VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Ahead of Election Day, Representative Jen Kiggans held a Red, White, and Blue rally in Virginia Beach on Monday night, while Democratic candidate Missy Cotter-Smasal met with voters face to face, both hoping to win one of the tightest races in the country.
Scores of people, including Governor Glenn Youngkin and U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, came out to support Representative Jen Kiggans's run for re-election in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District.
"Who was here last time around when we did this? It was a great crowd. It was the night before the 2022 election, and it was the night before we flipped the seat from Democrat to Republican," Kiggans asked the crowd.
Meanwhile, opponent Democratic candidate Missy Cotter Smasal visited the College Park neighborhood in Virginia Beach and went door-to-door, reminding people to vote.
"Their vote tomorrow can truly protect reproductive rights for generations and can truly protect voting rights for generations, and ensure the basic programs like funding for public education, such as funding for security and Medicare, are protected," said Cotter Smasal.
Legal and political analyst at Norfolk State University, Eric Claville, explained that Virginia's 2nd district race is the most competitive in the Commonwealth.
"Congressional District 2 has been a seat that has flipped back and forth from Republican to Democrat over the last several cycles. Some believe, including myself, the way that congressional district 2 goes, more than likely the control of Congress goes [that way] as well," said Claville.
As election day approaches, the Justice Department is cracking down on voter intimidation and interference. The department reminded voters that the Civil Rights Division will work closely with counterparts at U.S. Attorneys' Offices and other department components to review and take appropriate action concerning these complaints.
Claville could not predict who would win, as the race is too close to call. In October, a poll from the Wasson Center showed that Kiggans held a "razor-thin" one-point lead over Cotter Smasal.