EMPORIA, Va. — Virginia's Fourth Congressional District is currently represented by Democrat Jennifer McClellan, who entered Congress in 2023 after winning a special election to replace the late Congressman Donald McEachin. The challenger this year is Republican William "Bill" Moher, III.
The Fourth District is made up of 15 localities, stretching from Richmond to the North Carolina line. According to the nonpartisan online political encyclopedia Ballotpedia, in 2020 in the 4th District, Joe Biden beat Donald Trump 67% to 31%.
The University of Virginia's Sabato's Crystal Ball rates the district "Safe Democrat" for 2024.
McClellan made history in the 4th by becoming Virginia's first Black woman member of Congress. Prior to that, McClellan served for 17 years in the state legislature.
"I have spent nearly 20 years, first as a member of the General Assembly and now as you Congresswoman working and fighting for you, fighting to improve your lives, fighting to make sure that you have access to health care when you need it that's affordable, that you have an opportunity to succeed for a fair shot in our economy. I wake up every morning asking one question and that is, how can I help you and solve your problems? And I'm looking forward to another term doing that as your Congresswoman," she said.
Moher, described on his campaign website as "a dynamic entrepreneur and tech visionary", is making his first run for public office.
"I'm just seeing all the challenges in Congress, and we can't seem to get along as people anymore. So I was very concerned about that and very concerned about the vast gap between both parties, and I want to find ways of bridging that. Any time I dedicate myself to a cause, I dedicate myself a hundred percent. And I roll up my sleeves and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get things accomplished. So that's the kind of attitude I want to bring to Congress," he said.
McClellan has raised around 10 times as much money as Moher. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, McClellan has raised more than $230,000. Moher has raised less than $24,000.