VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Former small business owner Missy Cotter Smasal has won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House election in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, setting up a hotly-contested race with the first-term Republican Jen Kiggans.
According to the Associated Press, as of 10 p.m., Smasal is leading Virginia Beach attorney Jake Denton with 70% to 30% of the vote. 97% of votes are reported.
"I am thrilled," Smasal told 13News Now at a Virginia Beach celebration Tuesday night. "And you know why I’m thrilled? Because of all these amazing people behind me. They are just genuinely the fuel for me like every single day."
SEE ALSO: 13News Now Primary Election Results
Smasal also issued the following statement after winning Tuesday night:
"Today, Coastal Virginians sent a clear and resounding message: We reject Jen Kiggans and the MAGA extremism she supports in Congress. Jen Kiggans has failed us. Instead of standing up for Coastal Virginia she leans into the extremist MAGA agenda by voting to cut benefits and health care for veterans and to restrict abortion access for millions of women in Virginia and active duty service members. Anyone who says she ‘wants the same things’ as her ‘teammate’ Marjorie Taylor Greene is clearly unfit to represent our community. Her choice to call Trump’s 34 felony convictions a “rigged trial” proves that she cannot be trusted to protect our democracy.
“I love Coastal Virginia; I’ve served my country here, raised my family here, and built a business here. Our community needs a Representative committed to us, who will deliver results. As a Navy veteran, former small business owner, and Virginia Beach mom who fought to improve school safety, delivering results is exactly what I’ve done my whole life.
“I will protect abortion rights and access for all and fight for resources for veterans and military families. I will always defend democracy and reject party extremism.
“I’m honored to have the support and endorsements of local, state, and national leaders and organizations. I’m proud of the strong team we’ve built here in Coastal Virginia, and ready to provide the representation our community deserves in Congress.”
Smasal's victory was significant considering she was backed by a list of high-profile endorsements and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. As a result, Sabato's Crystal Ball political analyst J. Miles Coleman told 13News Now the "protest" vote against her could be worth watching.
Smasal's supporters gathered at Ballyhoos restaurant in Virginia Beach Tuesday evening, ahead of her victory. Smasal supporter Jon Murdoch told 13News Now, "Our current Congress hasn't been productive, it's been destructive. Missy is simply the best candidate to beat Jen Kiggans."
Greg Ferritto added, "I believe that women should have the right to control their bodies."
Denton's supporters also met up on Tuesday night, with Bradley Croteau telling 13News Now,"[Denton] is such an honorable guy, he’s not a bragger, he’s such an honest man."
Democrats have set their sights on Virginia's 2nd District as one of a handful of seats that could help them reclaim the majority in the House of Representatives. The district is comprised of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Franklin, along with Southampton, Isle of Wight, Northampton and Accomack Counties.
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The 2024 House election in Virginia's 2nd District is expected to be hotly contested, considering the close result of the 2022 election and the district's history of changing hands between Democrats and Republicans. Kiggans, who was a Virginia state senator, defeated the two-term Democratic incumbent Elaine Luria 51% to 48%.
Smasal told 13News Now on Tuesday night, "I think Congresswoman Kiggans knows her record is not acceptable to the people of Coastal Virginia. Because she’s been focused on the attack for the past year-and-a-half and not delivering results, that’s why we’re gonna win this race."
Leading up to the primary, a spokesperson for Kiggans criticized the contest in a statement provided to 13News Now.
“The Democrat primary is little more than a second place competition to determine who can most closely align themselves with Joe Biden’s failing agenda," a campaign spokesperson for Kiggans wrote. "Congresswoman Kiggans flipped one of the most competitive seats in the country in 2022 - despite being outspent 3:1 last cycle - because voters in southeast Virginia soundly reject radical and destructive policies. While the out-of-touch liberal elite Democrats remain divided and disorganized, voters from across the political spectrum are united behind Jen Kiggans and will vote to send her back to Washington this November.”
Following Smasal's Democratic primary victory, the Kiggans campaign issued another statement calling Smasal "an out-of-touch liberal activist who would be nothing more than a rubber stamp for Joe Biden and the Democrats' destructive policies. This November, voters in southeast Virginia will once again reject Washington liberals' failed agenda and reelect Jen Kiggans, a commonsense conservative with a proven track record of delivering results for families, veterans, and seniors."
Sabato's Crystal Ball has ranked the 2nd District as leaning toward the Republicans in 2024. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.