Elaine Luria

Elaine Luria earned a bachelor's degree in physics from the U.S. Naval Academy and served 20 years as a naval officer, retiring as a commander. Her campaign site describes her as a small-business owner. She was elected to the U.S. House from Virginia's 2nd District in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Scott Taylor 51 percent to 49 percent, was reelected in 2020, and served from 2019 to 2023. In the House she sat on the Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs committees and on the select committee that investigated the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. She lost the 2022 general election to Republican Jen Kiggans, 52 percent to 48 percent. In November 2025 Luria told NBC News she would seek the seat again. In the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary she won about 80 percent of the vote against Nila Devanath, Bill Fleming and Patrick Mosolf. She faces Kiggans, the incumbent, on November 3, 2026.