Not sure this is your district? Enter your ZIP to confirm — and see your full ballot
2026 candidates we're tracking in VA-7
-
Eugene S. Vindman
Democratic
Incumbent
Vindman served 25 years in the U.S. Army, beginning as a paratrooper and infantry officer before attending law school and becoming a Judge Advocate General Corps officer, per the campaign site. Vindman later served on the National Security Council as a legal advisor and senior ethics official, per the campaign site. Vindman holds a degree from SUNY Binghamton, per the campaign site.
-
Doug A. Ollivant
Republican
Ollivant is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, per his campaign site. Virginia Mercury reports he is a retired Army officer who lives in Culpeper. Charlottesville Tomorrow reports he did not respond to its candidate questionnaire.
-
Taner E. Demirci Lopez
Libertarian
Taner Demirci Lopez is a former university professor who later served as a cultural advisor supporting the Department of Defense, per the University of Mary Washington. He lives in Locust Grove and holds a doctorate in theology from the University of Murcia in Spain. He is the Libertarian nominee for Virginia's 7th Congressional District.
-
Alaha Ahrar
Independent
Alaha Ahrar is an Afghan immigrant based in Dumfries who serves as chief executive officer of International Kindness Sharing, per the University of Mary Washington. She holds a bachelor's degree from UMW and a master's in social justice and human rights from George Mason University, and is running as an independent for Virginia's 7th Congressional District.
-
Joshua E. Ertle
Independent
Joshua E. Ertle is the independent candidate for Virginia's 7th Congressional District on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified November candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
-
Randall A. Terry
Independent
Randall Terry previously ran for president in 2024 and is now running as an independent candidate for Virginia's 7th Congressional District, per his campaign site.
About this race
Virginia's 7th Congressional District elects one member of the U.S. House of Representatives to a two-year term. Every House seat in the country is on the ballot in 2026. The Virginia primary is Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and the general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.