The U.S. House of Representatives is one of two chambers of Congress (the other is the Senate). The powers of the House of Representatives are outlined in the Constitution. Here is an explanation of what those powers are. Representatives are elected for two years. There are 435 districts in the House, of which Virginia has 11.
Virginia’s Congressional District 5 covers Charlottesville and reaches all the way down to the North Carolina border. This year, it is the only district in the state holding both Republican and Democratic primaries.
In the Republican primary, John McGuire III is running for his second term. He is challenged by first-time candidate Melanie Lucero.
Charlottesville Tomorrow designed a questionnaire for the candidates based on responses we received from our voter survey.
We were able to reach Lucero by phone, but have not yet received a response to the questionnaire. We made multiple attempts to contact McGuire via phone, email and Facebook and were able to speak with campaign staff. But McGuire had also not submitted a response as of Wednesday, June 17.
We will continue to update our Voter Guide as we receive responses from candidates to the following questions:
- Housing costs: Many 5th District voters who responded to our voter survey expressed concerns about how home prices and rents have risen significantly across central Virginia. What do you believe is the federal government’s responsibility, if any, when housing becomes unaffordable for working families?
- Data centers and energy: Data centers are expanding rapidly across Virginia, raising concerns about electric bills, water use and the need for new energy infrastructure. What role, if any, should the federal government play in addressing those concerns?
- Immigration: Some employers in agriculture, hospitality and other industries say they rely on immigrant workers, while some voters support stricter immigration enforcement. How should the nation’s immigration system address both of those concerns?
- Congress and executive power: Congress was designed to act as a check on the executive branch, regardless of which party controls the White House. What responsibilities does Congress have when it disagrees with a president’s actions, and where do you believe the limits of presidential authority should be?
- Are there any other pressing issues you would like 5th District voters to know about?
More about the candidates
- 5th District will have both a Democratic and Republican congressional primary in August (Cardinal News, May 28, 2026)
- Who’s running in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District in 2026? (VPM, Dec. 15, 2025)
- Congressional candidates figure out next steps after redistricting (C-Ville Weekly, April 29, 2026)
- John McGuire vs the 5th District (C-Ville Weekly, May 20, 2026)
- CSPAN interview with John McGuire (CSPAN, Feb. 13, 2025)
- Melanie Lucero says any Republican can win Virginia’s 5th – except John Mcguire (The Daily Progress, June 11, 2026)
- Melanie Lucero profile (29News, June 4, 2026)
- Campaign finance report for John McGuire from the Virginia Public Access Project
- Campaign finance report for Melanie Lucero from the Virginia Public Access Project
Here are key dates and deadlines in the 2026 elections
| Friday, March 6, 2026 – Saturday, April 18, 2026 | Early voting for special election on constitutional amendment to allow state lawmakers to redraw the congressional district map. Voting is available weekdays at local registrar’s offices. Registrar’s offices will also be open for voting Saturday, April 11 and Saturday, April 18. |
| Friday, April 10, 2026, 5 p.m. | Deadline to apply to your local registrar’s office for your ballot to be mailed to you or to apply for an absentee ballot using the Citizen Portal for the special election. Requests must be received by your local registrar’s office by 5 p.m. |
| Wednesday, April 15, 2026 | Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration for the special election. You can still vote in the special election if you miss this deadline by registering at the polling place and casting a provisional ballot. |
| Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | Special Election Day! |
| Friday, June 29 to Aug. 1, 2026 | Early voting period for Primary Elections. Contact your local registrar’s office for all early voting and satellite location information. |
| Friday, July 24, 2026 | Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot. Apply for an absentee ballot online using the Citizen Portal by 5 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026 | Primary Election Day! |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 | General Election Day! |
We will update this list periodically as deadlines approach or we receive new information.
Register to vote, check your registration, find your polling place and apply to vote absentee at the Virginia Department of Elections here. Remember, even if you miss registration deadlines, you can register through Election Day and vote using a provisional ballot.
Need to know if you’re eligible to vote? Here are resources from the Virginia Department of Elections.
2026 Central Virginia Voter Guide
Early voting for Virginia’s Aug. 4 primary election begins June 18, giving voters across central Virginia a chance to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day. Depending on where you live, you’ll help choose party nominees for Congress and the U.S. Senate. The winners of those contests will then face off against each other in the Nov. 3 general election.
Charlottesville Tomorrow’s Voter Guide covers every eligible race in central Virginia — from this spring’s special election through the November general.
