Another Republican has filed to run against Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in Virginia’s seventh congressional district. Taylor Keeney, a non-profit director and former staffer to Governor Bob McDonnell officially filed her FEC form Monday with a campaign address based out of Henrico.
Tina Ramirez recently announced her candidacy; plus John Castorani and Guatam Barve have filed paperwork seeking the Republican nomination in VA-07 as well.
Last year, Castorani was a Republican candidate in Alabama’s first congression district and Barve appears to have been a city council candidate in Santa Clara, California.
Other potential candidates for the Republican nomination include state Del. John Mcguire (Goochland) and state Senator Amanda Chase (Chesterfield).
Spanberger won the seat in 2018 when she defeated former Congressman Dave Brat. Prior to Spanbergber’s victory, the seat was held but a Republican for more than 60 years.
Republicans made this seat a top target in 2020 but were unable to flip the seat on a presidential election cycle and Spanberger’s margin of victory actually increased compared to 2018.
Redistricting is set to take place before the 2022 election so it is unclear just how competitive this district will be. Due to the close margin of victory the last two cycles, any shift to the right would make this seat promising for the GOP with a Democrat in the White House.
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