(The Center Square) – Federal spending, healthcare, agriculture and energy are among the issues facing voters in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District as three candidates on the ballot compete in Tuesday’s election.

Republican Rep. John McGuire faces Democrat Tom Perriello, a former congressman, and independent Cooke Harvey in a district that includes Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Danville and much of central and Southside Virginia.

McGuire voted for President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law in July 2025. The legislation extended provisions of the 2017 tax cuts, created new deductions for qualifying tip and overtime income, and changed Medicaid eligibility and financing rules.

Perriello has called for reversing the Medicaid changes and restoring enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that expired at the end of 2025.

McGuire voted against legislation in January that would have extended those enhanced tax credits for three years. The measure passed the House 230-196.

Harvey, in responses to The Center Square’s questionnaire, proposed cutting federal deficit spending in half through spending reductions and stronger enforcement of tax laws, including those involving profits shifted overseas.

Agriculture is another issue in the district, where farmers face fuel, equipment and transportation costs.

McGuire introduced his first bill in Congress in 2025, legislation that would allow Virginia to issue special permits for certain trucks carrying agricultural and forestry products, raising their maximum loaded weight to 90,000 pounds on interstate highways.

Perriello has proposed reducing fuel and fertilizer costs by changing tariff policies, expanding local meat processing and allowing farmers to repair their own equipment.

Both McGuire and Perriello support simplifying the federal H-2A agricultural guest worker program. McGuire also calls for stronger immigration enforcement, while Perriello emphasizes protecting workers’ wages and rights.

Harvey told The Center Square he supports shifting conventional farming subsidies toward regenerative agriculture and strengthening regional food security.

Energy development is another issue as communities consider data centers and the infrastructure needed to supply them with electricity.

McGuire supported the Ratepayer Protection Act, which passed the House in September. The legislation would require regulators and certain utilities to consider standards for making large data centers pay infrastructure costs associated with serving them.

Perriello opposes the proposed Valley Link transmission line and supports stronger protections for farmland and private property. He also wants to remove tax advantages benefiting data centers.

Harvey said residents should have direct control over where public infrastructure is built. He opposes public subsidies for private infrastructure and said communities should receive continuing compensation when public money is used.

Virginia’s 5th Congressional District is among the 66 districts targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in its effort to regain a majority of the U.S. House.

The Center Square did not receive before publicaiton responses to its questionnaires from McGuire or Perriello.