Virginia's 7th congressional district election, 2008

The Virginia 7th congressional district election, 2008 is scheduled for November 4, 2008. This is the same day as the United States presidential election, 2008.

The 7th District includes western parts of Richmond, as well as its nearby suburbs in Henrico County, but otherwise is largely rural. CQ Politics rates the seat "Safe Republican".cite web |url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-house |title=Balance of Power Scorecard: House |work=CQ Politics |accessdate=2008-08-26 Note, the percentages are incorrectly rounded.] The "Cook Political Report" rates it "Solid Republican".cite web |url=http://www.cookpolitical.com/races/house/chart.php |title=2008 Competitive House Race Chart |publisher=Cook Political Report |accessdate=2008-08-26]

Candidates

Republican

Incumbent Eric Cantor is the Republican nominee. He has held the seat since January 2001, having won in the U.S. House Elections of 2000 to succeed retiring Congressman Thomas J. Bliley, Jr.. Cantor won the district in 2006 by 64% to 34%.

Democratic

Anita Hartke is the Democratic candidate. Mrs. Hartke, 48, is a resident of Amissville, Virginia in Culpepper County, though the town is primarily located in neighboring Rappahannock County. She is the daughter of the three-term US Senator from Indiana, Vance Hartke. [cite web |url=http://www.hartkeforcongress.com|title=Anitha Hartke for Congress |accessdate=2008-08-26] Her stated positions include improvements on the National Energy Policy by investing in alternative energy in order to reduce the use of foreign oil and fossi fuels. She believes that this would create more jobs that could not be outsourced while simulataneously fighting global warming. She also supports universal health care. Concerning the Iraq War, Hartke supports a gradual withdrawal of troops, stating that a brigade should be brought home every month. She supports reform of the controversial No Child Left Behind Act and increasing funding to the public school system. She also hopes to end student college loan rates in excess of 20%. [cite web |url=http://www.hartkeforcongress.com/issues.htm |title=Anitha Hartke for Congress: Issues |accessdate=2008-08-26]

ee also

* Virginia's 7th congressional district
* United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?cycle=2008&id=VA07 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org
*"Official campaign websites"
** [http://www.hartkeforcongress.com/ Anita Hartke] Democratic
** [http://www.cantorforcongress.com/ Eric Cantor] Republican