Our third week of candidate survey questions generated responses from all four candidates. To help voters in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District make an informed decision, we continue a feature series offering insights into each candidate’s stand on critical issues affecting our area.

Candidates are emailed a question and asked to reply by a deadline. This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day.

Early voting in Virginia begins Sept. 20. Senator Tim Kaine and Hung Cao are running for the U.S. Senate. Derrick Anderson and Eugene Vindman are running for the District 7 seat in the House of Representatives.

The third question focused on border security and national defense. We asked all four candidates the following question:

Kaine responded:

I am prepared to work with anyone to secure our southern border, restore order to our immigration system, and increase resources to combat the fentanyl crisis. In 2012, 50 Virginians died from fentanyl overdoses. In 2022, that number was nearly 2,000. That’s why I recently supported a tough bipartisan border security bill, which would have provided critical resources to combat the fentanyl crisis and impose order to a chaotic situation at the southern border. That bill failed when Donald Trump encouraged Republican legislators to oppose the bill because they would rather complain about the problem than fix it. The Republican failure to join in bipartisan solutions is nothing new. Over the course of my Senate career, I’ve voted for nearly $300 billion in funding for border security and worked across the aisle to pass the FEND Off Fentanyl Act and Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act, which became law through the FY 2024 NDAA. But three efforts at more comprehensive reforms—in 2013, 2018, and 2024—fell apart when Republican leadership opposed even stronger bipartisan proposals. We need Republican leadership to work together to find solutions and quit using the issue as a political talking point.

As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, I have used my perch to spotlight threats to our military operations and worked across the aisle to keep our servicemembers safe. Moreover, I have passed meaningful legislation such as the EMBRACE Act, which authorized the Department of Defense to carry out stormwater management projects at military installations to protect our military bases and environment from the effects of climate change.

Cao responded:

Our open border is a national security threat as tens of thousands of military-aged males from China, Yemen and Syria enter daily. When I’m elected, my first priority is to secure our border by supporting efforts to finish the border wall system. This wall system has integrated fiberoptic cables for ElectroOptical and Infrared (EO/IR) cameras and seismic sensors. We will root out terrorists who entered the U.S. illegally. As a 25-year Navy combat  veteran, I believe we also need to protect Virginia’s military installations from potential threats, and that begins with closing our border to terrorists, gangs, and military-aged males seeking to undermine us. Everything that’s going wrong in our country stems from our open border. Housing costs are at an all-time high because there’s millions who were not here a few years ago for which we need to provide housing. The Biden-Harris administration spends a billion dollars a day which includes free cell phones and gift cards upon arrival, driving up costs. We need to put the American people first and that begins with closing our border.

Anderson responded:

We need a complete overhaul of the current open borders approach, which has brought crime, drugs, and national security threats to Virginia’s 7th District. This is a big contrast in this race: my opponent supports the current open borders policies, and I oppose them. The list of actions we need to take is long: round up illegal border-crossers and deport them, with a particular focus on national security threats and criminals. Increase funding and support for Border Patrol — both in terms of agents and technology. Overhaul the gridlocked legal system. And our leaders need to make it clear that illegal immigration into the US will not be tolerated. Look at the fentanyl crisis in Virginia: 5 people overdose each day here. We have to recognize that the current policies have failed America, and we need change. Instead, my opponent wants to continue the failures of the past.

Vindman responded:

Our country deserves leaders who are committed to securing our border, and keeping our men and women in uniform and their families safe. In Congress that is exactly what I will do.

As a 25-year Army veteran and a former White House National Security Council advisor, I know how important it is to defend our sovereign territory. We must have a strong border, with the necessary investments in infrastructure, technology, and human capital to ensure that we know who and what is crossing our borders on land and at sea and stop illegal immigration and the trafficking of drugs like fentanyl in both domains. In Congress, I will be proud to support the bipartisan border security legislation that would invest over $20 Billion to strengthen our border and has been endorsed by the Border Patrol union. This proposal would hire thousands of additional border patrol agents, deploy state-of-the-art monitoring technology, and provide funding for border security infrastructure.

As a former Army JAG prosecutor, I worked all the time with law enforcement on military bases. There is a robust threat assessment and response mechanism at every military installation including the four installations within or on the borders of the 7th congressional district. Besides the sensitive military assets on these installations, there are thousands of servicemembers and families. Their security is a top priority. In addition to meeting with installation commanders and stakeholders on the installation, I would get a threat assessment brief from leaders in the Pentagon. If warranted, I would sponsor legislation to supplement security on our military installations. Our security must be sufficient to eliminate physical, cyber, and intelligence penetration or threats. In Congress, I will work across the aisle to ensure our military installations have the resources necessary to physically harden against threats both foreign and domestic, as well as the intelligence resources to stop these attacks before they happen.

In Congress, I will work with leaders from both parties and across the military and intelligence communities as well as state and local elected officials here in Virginia, to identify vulnerabilities and stop breaches or attacks before they happen. Recently Marine Corps Base Quantico had an attempted breach that was effectively stopped by base personnel – this attempted penetration was just another example of the need to provide our domestic military installations with the resources necessary to protect themselves.

A press release from Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman’s (D) congressional campaign challenges his opponent, Derrick Anderson (R), to be transparent about his stance on abortion rights during upcoming debates and public events. Vindman’s campaign accuses Anderson of trying to hide his anti-abortion views due to their unpopularity.

Vindman, the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 7th District in Prince William, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties, and Fredericksburg, has openly shared his pro-choice position and plans to continue doing so at events throughout September and October. He pledges to vote for codifying Roe v. Wade and against a national abortion ban.

While Vindman pushes for transparency, he declined an invitation to debate on WJLA-TV (ABC Channel 7 in Washington, D.C.), which Anderson accepted, along with five other debate invitations in late August.

Press release:

Today, Vindman for Congress called on MAGA extremist Derrick Anderson to finally be honest with voters on his radical anti-abortion rights position at the forthcoming debates, forums, and town halls. So far, Anderson has tried desperately to hide his extreme position on reproductive rights because it’s so unpopular, but Anderson can’t escape scrutiny for much longer. Both he and Eugene Vindman will appear as their respective party nominees for VA-07 at a series of joint public events including:

• Monday, September 16th: Fredericksburg Free Press
• Tuesday, September 17th: Coalition for Action
• Wednesday, October 2nd: University of Mary Washington
• Monday, October 7th: ARC of Northern Virginia

Eugene Vindman has already laid out his abortion rights stance and will continue to do so at these events. Vindman knows, unlike Anderson, that a women’s healthcare decision belongs to her, her doctor, and her faith, not some bureaucrat in DC.

As a Member of Congress, Eugene Vindman will:

Vote for a bill to codify Roe v. Wade.

Vote against a national abortion ban bill.

Virginia voters deserve to know where Derrick Anderson stands on these two bills. Anderson will weasel, duck, dodge, and do everything in his power to avoid answering how he’ll vote on these bills. Vindman will use the forthcoming events to make sure the public gets answers.

Our second week of candidate survey questions generated responses from three of the four candidates. To help voters in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District make an informed decision, we continue a feature series offering insights into each candidate’s stand on critical issues affecting our area.

Candidates are emailed a question and asked to reply by a deadline This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day.

The second question focused on transparency in government in relation to media and to citizens.

Early voting in Virginia begins Sept. 20. Senator Tim Kaine and Hung Cao are running for the Virginia seat in the Senate. Derrick Anderson and Eugene Vindman are running for the District 7 seat in the House of Representatives.

This week, we asked Tim Kaine (D) and Hung Cao (R) the following question:

How do you view the role of the mainstream media in holding government officials accountable, and what steps would you take to ensure that media outlets have the freedom and resources to report accurately and independently?

Kaine responded:

“A free and vibrant press is critical to any democracy. Amidst growing threats to democratic values around the world, we must redouble our efforts to promote press freedom and protect journalists. When reporters like Vladimir Kara-Murza and Evan Gershkovich were wrongfully detained for years by Russian authorities, I worked with the administration to push for their release. I was heartened to see both of them return home this summer. I have also introduced a bipartisan bill, the International Press Freedom Act, that would help protect at-risk journalists working in countries with high censorship by creating a new visa category for threatened journalists and opening a new office within the State Department to combat crimes against journalists. Moreover, I have been proud to engage with and support local newsrooms over the course of my career, especially in Virginia. Local press plays an indispensable role in holding leaders accountable and providing communities with answers to important questions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I urged Senate leaders to include funding to support local journalism and media in any relief packages.”

Cao responded:

“Lately the mainstream media has been carrying water for government officials rather than holding them accountable, even going so far as to censor opposing views. What has been disclosed about the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to coordinate with both media outlets and social media platforms to censor and restrict free speech is incredibly troubling. Freedom of speech and freedom of thought are on the ballot this November. The First Amendment was not put in place only to protect media outlets, but to protect the American people’s right to free speech. I fought for that right for twenty-five years in the Navy, and I’m not done.”

We asked Derrick Anderson (R) and Eugene Vindman (D), both running for House of Representatives the following question:

How do you plan to promote greater transparency in the legislative process, including making it easier for constituents to understand how decisions are made and how their representatives are voting?

Anderson responded:

“They say that how a person campaigns is how they’ll govern, and right now VA-07 voters are seeing a real-world example of how Yevgeny Vindman would govern —  he’s dodging public debates and he’s dodging questions about inflating his military record.

I’m dedicated to being open and accessible to as many voters as possible. The six debates and forums I accepted are one of the many ways I’ll do so, and I challenge my opponent to accept them as well.”

Vindman did not respond.

This series will continue next week. If you have suggestions for topics, feel free to add a comment.

As election season approaches, Potomac Local News is dedicated to informing the community about candidates vying for the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Early voting in Virginia begins Sept. 20.

To help voters in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District make an informed decision, we continue a feature series offering insights into each candidate’s stand on critical issues affecting our area. Candidates are emailed a question and asked to reply by a deadline.

This first question focuses on data centers.

This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day. Senator Tim Kaine and Hung Cao are running for the  U.S. Senate. Derrick Anderson and Eugene Vindman are running for the District 7 seat in the House of Representatives.

This week, we asked Tim Kaine (D) and Hung Cao (R) the following question:

Given the rapid expansion of data centers in Virginia, how do you plan to balance the economic benefits they bring with the environmental and community impacts, such as energy consumption and land use?

Kaine responded:

“While data centers fall under the jurisdiction of state and local officials in Virginia, I remain focused on bringing good-paying jobs to the Commonwealth. During my time in the Senate, I’ve proudly introduced several bills to expand job training and upskilling programs and help fill the high-demand jobs of the future in tech sectors – including in data centers. At the same time, building an economy that works for everyone requires taking steps to protect communities from noise pollution, water loss, and negative environmental consequences.”

Cao did not respond.

We asked Derrick Anderson (R) and Eugene Vindman (D), both running for House of Representatives the following question:

Data centers are a significant part of Virginia’s economy; how do you plan to work with local and state governments to ensure that their growth benefits local communities without compromising quality of life?

Anderson did not respond.

Vindman did not respond.

This series will continue next week. If you have suggestions for topics, feel free to add a comment.

Vindman’s campaign manager, Jeremy Levinson, responded by introducing a third party, the employee of a political action committee. “All future questions,” he said, could be directed to him.”

Vindman, a Democrat, is running to replace Abigail Spanberger, who represents eastern Prince William County, Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, and Fredricksburg. Republican Derrick Anderson is also vying for the seat.

Read More

The University of Mary Washington will host a public debate on October 2, 2024, between Derrick Anderson (R) and Eugene Vindman (D), candidates for Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District. The event, co-sponsored by local organizations, will be held at Dodd Auditorium and available for viewing via Zoom.

Press release:

The University of Mary Washington will host a public political debate between candidates for Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. Derrick Anderson (R) and Eugene Vindman (D) will face off in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium.

The debate is being hosted by Mary Washington’s Student Government Association. It is co-sponsored by the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Free Lance-Star and the League of Women Voters of the Fredericksburg Area. The event is free and no tickets are required. Viewing also is available via Zoom at https://go.umw.edu/2024debate.

UMW Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth, who also serves as director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, will moderate the debate. He will join fellow UMW Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman, who chairs the department; WFVA Radio News Director Ted Schubel; and Jake Womer, managing editor at The Free Lance-Star, in asking questions of the candidates. Audience members will be able to submit questions for consideration before the start of the event.

Derreck Anderson
A native of Spotsylvania County, Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Virginia Tech and a juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center. He served in the U.S. Army, including as a Special Forces “Green Beret,” from 2006 to 2014, completing five deployments – to Afghanistan, Bahrain, Jordan, Israel and Lebanon.

Anderson also has worked on civil and criminal cases as a clerk for two federal judges, and in the White House during the administration of former President Donald Trump in the Office of National Drug Control Policy. He currently serves as a major in the Army National Guard.

Anderson lives in Spotsylvania with his dog, Ranger, a dalmatian.

Eugene Vindman
Born in Ukraine, Eugene Vindman attended public school in Brooklyn, New York, and earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Binghamton, a master’s degree from Central Michigan University and a juris doctorate from the University of Georgia.

Vindman is a retired colonel who served in the U.S. Army from 1997 to 2022, including in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, where he traveled across the country and worked as a prosecutor. Vindman also served as a legal advisor for the U.S. National Security Council.

He lives in Woodbridge with his wife, Cindy. The couple has two children.

Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District spans much of Central and Northern Virginia, including all of Fredericksburg City and all or part of the counties of Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Culpeper, Orange, Caroline, King George, Greene, Madison and Albemarle. Incumbent Abigail Spanberger (D), who first was elected to represent the Seventh District in 2018, is vacating the seat to run for the office of Virginia governor.

The following items are not allowed in the debate venue:

• Vape pens

• Food/Beverages

• Backpacks

• Pyrotechnics

• Weapons

• Banners or signs

• Disruptive behavior

Vindman sought to energize his base and draw a contrast with his Republican opponent, Derek Anderson, in the closely watched race for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, which includes Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Woodbridge. With only 84 days until Election Day, Vindman emphasized the stakes of the upcoming election, framing it as a critical moment for the nation and the community.

In his speech, the retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel invoked his personal story as an immigrant who arrived in the U.S. with his family, possessing little more than the hope of achieving the American dream. “The stakes in this election couldn’t be higher,” Vindman said, underscoring his belief that the very essence of that dream is on the line. He criticized the rhetoric coming from the Republican Party, likening it to what one might hear in authoritarian regimes such as North Korea, Iran, or Russia. Vindman argued that such narratives undermine the fundamental values that make the United States great.

Vindman’s message was tailored to national issues and specific concerns in the 7th District, including Northern Virginia communities such as Woodbridge and Dale City. “When I had the opportunity to retire, I chose to retire here in Northern Virginia,” Vindman said, describing his newfound connection to the area where he and his wife, Cindy, chose to live after he left the military in 2022.

Vindman’s brother, Retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, made headlines for his testimony during the 2019 impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump after he reported concerns about President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine after hearing Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while serving on the National Security Council.

Eugene Vindman addressed challenges related to Interstate 95, a major transportation artery in the region. He called for improvements to make it multimodal and accept trains and buses to shuttle commuters to Washington, D.C. He also spoke about the importance of maintaining high-quality schools for his family and all families in the district. 

The topic of education led Vindman to denounce efforts by some in the district to ban and even burn books, specifically mentioning Stafford County School district banning several gender-bending books some parents decried as pornographic: “They want to cover up our history, and that’s just plain unacceptable,” Vindman declared.

A Vindman media relations manager denied a request to make Vindman available for press questions at this event. 

Vindman’s speech also touched on Project 2025, an initiative championed by the non-profit Heritage Foundation that he described as a “significant threat to the social safety net.” Vindman erroneously tied Project 2025 with Republican candidates and his opponent instead of the non-profit think tank that authored it.

Vindman emphasized the potential economic impact of eliminating 50,000 civil service jobs. “Can you imagine those high-paying civil service jobs being eliminated or moved out? What would that do to this economy? How would that devastate this economy?” Vindman asked rhetorically to the group.

Despite Vindman’s assertions, Anderson has not backed Project 2025. In a statement to the Washington Post, Anderson said that he does “not support any initiatives that will hurt national security.” An Anderson campaign spokesman said, “This is not something our campaign has ever talked about. Derrick Anderson has been clear that he always places the needs of the country over party, anything that will negatively affect families in VA-07 won’t be supported, and he encourages voters to fact check [Vindman’s] claims.”

Throughout his speech, Vindman attempted to draw a line between him and Anderson, an Army Green Beret, whom he accused of being “bought and paid for by MAGA.” Anderson is a decorated Army Green Beret with six overseas deployments across Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, and Bahrain.

Vindman pointed to the difference in campaign donations as evidence of their differing loyalties, noting that his average donation is just $27, while Anderson’s financial support comes from “Ultra MAGA” sources. Vindman argued that Anderson would vote in line with those interests if elected, to the detriment of the district and the nation.

Vindman did not mention the ongoing controversy of purported unauthorized small-dollar donations linked to the Democrat fundraising platform ActBlue. These so-called small-dollar donations appear as grass-roots support, but many donors claim to have never authorized those donations. 

According to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), Barbara Staples, a Springhill, Texas retiree, purportedly made 53 small-dollar donations to ActBlue in a single day and 1,600 other donation transactions since 2022. The FEC website shows five small-dollar contributions on June 16, 2024. When asked, Staples said she hadn’t made any donations. 

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyaras announced an investigation into these allegedly fraudulent donations by ActBlue earlier this month, joining a list of state Attorneys General investigating the organization for potential laundering of illegal foreign campaign donations.

The National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Delanie Bowmar doubled down on the accusations against ActBlue donations and Vindman’s assertions of small-dollar donations, “Vindman’s campaign war chest doubles as a piggy bank for anti-Israel extremists: campaign donations go in, anti-Israel policies spew out. We know Vindman will kowtow to extremists who burn down college campuses – just check the receipts.” 

Early voting in Virginia begins September 20, 2024. The final day for in-person precinct voting is November 5, 2024. For more information on voting, elections.virginia.gov.

“Hamas is coming” was scrawled in red across the face of the Columbus Monument at Union Station, alongside slogans, such as “free Gaza” and “all Zionists are bastards.” The riots coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress.

Anderson described the flag burning as a personal affront. “As someone who’s a former Green Beret who spent over 10 years in the U.S. Army, someone who did over 150 funerals in Arlington National Cemetery where I laid that flag on our service members before their family members saw them laid to rest, it hit hard to me, it hit incredibly hard,” he said. He recounted his experiences in Afghanistan, including the loss of five of his own soldiers and returning home with their flag-draped coffins for their last fight home. Anderson emphasized that the desecration of the flag at Union Station symbolized a broader disunity within the country.

Anderson criticized his opponent Eugene Vindman for remaining silent in the wake of the riots, calling for greater transparency and action from political leaders. “My opponent has been silent until a few minutes ago, but that’s a day late and a dollar short. It’s time for leaders to act and say what they mean. Transparency is important, and the folks here in the 7th Congressional District deserve transparency, they don’t need a politician that waits to see where the political headwinds blow before standing up for something” he asserted.

Vindman posted to his X account one minute before Anderson began his scheduled press conference, writing, “Violence and destruction are not peaceful protests; it’s not about left or right, it’s about right and wrong. And it was wrong when rioters stormed the Capitol on January 6, and it’s wrong when anti-Israel protesters assaulted police officers and spray-painted Hamas slogans on Washington, DC monuments. I ask my opponent to join me in calling out all forms of violence immediately.”

Violence and destruction are not peaceful protests; it’s not about left or right, it’s about right and wrong.

And it was wrong when rioters stormed the Capitol on January 6 and it’s wrong when anti-Israel protesters assault police officers and spray paint Hamas slogans on… https://t.co/LRYdVMDXQc

— Eugene Vindman (@YVindman) July 25, 2024

Condemnation of Pro-Hamas Support
The candidate also highlighted the role of foreign influence in the protests, referencing reports that Iran had been funding some of these demonstrations. “Our enemies are watching—Iran, China, Russia. In fact, we just saw reports that Iran has been funding some of these protests that are happening in Washington, D.C. and continue to happen,” he said.

Congressman Rob Wittman’s Support
Congressman Rob Wittman (R), who represented part of Prince Willliam County until redistricting in 2021, who joined Anderson at the press conference, echoed his sentiments. Wittman condemned the burning of the U.S. flag and the display of pro-Hamas and Palestinian flags, describing these actions as disrespectful and un-American. “It was disrespectful. It was disloyal to who we are as a nation. Those things can’t be allowed to occur without speaking out against those efforts,” Wittman stated.

Wittman’s district’s boundaries shifted out of Northern Virginia and further southeast, toward Virginia’s Northern Neck and Williamsburg.

Accountability and Prosecution
When asked about the potential for prosecutions following the riots, Anderson noted the lack of specific laws against flag desecration but highlighted other illegal activities, such as graffiti and assaults on law enforcement. He emphasized the need for accountability and consequences for breaking the law.
Call for Unity

Anderson emphasized the need for national unity and common sense throughout his remarks. He called on the residents of the 7th Congressional District to demand transparency and accountability from their leaders and to work towards a more united country. “We see hope. We see a future for our country. But it takes all of us coming together and being unified,” Anderson concluded.

Anderson faces Vindman in the November 5 General Election. Early voting for that election begins on September 20, 2024, at local voter registrar’s offices. Some of the jurisdictions included in the district include eastern Prince William County, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George countries, and Fredericksburg city.

Results of informal “should Joe Biden stay in the race” survey: Of the fifty-three respondents to our emails last week, 51% think Joe should stay in the race while 36% think he should withdraw. Another 13% either had a policy-related comment or offered nuanced comments.

Their call matches Suhas Subramanyam, the Democrat running for Virignia’s 10th Congressional District, which includes western Prince William, Manassas, and Manassas Park. Earlier this week, Subramanyam told Potomac Local he supports the president’s re-election bid for a second term, despite calls from some in his party to withdraw his candidacy due to cognitive issues.

Fairfax County, a stronghold for Democrats, is the most populated jurisdiction and often decides how the entire state will vote — so goes Fairfax, so goes Virginia.

Meanwhile, Democrat Eugene Vindman continues to be hounded about whether or not he supports Biden. Potomac Local has twice asked him to ignore questions on the matter. He’s running for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, which includes eastern Prince William County, Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, and Fredericksburg.

A video posted by the National Republican Congressional Committee of Vindman showed him walking into a fundraiser, where, again, he dodged the question.

Extreme Democrat @YVindman still REFUSES to answer the question.

IS BIDEN FIT FOR OFFICE?#VA07 deserves to know. pic.twitter.com/ewY4Ep5vNl

— NRCC (@NRCC) July 10, 2024