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Jen Kiggans

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Jen Kiggans
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byElaine Luria
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 7th district
In office
January 8, 2020 – November 15, 2022
Preceded byFrank Wagner
Succeeded byAaron Rouse
Personal details
Born
Jennifer Ann Moore

(1971-06-18) June 18, 1971 (age 53)
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSteve Kiggans
Children4
EducationBoston University (BA)
Old Dominion University (BSN)
Vanderbilt University (MSN)
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1993–2003
UnitNaval Aviator
Battles/warsGulf War
Kosovo War

Jennifer Ann Kiggans (née Moore;[1] born June 18, 1971) is an American politician and nurse practitioner serving as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 2nd congressional district. A Republican, Kiggans is a former United States Navy helicopter pilot.[2] She defeated incumbent Elaine Luria in the 2022 election and was re-elected in 2024.[3][4]

Early life and career

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Kiggans was born in Tampa, Florida, and graduated from high school in Orlando, Florida.[5] As a high school student, she worked at Walt Disney World.[6] She is an alumna of Boston University.[7] In 1993 and 1994, she taught English in Japan through the JET Programme.[8] She also lived in Japan as a Navy spouse for five years.[6]

Kiggans joined the United States Navy in 1993[9] and was a Navy pilot for ten years, flying H-46 and H-3 helicopters.[10]

After serving in the military, Kiggans attended nursing school at Old Dominion University and Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. She is an adult geriatric nurse practitioner at Eastern Virginia Medical School and in private practice.[11]

Early political career

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In 2019, Kiggans ran for the Virginia Senate for the 7th district, which was being vacated by Republican incumbent Frank Wagner. In the Republican Party primary, Kiggans defeated Virginia Beach School Board member Carolyn Weems, 52% to 48%.[12]

In the general election, Kiggans faced Democratic state Delegate Cheryl Turpin. The race was viewed as competitive, as the district had very narrowly favored Democrats in recent statewide elections.[13][14] Kiggans and Turpin each spent over $500,000 on television advertisements.[15] Kiggans won, 50.4% to 49.5%.[16]

The Washington Post reported that "Her record didn't always fit neatly along a party line." She voted to expand nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people and for environmental protection measures.

In 2022, Kiggans introduced a bill to prohibit transgender girls from playing girls' sports and voted for an audit of the 2020 election.[17]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2022

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Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 2

Kiggans was the Republican nominee for Virginia's 2nd congressional district in the 2022 election.[18] She narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent Elaine Luria in the November 2022 general election, by a vote of 153,328 (52%) to 143,219 (48%)

2024

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Kiggans (center) with Governor Glenn Youngkin and Speaker Mike Johnson the night before the 2024 elections

Kiggans ran for re-election in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District.[19] Her district was considered relatively competitive, and the Cook Political Report rated her district as "lean Republican."[20] Kiggans defeated Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal by a vote of 201,023 (51%) to 184,174 (47%).[21]

Political positions

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2020 presidential election

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According to The Washington Post, Kiggans "has never beat a 'stolen election' drum", but has hesitated to acknowledge Joe Biden as a legitimate president.[22] She called for a forensic audit of Virginia's 2020 presidential election results; a previous audit of those results found no evidence of fraud.[23] She has said that she does not believe the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago was justified.[22]

Abortion

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Kiggans supports banning abortions after fifteen weeks of pregnancy, except for in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother.[24] In June 2022, she expressed support for the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overruled Roe v. Wade.[25]

Veteran's issues

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Kiggans opposes cuts to funding in the Military Construction, Veteran Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act and supports improving military housing which she has described as, "in disrepair and unlivable".[26]

George Santos

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On December 1, 2023, Kiggans voted to expel Representative George Santos, and was the only Republican from Virginia to vote in favor the resolution.[27]

Caucus memberships

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Personal life

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Kiggans is a lifelong Catholic. She is married to Steve Kiggans, a retired Navy F-18 pilot. They have four children.[6]

Electoral history

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Virginia's 2nd congressional district general election results, 2022[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jen Kiggans 153,323 51.63
Democratic Elaine Luria (incumbent) 143,204 48.22
N/A Write-ins 449 0.15
Total votes 296,976 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
Virginia's 2nd congressional district general election results, 2024
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jen Kiggans (incumbent) 201,023 51.04
Democratic Missy Cotter Smasal 184,174 46.76
Independent Rob Reid 8,676 2.20
Total votes 393,873 100.0
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "About". Jen Kiggans for Congress.
  2. ^ Saksa, Jim (July 6, 2023). "Being a lawmaker is the latest leap for career-hopping Kiggans". Roll Call. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Republican Jen Kiggans flips Virginia's 2nd Congressional District seat". WRIC-TV. November 9, 2022. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "Unofficial results: Jen Kiggans wins re-election in 2nd Congressional District". VPM. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  5. ^ Vozzella, Laura (December 27, 2019). "Virginia Senate gains two political outsiders and friends". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Hall, Matt (November 3, 2019). "Interview: Veteran Jen Kiggans Runs for 7th State Senate District". Bearing Drift. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  7. ^ "Alum a New US Congresswoman | BU Today". Boston University. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  8. ^ "Jennifer Kiggans' Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  9. ^ Russell, Charlie (March 26, 2024). "Congresswoman Kiggans keynotes E.S. Christian Businessmen Prayer Breakfast". Shore Daily News. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Mitchell, Lynn (April 1, 2019). "Veteran Navy Pilot Jen Kiggans Enters Race for 7th Senate District". Bearing Drift. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  11. ^ Albiges, Marie (June 3, 2020). "School board member, Navy pilot face off in Virginia Beach Senate GOP primary". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  12. ^ "2019 Senate of Virginia Republican Primary - District 7". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Oliver, Ned (September 4, 2019). "Cheat sheet: The House and Senate races most likely to decide control of Virginia's statehouse". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  14. ^ "Open Seat Profile - SD7". Virginia Public Access Project. October 17, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  15. ^ O'Keefe, Jimmy (October 24, 2019). "Va. Senate Candidates Ramp Up Attack Ads Ahead Of Election Day". WHSV-TV. Capital News Service. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  16. ^ "2019 November General - Member Senate of Virginia (007)". Virginia State Board of Elections. November 10, 2019. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  17. ^ Flynn, Megan (September 11, 2022). "Ad attacks leave Kiggans trying to reclaim image: 'I'm not an extremist'". Washington Post.
  18. ^ Flynn, Meagan (April 12, 2021). "GOP state senator seeks to challenge Luria for Virginia congressional seat". Washington Post.
  19. ^ "Jen Kiggans for Congress". January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  20. ^ "2024 CPR House Race Ratings-The Cook Political Report". January 2, 2024.
  21. ^ "AP Race Call: Republican Jen Kiggans wins reelection to U.S. House in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District". Wavy. November 6, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Ad attacks leave Kiggans trying to reclaim image: 'I'm not an extremist'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  23. ^ "Trump's influence casts shadow in the Virginia 2nd District race". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  24. ^ "Hampton Roads could help decide control of the House of Representatives". VPM.org. October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  25. ^ "Luria, Kiggans react to Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade". 13newsnow. June 24, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  26. ^ "Freshman GOP lawmaker sounds alarm about dilapidated military housing in district".
  27. ^ "Who voted to expel George Santos? Here's the count on the House expulsion resolution - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  28. ^ "Candidates". RMSP PAC. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  29. ^ "2022 November General". November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 2nd congressional district
2023–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
385th 		Succeeded by
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