Election 2018: Submit a Question for Friday’s 5th District Congressional Debate
Virginia’s 5th Congressional District was once represented by James Madison who went on to become President of the United States.
It’s up for grabs … an open seat. Want to become part of the process to find a new Congressman or Congresswoman? Submit a question for Friday’s 5th District Congressional Debate to take place at the University of Virginia. Questions must be received by Thursday afternoon at 5:00 p.m.
The University’s Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL), College Republicans, College Democrats, and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy will co-host the non-partisan gathering between Republican candidate Denver Riggleman and Democratic candidate Leslie Cockburn in the Great Hall of UVa’s Garrett Hall.
The debate, to be moderated by CEL Director Craig Volden and Batten School professor Gerald Warburg, will begin at 6:00 p.m. It is free to the public but due to limited space tickets are required.
The 5th Congressional District found itself with an open seat after Rep. Tom Garrett announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection, setting up a battle for the House seat that should remain safely in Republican hands.
However, in a midterm election year when control of the U.S. House is at stake, Democrats are widely predicted to be setting up a blue wave in their quest to regain control from the GOP. Will that wave crash over the 5th District?
Stretching from the western suburbs of D.C. south to the North Carolina state line, the district includes the cities of Charlottesville and Danville as well as the University of Virginia. In the 2016 presidential campaign Republican Donald Trump carried the 5th by 11 points in a year that saw Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton win the Commonwealth by five points.
In June, a tweet from Larry Sabato shortly after Riggleman won the Republican nomination noted, “The real headline, besides Riggleman winning, is how Dunbar came so close. She would have turned VA05 into Toss Up, or even in time, Leans D. Fascinating that Dunbar (far-right) and Riggleman (pretty libertarian) are about as different as you get in the modern GOP. As is, LEANS R.”
The Cook Political Report has the district rated as “leans Republicans.” Real Clear Politics has it as a Toss Up.
Election Day is November 6.
