Speaker Mike Johnson to campaign for solid House votes ahead of election: ‘Most of us go straight through Virginia’

ARLINGTON, Va. – Speaker Mike Johnson will finish the pre-election campaign in two critical House districts in the Old Dominion, telling The Post only that “the road to keep and grow our majority runs straight through Virginia, where we have two fighters who will win and deliver results for Commonwealth families.”

The speaker will host events for Republican Derrick Anderson, who is running for the open seat, and Rep. Newbie Jen Kiggans – and bring some special guests.

“Congresswoman Kiggans is a champion for veterans, our troops and military families and is working across the aisle to fight for Virginia’s 2nd District. Green Beret Derrick Anderson has served our country and will be a strong voice for Virginia’s 7th District to protect our border, fix our economy, and restore peace with force,” Johnson told The Post.

“After campaigning in more than 250 cities across 40 states, I look forward to getting to the polls across Virginia ahead of the most important election of our lifetime.”

Former President Donald Trump opened his rally in Salem, Va., Saturday night with a bold statement, “I’m here today in this amazing nation for one simple reason — because I believe we can win.” Virginia.”

Republicans have not won a Virginia election in 20 years, yet the 2021 victories in statewide offices show the party has made real gains.

In Spotsylvania, Johnson will meet for Anderson and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, among other speakers.

Anderson is running neck-and-neck against Democrat Eugene Vindman, who gained national attention in 2019 as a whistleblower in the first impeachment trial against Trump, which was sparked by the Ukrainian-born candidate’s account of a phone call. between the former president and the President of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky. His twin Alexander testified before Congress about this.

This race is considered one of the Republicans’ best chances to flip the seat and keep their majority in the House. Rep. Abigail Spanberger is not seeking re-election, choosing to run for governor of Virginia in 2025.

Despite his national reputation, Vindman has been campaigning under the radar, participating in only one interview and largely avoiding the press.

He finally sat down with WUSA TV Friday, giving just seven of the 15 minutes that asked; Anderson sat out full time last week.

And it made it clear why he still avoids the press: Vindman repeated the details of the interview verbatim and refused to answer direct questions about his military record, which Anderson and others who say he has decorated.

The Cook Political Report rates the race at the top, changing it from a conservative Democrat in August.

In Virginia Beach, Johnson and Youngkin will meet for Kiggans and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares.

Kiggans returned the seat to Republicans in 2022 when he defeated Dem Rep. Elaine Luria in two seasons. Republican Scott Taylor represented a heavily military and veteran district before that.

The Republican nominee enters this year’s election race on a high note, having kept hardliners and moderate voters satisfied with his first-term policymaking record.

A September poll by Christopher Newport University showed Kiggans with a 5-point lead over Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal.

But the Dems are eyeing the seat any way they can, with an AP report revealing the “independent” candidate in the race – Robert Reid – was able to gain access to the vote with the help of a group linked to Democrat.