party":null,"photo_sm":null,"photo_lg":null,"order":0},{"id":14504,"slug":"candice-candi-johnson","name":"Candice \"Candi\" Johnson","party":null,"photo_sm":null,"photo_lg":null,"order":1},{"id":14505,"slug":"aubrey-l-whitlow-sr","name":"Aubrey L. Whitlow Sr.","party":null,"photo_sm":null,"photo_lg":null,"order":2},{"id":14506,"slug":"kerry-a-eans","name":"Kerry A. Eans","party":null,"photo_sm":null,"photo_lg":null,"order":3},{"id":14507,"slug":"randy-w-hamm-jr-i","name":"Randy W. Hamm Jr. (I)","party":null,"photo_sm":"https:\/\/app.electup.com\/storage\/thumbnails\/sm-e7285469-ca1f-4212-ab70-a04f60219e8d.png","photo_lg":"https:\/\/app.electup.com\/storage\/thumbnails\/lg-e7285469-ca1f-4212-ab70-a04f60219e8d.png","order":4}]}],"total_groups_count":2,"topics":[{"id":8475,"slug":"biographical-information","title":"Biographical information","description":"","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"candidate_card","order":0,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14507":{"content":" Randy Hamm lives in Wytheville with his wife, Deborah, and their children. He serves on the Town Planning Commission and is running for Town Council this November.<\/p> He spent 20 years in the Navy, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer in 2020, and now works locally. He started speaking at Council meetings after watching too many decisions arrive with little public notice and little explanation. That is the core of his campaign: transparency, accountability, and common sense. He wants votes explained in plain language, officials who say the same thing in public that they said in private, and town money pointed at local businesses and working families instead of one-off, council member directed special projects.<\/p> On the economy, Hamm wants more locally owned shops and restaurants, more reasons for people to spend evenings and weekends in town, and a practical way to put small grants in the hands of people building businesses here and filling vacant retail spaces. He also favors working with the county on sports and visitor traffic the town already has at the I-81 and I-77 crossroads. The goal is simple: give families a reason to stay and give visitors a reason to stop.<\/p> For more policy details, his Town Talk videos and a longer interview are at hammforwytheville.com<\/a> or on his campaign FaceBook page Randy Hamm for Wytheville Town Council (https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/1EjHHWDohn\/?mibextid=wwXIfr<\/a>).<\/p>"}}},{"id":7256,"slug":"1-greatest-challenge","title":"1. Biggest challenge","description":" What's the biggest challenge facing your community and how do you propose to address it?<\/p>","type":"text","allow_text":true,"allow_structured":false,"zone_id":"ticket_1","order":0,"compare":true,"show_compare":true,"responses":{"14507":{"content":" The biggest challenge is keeping Wytheville a place where working families can stay, and where local businesses can grow, while ensuring people trust how Town Council makes decisions.<\/p>