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ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Congressional candidate Adam Dunigan is back in the race for Virginia's 8th Congressional District after the Supreme Court of Virginia struck down the state's voter-approved redistricting referendum on Friday, reverting the commonwealth's congressional map to its pre-referendum boundaries.
Dunigan, a Marine combat veteran and former CIA case officer, launched his bid in January in the 8th District, which encompasses Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and parts of Fairfax County. After voters approved the redistricting referendum on April 21, he shifted his campaign to the newly drawn 7th District, which stretched from Northern Virginia to areas west of Richmond.
Friday's 4-3 ruling, which found that the General Assembly violated procedural requirements when it placed the constitutional amendment on the ballot, places the Arlington resident back in the 8th District, where he resides and originally filed.
In a statement issued Monday, Dunigan said the decision will not deter his campaign.
"Virginians need to send leaders to Washington that will fight for the people, hold corrupt power accountable, and defend our democracy," Dunigan said. "That's been my mission since day one. It will stay my mission regardless of how lines are drawn on a map. We cannot let this decision discourage us from actively fighting for our democracy."
Dunigan rejoins a crowded Democratic primary field challenging seven-term incumbent Rep. Don Beyer in the Aug. 4 primary. Other challengers include former Alexandria City Council member Mohamed "Mo" Seifeldein, Arlington energy manager Daniel Gray, former State Department official Michael Duffin and Frank Ferreira. Beyer has been endorsed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger and U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
Dunigan also criticized the court's decision, which voided a referendum that passed by roughly three percentage points and silenced the voices of more than three million Virginia voters.
"The Supreme Court of Virginia struck down the results of a free and fair referendum where the voices of three million Virginians supported the drawing of a new congressional map," Dunigan said. "Those voices have now been silenced. This decision further highlights the urgent need to defend democracy, which is already hanging by a thread in this country. We are a nation of laws and have to respect today's decision, but this feels like capitulation against the gutting of the Voting Rights Act last week. The will of the people has been ignored in Virginia, and our voters and communities will be disenfranchised as a result."
The filing deadline for U.S. House candidates is May 26. Virginia Democrats have said they will appeal the state Supreme Court's decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
