NORFOLK, Va. — With Democrats holding just a one-seat majority, the U.S. Senate could flip pretty easily on Election Night.
Republicans need to pick up only two seats to gain control of the chamber. Clearly, every seat -- including the one up for grabs in Virginia -- matters.
At the top of the ballot in Virginia this November is the U.S. Senate contest. That race features a very familiar name and face: Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine. He is being opposed by a relative political newcomer at the state-wide level, Republican Hung Cao.
Kaine has never lost an election in the Commonwealth, running and winning for Lieutenant Governor, Governor, and twice for U.S. Senate. Kaine got two million more votes than Mike Pence in Virginia in 2016 when he ran for Vice President.
"You know, I run scared. The old line is, there's two ways to run: unopposed or scared. So, I always run scared. I work very hard, and I like what I do," said Kaine.
Challenger Cao is making his first state-wide bid for public office. He ran and lost in 2022 in Virginia's 10th House District to Democrat Jennifer Wexton.
Cao is a retired Navy Captain, a Naval Academy graduate, and served with special operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, and he came to the United States as a refugee from Vietnam in 1975.
"Look, this is a calling. This is a calling that I felt this country needed. And this country needed me back in the day to serve in the military. And now the country needs veterans to run for office," said Cao.
The University of Virginia Center for Politics' Sabato's Crystal Ball rates the Virginia Senate race as "Safe Democrat." Despite that, both candidates are running hard.
"I think sometimes it takes immigrants like myself who came here legally to remind Americans of the blessings of this country. I love this country so much I wrote a blank check up to and including my life to defend it," said Cao.
"The things I get to work on every day are the things that I think matter to everyday Virginians. They matter to me. And I like helping people every day when I get up," said Kaine.
The nonpartisan online political encyclopedia Ballotpedia reports that Kaine has a big money advantage, raising $16 million and spending $10.7 million. Cao raised $3.1 million and spent $2.7 million.