Dorothy McAuliffe, the former first lady of Virginia, launched her run for Congress on Wednesday before voters consider a constitutional amendment on redistricting next month.
McAuliffe is running for Virginia’s proposed 7th Congressional District, which will be redrawn if the state’s pro-Democrat congressional map passes in the April 21 referendum.
The wife of former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) framed her House run as a reaction to the Trump administration’s economic and immigration agenda.
“Virginians are working harder than ever, but the middle class is still out of reach for too many,” she said in her first campaign statement. “We need a leader who has a record of delivering and can finally bring down costs for families, who will increase access to affordable healthcare, and who will never back down from holding Donald Trump and ICE accountable.”
McAuliffe will travel across the new district to reach voters during a four-day tour starting Saturday.
“I look forward to traveling this district — from Arlington to Augusta and Prince William to Powhatan — and sharing that vision for this community,” she said.
Wednesday’s announcement means McAuliffe will face Virginia state Del. Dan Helmer and former Trump prosecutor JP Cooney in the Democratic primary, scheduled for Aug. 4. By then, the new congressional map will be in place, if it passes this spring.
The new candidate touted her record on fighting hunger among children in the state, protecting victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse, and supporting military families. She listed increased living and healthcare costs and food insecurity as her top campaign priorities.
VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING BALLOT MEASURE COULD STILL BE STRUCK DOWN AFTER VOTING, EXPERTS SAY
This marks the first time that Virginia’s former first lady is running for Congress. In 2017, she considered a House bid against then-Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA), but ultimately ruled against it.
McAuliffe later served in the Biden administration as the State Department’s special representative for global partnerships between 2022 and 2025. Her husband served as Virginia’s governor from 2014 to 2018.
