The Fairfax Girl Team 
Virginia voters will head to the polls this fall for the 2026 midterm election, and there is a lot on the ballot. In addition to a statewide U.S. Senate race and races for all 11 of Virginia’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, voters will weigh in on three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution. Depending on where you live, there may also be local races, town elections, or bond questions. For Northern Virginia voters, congressional districts can get a little confusing: Fairfax County alone is divided among three different U.S. House districts. We’ve broken down what residents of Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church can expect to see, plus plenty of official resources for learning more. Read on for everything Northern Virginia voters need to know about the 2026 Virginia election.
What’s on the Ballot in Virginia in 2026?
Virginia’s 2026 election is a federal midterm election. Unlike the 2025 election, Virginians are not choosing a governor or voting on the full Virginia House of Delegates.
The major contests and questions on ballots throughout Virginia include:
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution
- Certain local races and ballot questions, depending on the locality
Northern Virginia voters should note that the exact ballot varies based on home address. Fairfax County, for example, is divided between Virginia’s 8th, 10th, and 11th Congressional Districts. Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church are in the 8th District, while Loudoun County is in the 10th District.
Fairfax County has official 2026 sample ballots available for the 8th, 10th, and 11th Congressional Districts, as well as a separate ballot for Town of Herndon residents.
Virginia U.S. Senate: Mark Warner vs. Bert Mizusawa
Every Virginia ballot includes the race for U.S. Senate between Democratic incumbent Mark Warner and Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa.
Mark Warner has represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate since 2009 and previously served as governor of Virginia. He is seeking another six-year term. Voters can also view Warner’s federal candidate filings through the Federal Election Commission.
Bert Mizusawa is a retired U.S. Army major general who won the Republican nomination in 2026. His background includes military, intelligence, and national-security work. Mizusawa’s campaign positions are available on his official issues page, and his FEC candidate information is available here.
For Northern Virginia in particular, issues including affordability, federal employment, government contracting, health care, artificial intelligence, national security, energy, transportation, and the regional economy have connections to the statewide race.
Virginia’s 8th Congressional District
Virginia’s 8th Congressional District includes Arlington County, Alexandria, Falls Church, and portions of Fairfax County.
The candidates appearing in the 8th District race are:
- Donald S. Beyer Jr. — Democratic Party
- Tony A. Sabio — Republican Party
- Shelly M. Arnoldi — Libertarian Party
- Tim S. Sharman — Independent
Incumbent Representative Don Beyer has represented the district in Congress since 2015. The full list of candidates can also be viewed on official sample ballots from Arlington County, Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax County.
The district has historically leaned Democratic, but the 2026 campaign has brought attention to several issues that are especially relevant to Northern Virginia, including federal employment, affordability, housing, artificial intelligence, government spending, data centers, and the regional economy.
Virginia’s 10th Congressional District
Virginia’s 10th Congressional District includes Loudoun County, portions of Fairfax and Prince William counties, Fauquier County, Rappahannock County, Manassas, and Manassas Park.
The major-party candidates are:
- Suhas Subramanyam — Democratic Party
- Dave Beckwith — Republican Party
Suhas Subramanyam was first elected to Congress in 2024 after former Representative Jennifer Wexton retired. His campaign maintains additional information at Suhas for Virginia, and his federal candidate filings can be viewed through the Federal Election Commission.
Republican Dave Beckwith is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and former Department of Defense official who won the Republican nomination in August 2026.
For Loudoun and western Fairfax residents, this is one of the most locally relevant congressional races of the year. Data centers, energy infrastructure, housing and development, federal employment, education, Dulles International Airport, transportation, national security, and affordability are all issues with particularly strong connections to the district.
Loudoun residents can see the county’s complete slate of 2026 sample ballots here. Fairfax County residents who live in VA-10 can find the appropriate Fairfax County sample ballot here.
Virginia’s 11th Congressional District
Virginia’s 11th Congressional District covers much of Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and communities including Vienna and Herndon.
The candidates are:
- James Walkinshaw — Democratic Party
- Arthur Purves — Republican Party
- Dianne Blais — Green Party
James Walkinshaw was elected to Congress in a 2025 special election following the death of longtime Representative Gerry Connolly. Before joining Congress, Walkinshaw represented the Braddock District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and previously served as Connolly’s chief of staff.
Walkinshaw’s campaign information can be found at James Walkinshaw for Congress, while his official campaign filings are available through the Federal Election Commission.
For Fairfax County residents, issues tied to the federal workforce, housing costs, transportation, taxes, government spending, education, development, and the regional economy are among the topics connected to the VA-11 race.
Fairfax voters can view the county’s official VA-11 sample ballot here.
Wait — Which Congressional District Am I In?
This is an especially relevant question for Fairfax County residents because the county is divided among three different congressional districts.
- Arlington County: VA-8
- City of Alexandria: VA-8
- City of Falls Church: VA-8
- Loudoun County: VA-10
- Fairfax County: VA-8, VA-10, or VA-11, depending on the address
Fairfax County’s precinct and district maps are a helpful resource for understanding how the county is divided, while the sample-ballot page separates ballots by congressional district.
There Are Also Three Virginia Constitutional Amendments
Candidate races aren’t the only major decisions on Virginia’s 2026 ballot. Voters statewide will also see three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution.
The three questions concern reproductive freedom, marriage equality, and voting rights.
Constitutional Amendment Question 1: Reproductive Freedom
The first proposed amendment concerns reproductive health care and would add a new section to Article I of the Virginia Constitution concerning a fundamental right to reproductive freedom.
The ballot question covers decisions involving prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management, and fertility care. It also addresses protections for health care providers and patients and circumstances under which abortion may be restricted during the third trimester.
Readers can review the full text of the reproductive-freedom proposal through Virginia’s Legislative Information System.
Constitutional Amendment Question 2: Marriage
The second proposed amendment concerns marriage equality.
Virginia’s Constitution currently contains language prohibiting same-sex marriage, although that provision has been unenforceable under federal constitutional law since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision.
The proposed amendment would remove the prohibition and establish that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race, with legally valid marriages receiving equal treatment under Virginia law.
The full proposed marriage amendment is available through Virginia’s Legislative Information System.
Constitutional Amendment Question 3: Voting Rights
The third proposed constitutional amendment concerns voting rights for people convicted of felonies.
The proposal would establish a fundamental right to vote in the Virginia Constitution and change the constitutional provisions governing when voting rights are restored following a felony conviction. It would also update existing language concerning people who have been found to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting.
The three constitutional amendment questions can be viewed together on official 2026 sample ballots from the City of Alexandria, City of Falls Church, Fairfax County, and Loudoun County.
Fairfax County Voters Have Two Additional Bond Questions
Fairfax County residents have two additional local questions to know about in 2026: proposed bond referendums for parks and community health and human services facilities.
One asks whether Fairfax County should be authorized to issue up to $180 million in bonds for parks and park facilities. The funding could support the acquisition, construction, development, improvement, and preservation of parks, recreational facilities, and open space.
The second asks whether the county should be authorized to issue up to $75 million in bonds for community health and human services facilities.
Fairfax County has a dedicated 2026 bond referendum resource with additional information about the projects and proposed funding.
Herndon Residents Will Have Additional Local Choices
Some Fairfax County residents will see additional municipal races depending on where they live.
The Fairfax County Office of Elections has posted a separate 2026 ballot for residents of the Town of Herndon, reflecting town-level contests in addition to federal and statewide questions.
The Town of Herndon also maintains local election information.
Arlington Has Several Local Races, Too
Arlington residents have more than federal races and constitutional amendments on their ballots.
According to Arlington County Voting + Elections, the November ballot also includes races for County Board, School Board, and Treasurer.
Arlington is also using ranked-choice voting for the County Board contest.
Readers can find the full candidate list and official sample ballot through Arlington’s election portal.
Loudoun Town Residents Should Check Their Local Ballot
In addition to the U.S. Senate, VA-10, and constitutional amendment questions, residents of some incorporated towns in Loudoun County have additional local contests.
Loudoun County has posted separate 2026 sample ballots for residents of:
- Hamilton
- Hillsboro
- Leesburg
- Lovettsville
- Purcellville
The broader Loudoun County Elections + Voter Registration office also maintains local election information and election notices.
What’s on Alexandria’s Ballot?
Alexandria is entirely within Virginia’s 8th Congressional District.
The city’s official 2026 sample ballot includes the U.S. Senate race, all four candidates for the VA-8 congressional seat, and the three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution.
Additional city election information is available through the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration + Elections.
What’s on the Falls Church Ballot?
The City of Falls Church is also within Virginia’s 8th Congressional District.
The city’s Voter Registration + Elections Office lists the U.S. Senate race, VA-8 congressional contest, and all three constitutional amendment questions for the 2026 election.
Falls Church also has its local election-office resource page with current city election notices and sample-ballot information.
What Happened With Virginia’s Redistricting Referendum?
Anyone who followed Virginia politics earlier this year may remember a statewide referendum concerning congressional redistricting — and may understandably be confused about which map is being used in November.
The short answer is that Virginia’s existing congressional districts remain in place for the 2026 general election.
An April 2026 referendum proposed temporarily allowing the General Assembly to adopt new congressional districts under certain circumstances. The Supreme Court of Virginia later voided the referendum.
The Virginia Department of Elections confirmed that the congressional boundaries in effect prior to the referendum remain in place.
For Northern Virginia, that means:
- Fairfax County: VA-8, VA-10 + VA-11
- Loudoun County: VA-10
- Arlington County: VA-8
- Alexandria: VA-8
- Falls Church: VA-8
Official 2026 Election Resources for Northern Virginia
Because ballot information varies by locality and address, official state and local election offices are the best resources for current information about individual ballots and local contests.
- Virginia: Virginia Department of Elections
- Virginia candidate information: Virginia Department of Elections Candidate List
- Virginia legislation + constitutional amendments: Virginia Legislative Information System
- Fairfax County: Fairfax County Office of Elections
- Fairfax County sample ballots: View Sample Ballots
- Fairfax County district maps: Precinct + District Maps
- Fairfax County bond questions: 2026 Bond Referendums
- Loudoun County: Loudoun County Elections
- Loudoun sample ballots: 2026 Sample Ballots
- Arlington County: Arlington Voting + Elections
- Alexandria: Alexandria Voter Registration + Elections
- Alexandria sample ballot: View the 2026 Sample Ballot
- Falls Church: Falls Church Voter Registration + Elections
- Federal campaign filings: Federal Election Commission
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