(The Center Square) – Healthcare costs, taxes and federal spending are among the issues dividing Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans and Democratic challenger Elaine Luria in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District.

Tuesday’s election is a rematch between Kiggans and Luria, who previously represented the district before losing her reelection bid to Kiggans in 2022.

Kiggans, a Navy veteran and former geriatric nurse practitioner, has served in Congress since January 2023. Luria, also a Navy veteran, represented the district from 2019 to 2023.

The district includes Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Isle of Wight County, the Eastern Shore, Franklin and portions of Chesapeake and Southampton County.

The Cook Political Report rates the contest as leaning Democratic. The race is among the Republican-held seats Democrats are targeting as they seek to regain majority in the U.S. House.

Both candidates have identified household costs as a priority, although their approaches differ.

Kiggans supports reducing federal spending, lowering taxes and encouraging economic growth. She voted for the 2025 federal tax and spending law, which included tax deductions for qualifying tips and overtime and an expanded child tax credit.

Luria supports reversing tariffs she says have increased the cost of groceries and other goods. She also advocates reducing healthcare expenses and changing federal policies she says have increased household costs.

Healthcare is a major campaign point in the race.

In September 2025, Kiggans introduced bipartisan legislation to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for one year. The proposal was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

However, Kiggans voted against separate legislation on Jan. 8 that would have extended the enhanced credits for three years. The measure passed the House 230-196.

Kiggans has also emphasized lowering prescription drug costs and improving access to care for military families and seniors.

Luria supports restoring enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, expanding Medicare prescription drug price negotiations and extending negotiated drug prices to people with private insurance.

Her healthcare plan would also allow children of military families to remain on their parents’ Tricare coverage until age 26, simplify medical billing and expand rural health services.

Kiggans voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in July 2025. The law changed Medicaid eligibility and financing rules. The final version passed the House 218-214 on July 3, 2025.

Luria has criticized the Medicaid changes and supports reversing them. She says the changes threaten access to healthcare, particularly in rural communities.

Government accountability is another issue in the race.

Kiggans was an original cosponsor of the Stop Insider Trading Act, which would restrict members of Congress from purchasing individual stocks and require advance public notice of stock sales. She voted for the legislation when it passed the House in July.

She also helped introduce the bipartisan ETHICS Act in August 2025, which would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children from owning or trading individual stocks.

Luria has also expressed support for banning congressional stock trading.

Both candidates have military backgrounds in a district where defense spending and military installations play a major economic role.

Kiggans has emphasized national defense, veterans’ healthcare and military readiness. Luria has highlighted her previous congressional work on defense spending, military families and veterans’ benefits.

Two independent candidates, Matt Baker and Geral D “Bishop” Staten, are also seeking the seat.

Baker, a retired Marine Corps colonel, has emphasized reducing federal debt and improving energy infrastructure. His campaign platform also identifies military readiness and coastal flooding as priorities.

Staten supports universal healthcare and renewable energy development, including offshore wind in Hampton Roads.

The Center Square requested responses from all four candidates about their priorities and positions on major issues. None responded by the requested deadline.