Navy Families Weigh in on War and Costs in Virginia's 2nd District

Rena Ritter stood on the pier in Norfolk with her infant daughter, watching for the return of her husband, Isaiah Wells. Wells, an engineer on the USS San Antonio, had just completed two deployments that together lasted more than a year. Ritter said the extended time at sea has taken a toll on the crew's mental health. She noted that sailors frequently go days without sleep while maintaining equipment before docking.

This pattern of long deployments is not unique to the San Antonio. The USS Gerald R. Ford recently returned to Norfolk after setting a record for the longest carrier deployment. At least 15 Navy ships remain stationed in the Middle East, with more expected to join them as the war continues. The presence of these vessels shapes the political conversation in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, which contains the largest concentration of Navy families in the United States.

For 18 years, the winner of this district has matched the party that controls the full House of Representatives. Voters will decide whether that historical trend continues next week. The campaign has centered on the impact of the Iran war and rising economic costs.

At the Black Food Festival in Virginia Beach, Terraza Brooks spoke about her son serving on one of the ships in the region. He missed his brother's graduation and his younger sibling's prom. Brooks, whose husband Brian is a retired Navy veteran, stated that their vote would not be driven solely by his service. "I'm going to vote on what's best for everybody, because that war is affecting everybody," she said, citing high gas prices as a key factor.

Both major candidates sought support at the festival. Democrat Elaine Luria, a retired Navy officer, argued that Republicans lack sufficient oversight. She claimed they are not pressing military and civilian leaders to answer questions regarding defense readiness. Republican Jen Kiggans, a nurse practitioner and former Navy pilot, countered that supply chains in conflict zones are complex. "When you're in a conflict part of the world, the supply chains can be tricky," she said. Kiggans recently brought Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to a local college event.

According to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project, approximately $20 million has been spent on the general election, divided evenly between Luria and Kiggans. Reaching military families remains a logistical challenge for both campaigns. Many service members do not vote where they are stationed. Sarah Streyder of the Secure Families Initiative reported that the primary concern from voters is delayed absentee ballots. With the election less than a week away, she advised families not to give up on tracking their mail.

The race pits a former congresswoman against a first-time candidate in a district where military service is a central part of daily life. The outcome may signal a shift in the broader national political balance.