Leslie Mehta won the Democratic primary in the 1st Congressional District on Tuesday and will face incumbent U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman in November.
The Associated Press called the race for Mehta, a civil rights attorney, over Herbert Jones about 90 minutes after the polls closed. With 14 of the 18 localities in the district reporting, Mehta had received more than 60% of the votes cast, and had enjoyed large leads in Henrico and Chesterfield counties.
The civil rights attorney was the legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, and she was on former Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s Commission to Examine Racial and Economic Inequity.
She also was on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Rare Disease Council, and she has advocated on behalf of people with Rett syndrome since 2017, when her now-late daughter was diagnosed with the genetic disorder.
Mehta’s priorities, according to her campaign website, are accessible and affordable health care, defending access to maternity care and abortion, addressing climate change and other issues.
Mehta, in a phone call with The Virginia Gazette after the results were announced, said she felt great. She said her team worked hard in all 18 localities in the district leading up to the primary.
“We just are looking forward to defeating Rob Wittman in the fall,” she said.
Mehta said leading up to the election she will be championing issues that matter to Virginia’s 1st District: “Things like investing in public school education, gun safety reform, affordable and accessible healthcare,” she said. “The district has changed, and Rob Wittman hasn’t.”
She said Wittman is an election denier, claiming that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and falling in line with former President Donald Trump.
“Folks are tired of that. People want to come together, have civility and connect on issues that are important, and that’s what I’m bringing,” she said. “I know how to work with people and get things done.”
Regarding what she says are the most pressing issues facing the country and world, Mehta said reproductive freedom and bringing civility back into politics are a couple of her main concerns.
Wittman has held the district since 2007. His priorities include national defense, immigration and fiscal responsibility, according to his website. Wittman is pro-life, and he values “protecting the sanctity of life and will continue to be the standard-bearer for upholding family values,” according to his website.
Virginia’s election website shows that localities included in District 1 are: Chesterfield County, Essex County, Gloucester County, Hanover County, Henrico County, James City County, King & Queen County, King William County, Lancaster County, Mathews County, Middlesex County, New Kent County, Northumberland County, Poquoson City, Richmond County, Westmoreland County, Williamsburg City and York County.
Sam Schaffer, samuel.schaffer@virginiamedia.com
