Nearly 24 hours after polls closed on Election Day, the Associated Press on Wednesday evening declared Democrat Eugene Vindman the winner over Republican Derrick Anderson in Virginia’s hard-fought 7th Congressional District race.
Vindman and Anderson earned about 51% and 49% of the vote, respectively. The race had remained too close to call Tuesday after polls closed at 7 p.m. and for a majority of Wednesday.
“In my 25 years of military service, and when we were jumping out of airplanes, it didn’t matter to me the color creed, background, race, or party affiliation of the person next to me,” said Vindman in a statement declaring victory Tuesday night, before the official call. “What mattered was getting the mission done. That’s the type of service I am going to take to Washington as the next Congressman from Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.”
A spokesperson for Anderson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the AP’s declaration. On Thursday, Anderson acknowledged the race’s outcome in a post on X: “Earlier today I called (Vindman) to concede the race. I expect him to do everything in his power in Congress to make life better for the people of this district.”
The 7th District seat went up for grabs after incumbent Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, announced she would run for governor. In 2021, the year before voters in the 7th elected Spanberger, more of the district voted for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin than his Democratic opponent, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
Spanberger, in a statement Tuesday, congratulated Vindman on a “well-earned victory,” adding he will, “bring the values, work ethic, and commitment to public service that the Seventh District deserves.”
Though the men hold similar backgrounds through their military service, the race between Vindman and Anderson largely focused on their policy differences.
Tight race looms in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District as Anderson and Vindman face off
Vindman voiced strong support for protecting reproductive health rights, easing Virginians’ economic pain by continuing to lower medication costs, and strengthening the nation’s borders.
Anderson supported reducing taxes and immigration reform in his campaign, and said abortion rights are best left up to states. He mirrored several of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s policy stances.
