2020 Voter Guide

2020 is not just a presidential election year. 2020 is the year that Virginians can vote to keep their senior senator or replace him, while one of the most sprawling congressional districts in the state will be open for a new representative.

Virginia’s 5th Congressional District is the state’s largest geographically. Resembling the shape of a dragon that is rising out of North Carolina and up toward Northern Virginia, it is also one of the state’s most diverse — featuring a mix of urban and rural localities, various business sectors and agriculture, as well as a solid blend of Democratic and Republican constituents. The 5th District also touches many of the others within the state, offering whoever holds the seat in the House of Representatives a chance to collaborate and bridge the concerns that overlap. It also means whoever holds the seat has to work diligently to connect with and represent its wide variety of constituents to address their concerns.

At the start of 2020, Charlottesville Tomorrow began to sit down with candidates at a place in the district that was special to them for an hour of conversation. Varied and overlapping policy ideas and solutions to issues surfaced over cups of warm tea, on park benches, during chilly mountain hikes and sunny-day phone calls while working-from-home per the governor’s executive orders.

In the months since this profile series began, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of our lives, healthcare systems and the economy. As state and local governments continue their day-to-day work and contributions to public safety and COVID-related relief, Congress has worked to roll out ongoing financial aid packages.

Now the district must choose between Bob Good, the “bright red conservative” who unseated the incumbent Congressman in convention, or Dr. Cameron Webb, a physician who served as a White House fellow and staved off three democratic opponents in the primaries. Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner faced a challenge to his seat. While the longtime senator’s name did not appear on a primary ballot this June, he faces the Republican nominee Daniel Gade in November.

The general election is Nov. 3, 2020.

Deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration, is Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020.

Deadline to request an absentee ballot to be mailed to you is Friday, Oct. 23, 2020.

Access Virginia Department of Elections here.