By: Ellie Simmers | Editor-in-Chief
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While 2026 is not a presidential election year, it has been deemed one of the most consequential years for state and local elections across the board. On Nov. 3, 2026, midterm elections will be held around the country, including here in Lynchburg, Virginia.
In the Hill City, there is a full ballot of candidates and amendments for citizens to vote on. For those registered to vote here, this is a voting guide to help voters on both sides of the aisle make their most informed decisions come Election Day.
For those not yet registered, Virginia allows citizens to register or update their registration until Oct. 23. If someone still wishes to vote after that deadline, they are able to cast a provisional ballot on Election Day in person, which will be verified by the local electoral board starting the next day.
U.S. Senate
This election is one of 35 U.S. Senate races happening across the country this November. Twenty-two of the contested seats are held by Republicans, while 13 are currently held by Democrats.
Mark Warner has served as one of Virginia’s two senators since 2008 and previously served as the state’s 69th governor. Raised in Connecticut, Warner settled in Virginia after graduating from George Washington University and earning a JD from Harvard Law School. In Congress, he has been praised for his ability to work across the aisle, as well as for his work as vice chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence.
On the issues:
- The Economy and the Cost of Living: For Warner, economic issues must be dealt with by using a multifaceted approach. Cost and accessibility of housing are areas that he believes can be amended through the restoration of existing structures, speeding up the permitting process and making the process of obtaining a mortgage easier for first-time homeowners. Additionally, healthcare reform and the government’s approach to artificial intelligence are central to his economic plans.
- The Iran War: Warner has been a staunch critic of the United States’ actions in Iran under President Trump, labeling it as a “war of choice.” Throughout his campaign, he has been adamant that ending the conflict in Iran would relieve Americans of high prices and economic pressure.
- ICE and Immigration: Warner has been critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s actions during President Trump’s second term, working alongside fellow Virginia senator Tim Kaine, D-Va., to introduce legislation that would prohibit ICE agents from wearing face coverings during their line of duty. Regarding immigration as a whole, Warner has historically supported legislation like the DREAM Act, which works to create pathways for citizenship for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.
- Artificial Intelligence and Data Centers: While Warner does not believe that AI poses an imminent existential threat to humanity, he does believe that without regulation and guardrails, it will cause catastrophic damage within the next few years. Earlier this year, Warner introduced a bill regarding data centers to the Senate called the Data Center Tax Accountability and Disclosure Act of 2026. This legislation would require data center operators to report full energy and water consumption, as well as prohibiting backroom deals or nondisclosure agreements that would keep this information from the public.
- Healthcare: Warner, a longtime supporter of the Affordable Care Act, continues to fight for broader universal healthcare coverage for all Americans, including establishing a low-cost public health insurance option. Additionally, Warner has supported lowering the cost of prescription drugs and protecting rural healthcare centers.
Bert Mizusawa is a retired U.S. Army major general who has served in senior federal executive positions and as a senior advisor to the director of the CIA. He served as a senior foreign policy advisor to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and transition team. Mizusawa, who moved to Hampton, Virginia, as a child, graduated as valedictorian from the U.S. Military Academy and earned his JD from Harvard Law School.
- The Economy and Cost of Living: Regarding the rising cost of living, Mizusawa has advocated for expanding nuclear energy options, which he believes will lower household utility and energy expenses. Another cornerstone of Mizusawa’s economic strategy is to work to eliminate or lower the federal capital gains tax on the sale of a home. He believes this will not only incentivize homeowners to sell, but increase housing stock across the board.
- The Iran War: Mizusawa has consistently supported President Trump’s military actions in Iran, believing the intervention was necessary to prevent the acquisition and deployment of a nuclear weapon by Iran. He has acknowledged the rising costs associated with the conflict, maintaining that paying higher short-term energy costs is a “smaller price to pay” relative to the risk of a nuclear-armed Iran.
- ICE and Immigration: Mizusawa supports strict enforcement of federal immigration laws and opposes allowing undocumented residents to remain in the U.S., though he notes that full deportation of the existing undocumented population would be a decades-long process. Mizusawa has also emphasized his broad support for law enforcement agencies.
- Artificial Intelligence and Data Centers: Mizusawa emphasizes the need for the U.S. to remain at the forefront of artificial intelligence development. However, regarding the development of data centers, he believes those decisions should be made by the communities affected, not Washington or Richmond.
- Healthcare: Mizusawa attributes high insurance premiums and healthcare costs to the expansion of Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. To address this, he advocates for cost-control measures to ensure program benefits go to their intended beneficiaries.
U.S. House Virginia – District 5
Differing from the Senate, all 435 House of Representatives seats are contested during both midterm and presidential election seasons. Currently, there are 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats, one independent and two vacant seats within the U.S. House. District 5 of Virginia contains 21 counties, in full or in part, and three cities: Lynchburg, Charlottesville and Danville.
Raised in Central Virginia, John McGuire currently represents Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before his election to Congress in 2024, he served in both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates. A 10-year U.S. Navy SEAL veteran, McGuire is also the founder of SEAL Team Physical Training, a fitness organization based in Central Virginia.
- The Economy and Cost of Living: McGuire has cited energy costs as the reason behind the increasing price of consumer goods and proposes boosting the energy supply by issuing new oil and gas drilling permits, as well as re-opening domestic refineries. Additionally, McGuire voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year.
- The Iran War: McGuire has strongly supported President Trump’s military actions in Iran, citing the preemptive strikes as necessary actions to ensure national security. McGuire has pushed back on claims that rising gas prices are due to the conflict in Iran, attributing the high costs to federal and state green energy policies.
- ICE and Immigration: McGuire has been a vocal supporter of President Trump’s platform for strict immigration enforcement and expanding the powers of ICE and Department of Homeland Security. In Congress, McGuire cosponsored and voted for the Laken Riley Act, which mandates federal immigration authorities detain and take into custody undocumented immigrants arrested, charged or convicted of theft-related crimes. He has also heavily criticized Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger for her executive order banning state and local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with ICE.
- Artificial Intelligence and Data Centers: McGuire has emphasized the importance of the U.S. dominating the AI race against China, viewing data centers as critical infrastructure needed to power the future. However, McGuire does believe that local communities should have the final say when it comes to the development of data centers, rather than the federal government. In Congress, he cosponsored the Ratepayer Protection Act, which aims to protect ordinary utility ratepayers from added energy costs brought on by data centers.
- Healthcare: McGuire has advocated for Medicaid reform. In 2025, he voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which scaled back certain Affordable Care Act provisions and added work requirements to Medicaid eligibility. McGuire defended the vote, characterizing the program cuts as essential steps to eliminate waste and protect program resources.
Born and raised in Albemarle County, Tom Perriello served as U.S. Representative for Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District from 2009 to 2011. He held multiple senior diplomatic roles in the U.S. Department of State, including special envoy for the African Great Lakes under President Barack Obama and special envoy for Sudan. Outside government, he served as president and CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund and holds a BA and JD from Yale University.
- The Economy and Cost of Living: Perriello argues that everyday expenses and the cost of living have surged out of control, framing high costs as an artificial and solvable crisis. His platform, which includes plans to increase affordable housing, redirect tax credits to prevent healthcare cuts and strip away unilateral executive tariff authority, reflects policy stances from his previous time in office.
- The Iran War: Perriello strongly opposes U.S. military action in Iran. He has pledged to vote to remove authorization for the military action on his first day in office if elected. Additionally, Perriello has attributed the high gas, diesel and fertilizer costs for American consumers to the conflict in Iran.
- ICE and Immigration: Perriello advocates for stricter constitutional accountability for ICE agents and calls for refocusing law enforcement on core threats, pointing to the fatal law enforcement incidents involving Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti as examples of unchecked power. Describing ICE as a redundant bureaucracy, he supports reallocating funding toward resolving administrative immigration case backlogs and restoring a border protection model akin to the former Immigration and Naturalization Services.
- Artificial Intelligence and Data Centers: Perriello has voiced concern regarding the environmental and existential risks posed by AI. His platform focuses on establishing national safety standards for AI, incentivizing companies towards full human employment and opposing the displacement of farms, homes or retirement communities for data centers to be built. He also advocates for local community control over data center construction and strict ratepayer protections.
- Healthcare: Perriello proposes redirecting tax credits toward Medicaid and healthcare programs to lower insurance premiums, protecting rural clinics from closures and making prenatal and maternity care affordable and accessible. His platform emphasizes expanding access to primary and pediatric care, as well as telehealth and mobile clinic options to support rural, underserved communities.
Cooke Harvey is a Central Virginia native with a background in civil engineering, land surveying, education and emergency services, having served as an EMT, firefighter and school bus driver in Amherst County. Running as an Independent, Harvey accepts no monetary campaign donations and has pledged, if elected, to serve a single term focused on nonpartisan, direct constituent representation.
- The Economy and Cost of Living: Harvey pledged to cut federal deficit spending in half by 2029 to stabilize costs in the longterm. On housing affordability, he supports housing reforms that would enable the construction of small communities of tiny houses, highlighting the lower monthly housing costs they provide.
- The Iran War: Harvey advocates for ending the conflict in Iran, identifying an immediate resolution to the war as the most crucial foreign policy action needed to address the cost of living and affordability crises.
- ICE and Immigration: Harvey supports establishing clear legal pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, identifying severe processing backlogs and inadequate system funding as the root causes of current immigration challenges. Additionally, he advocates for stricter constitutional accountability for law enforcement, raising concerns regarding Fourth Amendment protections in ICE enforcement operations.
- Artificial Intelligence and Data Centers: Harvey advocates for mandatory environmental reporting by data center operators, so that local communities can make informed decisions as expansions are proposed. He also favors raising the bar on eminent domain claims to protect private property from land seizures for data center development.
- Healthcare: Harvey believes the key to lowering healthcare costs is increasing accessibility, which his platform addresses by proposing the expansion of nationwide telehealth services. Additionally, Harvey advocates for expanding doctor and nurse loan forgiveness programs to help grow the healthcare workforce in Central Virginia.
Statewide Amendments
Question 1: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to (i) protect the freedom to make personal decisions about prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management, and fertility care; (ii) protect doctors, nurses, and patients from being punished for these decisions; and (iii) allow for restrictions on access to abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy except when the patient’s health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive?
- Pro: Proponents of the amendment argue that codifying reproductive freedom in the Virginia Constitution establishes explicit protections for personal healthcare decisions, including about contraception, IVF and miscarriage care. They argue that this will safeguard patients and providers from criminalization and prevent future legislative bans on reproductive healthcare.
- Against: Opponents of the amendment argue that the broad language used would eliminate existing parental notification and consent laws for minors seeking abortions or related procedures. They argue that protecting providers from penalties could strip away state oversight and medical safety standards. Additionally, they believe that the exceptions for maternal health in the third trimester are overly broad, potentially leading to late-term abortions.
Question 2: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to (i) remove the ban on same-sex marriage; (ii) affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race; and (iii) require all legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law?
- Pro: Proponents argue that removing Virginia’s dormant 2006 constitutional ban on same-sex marriage updates the state legislation to reflect federal legal precedents and guarantees equal legal rights, protections and recognition for all married couples, regardless of gender, sex or race.
- Against: Opponents argue that adding distinct terms for “sex” and “gender” embeds gender ideology into the state constitution, which they argue could impact policies surrounding single-sex spaces, school sports and privacy. They also express concern that the amendment lacks explicit conscience exemptions for religious organizations and clergy who hold traditional beliefs regarding marriage.
Question 3: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended (i) to provide for the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth, (ii) to revise the qualifications of voters so that a person convicted of a felony is not entitled to vote during his period of incarceration but is automatically invested with the right to vote upon release from incarceration, and (iii) to update the existing prohibition on voting by persons found to be mentally incompetent to instead apply to persons who have been found to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting?
- Pro: Proponents of the amendment argue that enshrining the right to vote as fundamental removes arbitrary governor-led delays, ultimately establishing an automatic process upon release that aids in community reintegration. They argue that voting rights should not be conditioned on ongoing probation or financial restitution.
- Against: Opponents of the amendment argue that political rights should only be restored after an individual has fully completed all probation, parole and victim restitution obligations. They also argue that the phrase “all political rights” is overly broad and could restore privileges before a sentence is fully served.
Lynchburg City Council At-Large (3 seats)
Martin Misjuns (incumbent)
Martin Misjuns has served as an at-large Lynchburg City councilmember since January 2023. He is a U.S. Coast Guard Reserves veteran and spent 14 years with the Lynchburg Fire Department as a fire captain. He has since worked in private-sector healthcare leadership and operates various small businesses. Misjuns’ platform focuses on resisting state-level overreach, strict municipal spending accountability and robust funding for fire and police services. He is running alongside Veronica Bratton.
Veronica Bratton is a small business owner, mother and active member of Thomas Road Baptist Church. As former chairwoman of the Lynchburg Republican City Committee, she managed local election observer integrity programs and helped lead local conservative campaign efforts. Her platform focuses on cutting taxes and wasteful spending, giving first responders a direct voice in city leadership and creating a collaborative task force between parents, educators and council members to address issues in Lynchburg City Schools. Bratton is running alongside Martin Misjuns.
Stephanie Reed spent 18 years as a U.S.Air Force spouse, raising her family across the globe before settling in Lynchburg. She currently serves as the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg and was appointed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin to the Virginia Board of Workplace Development in 2025. She was first elected to Lynchburg City Council in 2022, serving as the city’s mayor from 2023 to 2025. Reed’s platform centers on supporting local businesses and families, fully funding first responders and fostering community and faith-centered civic leadership. She is running on the Team Lynchburg ticket, alongside Larry Taylor and Chris Boswell.
Larry Taylor first arrived in Lynchburg in 1988, working in housing construction and renovation. Since then, he has built a successful local business, owning and maintaining properties in the historic White Rock Hill neighborhood. He serves as minister of evangelism at All Nations Community Church. Taylor was first elected to Lynchburg City Council in 2022 and was chosen as mayor by his fellow council members in January 2025. His platform is based on lowering tax burdens, supporting law enforcement and fixing core roads and water utilities. He is running on the Team Lynchburg ticket, alongside Stephanie Reed and Chris Boswell.
A native of Danville, Chris Boswell graduated from Virginia Military Institute before moving to Lynchburg in 2000. He served 20 years on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg, eight years as president of the VMI Alumni Chapter and as president of the Downtown Lynchburg Association. In 2014, he cofounded Mustaches 4 Kids Lynchburg, which has raised over $4 million for local children’s charities. Boswell’s campaign is concentrated on bringing civility and business-minded leadership to Lynchburg City Council. His platform prioritizes lowering tax burdens, fixing basic infrastructure and cutting red tape for small businesses. He is running on the Team Lynchburg ticket, alongside Stephanie Reed and Larry Taylor.
Christina DelZingaro is a longtime Lynchburg nonprofit executive who currently serves as CEO and founder of Community Access Network, a healthcare organization that provides primary care and wellness services to tens of thousands of residents annually. She previously served as CEO of the Free Clinic of Central Virginia and holds a Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. Delzingaro’s platform emphasizes disciplined budget oversight, expanding community access to primary care and social safety nets, supporting public education and aligning municipal resources to address long-term community growth. She is running on the Lynchburg Better Together ticket, alongside Dave Henderson and Nat Marshall.
Dave Henderson, a Lynchburg native, graduated from Brookville High School and earned a degree in political science from Virginia Tech. After working on state legislative campaigns and in corporate finance leadership, he returned to Lynchburg in 2016 and cofounded small businesses, including The Water Dog restaurant. He serves as vice chair of the Lynchburg Planning Commission and on the boards of Lynchburg Grows and the Downtown Lynchburg Association. His platform prioritizes robust investments in Lynchburg City Schools, downtown business development, housing accessibility and smart infrastructure growth guided by his planning commission experience. He is running on the Lynchburg Better Together ticket, alongside Christina DelZingaro and Nat Marshall.
A lifelong Central Virginia resident raised in Bedford County, Nat Marshall holds BA degrees in business administration and English from the University of Lynchburg. He retired after a long career with nuclear technology manufacturer BWXT in Campbell County, where he led corporate human resources and community relations. His extensive civic service includes serving on the Virginia State Board for Community Colleges and Central Virginia Community College Local Board. His platform emphasizes expanding youth recreational opportunities, supporting Lynchburg City Schools and fostering a constructive, collaborative tone on city council. He is running on the Lynchburg Better Together ticket, alongside Christina DelZingaro and Dave Henderson.
Eli Rybinni (aka Shawn Hunter)
Eli Rybinni is a grassroots activist and founder and leader of Lynchburg Peacemakers, a community organization that conducts violence prevention and youth outreach in high-crime neighborhoods. Running as an independent candidate for city council at-large, he uses his personal experience overcoming hardship to advocate for community redemption, tenant rights and grassroots empowerment. His platform is centered on investing in community-led public safety initiatives, alongside law enforcement, preventing neighborhood gentrification and expanding job training and housing support for low-income residents and formerly incarcerated individuals.
Regardless of who you vote for, make sure you exercise your right as an active participant in a democracy. You have the power to make the changes you wish to see in this state and city.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Voting is open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Remember to bring identification (driver’s license, passport, student ID, etc.)
If you are registered to vote at your school address, your polling place is Linkhorne Middle School.
For more information about voter registration, visit https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation
