PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (7News) — After Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger announced she was not seeking reelection for Virginia's 7th Congressional District, a position in which she has served for three terms, in order to run for Governor of Virginia , experts anticipated a land rush of candidates vying for the seat. A total of 13 candidates - seven Democrats and six Republicans - have announced their candidacy, and 7News has chosen to highlight the top four candidates in each party based on campaign dollars. Former Virginia state delegate Elizabeth Guzman is used to the grind of political campaigns, and is now talking with voters about her candidacy for Congress.
"We understand nobody has to get involved with our personal medical decisions. Women should be the only ones to make decisions about their reproductive freedoms. This election is going to be about that: protect our freedoms," Guzman said.
Prince William County Supervisor Andrea Bailey is also no stranger to canvassing for votes, having won her reelection in the last year.
"As it relates to healthcare, I am a military spouse, a retired military spouse. I know what that means in this environment, where there are veterans that reside here in this community, what that means to provide equity in healthcare, establishing veterans' facilities for them to get affordable healthcare, as well as mental healthcare," Bailey said. Congressional District 7 is massive, encompassing 11 counties - including Prince William, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties - and stretching from the D.C. suburbs to the Richmond suburbs, even extending west near Charlottesville and Harrisonburg.
Bailey said this means it will be important to address internet infrastructure in addition to roads. "Another challenge is broadband, making sure with the internet people are communicating appropriately and getting all of the information they need day-to-day," Bailey said.
Guzman touted her time as state lawmaker representing portions of rural Fauquier County as one reason she is equipped to represent this district. She also pointed to the need to tackle guns if she were to be in Congress. "Families want to raise their children in a safe environment. We need to bring the successes we had in Virginia, as well: passing criminal background checks, red flag laws, so we don't have to worry about waiting for a phone call or a text that there is an incident," Guzman said.
Both candidates agreed on a number of issues. They both acknowledged the importance of bringing federal dollars into the district along the I-95 corridor to improve congestion on one of America's busiest highways. "We are also lacking transportation. We definitely need a fighter that's going to bring those dollars from the federal government that we can invest here in public transportation and create jobs," Guzman said.
Bailey added: "I think the biggest challenge is we have inclusivity in everything we're doing, as we serve this community. That goes from transportation. That means providing accessible, affordable healthcare. That means providing affordable housing. There has to be an equity lens, an intentional equity lens, in all of that. The region is so large, and we want to make sure we are serving all and everyone's needs." Both candidates boast their experience as the reason they should represent the district in Congress. Guzman said her time as state lawmaker will easily translate to the U.S. House of Representatives, while also having benefitted voters already. "I bring my credentials as an effective legislator who gets things done and we were able to increase the minimum wage to $12.50. After six years, we were able to pass paid sick leave for home healthcare workers, collective bargaining for public sector employees. Those are the issues that are going to boost the economy in Congressional District 7 because we house federal and government employees, probably the largest distributed amount of employees," Guzman said. "We're talking about families living in poverty and rely on the federal government to provide early childhood education services to their children. I'm the only candidate who is talking about universal pre-K. I have the credentials that I introduced that bill when I was in Richmond."
Bailey said her time on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors will also help her make a smooth transition to Congress. She also said she has been able to bring in funding for services in the district. "From a local perspective, since I'm a local elected official currently, I've attacked those opportunities by working with my state and federal entities. That's how I see this job. I see this job as an opportunity for - for example, with infrastructure - providing and educating our community of what those grants look like," Bailey said. "I've been able to craft legislation - like with my mental health facility - that I was successful with 93 stakeholders, bringing $16 million back to our community at large, to Prince William County, not just my district. I worked with state elected officials in the General Assembly to make sure that was represented there in the General Assembly. And I locked arms with our federal delegation to make sure they had the funding also for that mental health facility."
Early voting in Virginia begins Friday, May 3, and ends Saturday, June 15. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 18.
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"We understand nobody has to get involved with our personal medical decisions. Women should be the only ones to make decisions about their reproductive freedoms. This election is going to be about that: protect our freedoms," Guzman said.
Prince William County Supervisor Andrea Bailey is also no stranger to canvassing for votes, having won her reelection in the last year.
"As it relates to healthcare, I am a military spouse, a retired military spouse. I know what that means in this environment, where there are veterans that reside here in this community, what that means to provide equity in healthcare, establishing veterans' facilities for them to get affordable healthcare, as well as mental healthcare," Bailey said. Congressional District 7 is massive, encompassing 11 counties - including Prince William, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties - and stretching from the D.C. suburbs to the Richmond suburbs, even extending west near Charlottesville and Harrisonburg.
Bailey said this means it will be important to address internet infrastructure in addition to roads. "Another challenge is broadband, making sure with the internet people are communicating appropriately and getting all of the information they need day-to-day," Bailey said.
Guzman touted her time as state lawmaker representing portions of rural Fauquier County as one reason she is equipped to represent this district. She also pointed to the need to tackle guns if she were to be in Congress. "Families want to raise their children in a safe environment. We need to bring the successes we had in Virginia, as well: passing criminal background checks, red flag laws, so we don't have to worry about waiting for a phone call or a text that there is an incident," Guzman said.
Both candidates agreed on a number of issues. They both acknowledged the importance of bringing federal dollars into the district along the I-95 corridor to improve congestion on one of America's busiest highways. "We are also lacking transportation. We definitely need a fighter that's going to bring those dollars from the federal government that we can invest here in public transportation and create jobs," Guzman said.
Bailey added: "I think the biggest challenge is we have inclusivity in everything we're doing, as we serve this community. That goes from transportation. That means providing accessible, affordable healthcare. That means providing affordable housing. There has to be an equity lens, an intentional equity lens, in all of that. The region is so large, and we want to make sure we are serving all and everyone's needs." Both candidates boast their experience as the reason they should represent the district in Congress. Guzman said her time as state lawmaker will easily translate to the U.S. House of Representatives, while also having benefitted voters already. "I bring my credentials as an effective legislator who gets things done and we were able to increase the minimum wage to $12.50. After six years, we were able to pass paid sick leave for home healthcare workers, collective bargaining for public sector employees. Those are the issues that are going to boost the economy in Congressional District 7 because we house federal and government employees, probably the largest distributed amount of employees," Guzman said. "We're talking about families living in poverty and rely on the federal government to provide early childhood education services to their children. I'm the only candidate who is talking about universal pre-K. I have the credentials that I introduced that bill when I was in Richmond."
Bailey said her time on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors will also help her make a smooth transition to Congress. She also said she has been able to bring in funding for services in the district. "From a local perspective, since I'm a local elected official currently, I've attacked those opportunities by working with my state and federal entities. That's how I see this job. I see this job as an opportunity for - for example, with infrastructure - providing and educating our community of what those grants look like," Bailey said. "I've been able to craft legislation - like with my mental health facility - that I was successful with 93 stakeholders, bringing $16 million back to our community at large, to Prince William County, not just my district. I worked with state elected officials in the General Assembly to make sure that was represented there in the General Assembly. And I locked arms with our federal delegation to make sure they had the funding also for that mental health facility."
Early voting in Virginia begins Friday, May 3, and ends Saturday, June 15. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 18.
