CBF Congratulates Virginia’s New Congressional Delegation

At a pivotal moment for Chesapeake Bay restoration, Virginia voters have chosen two new members to send to Congress next year. CBF looks forward to assisting the Commonwealth’s delegation to the 120th Congress in representing Virginia’s key role at the federal level to protect and preserve the Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) congratulates newly elected U.S. Representative-elect Elaine Luria, who represented Virginia’s 2nd congressional district from 2019-2023, and U.S. Representative-elect Shannon Taylor, who was elected to represent Virginia’s 1st congressional district.

The incoming members will join incumbents Bobby Scott, Jennifer McClellan, Ben Cline, Donald Beyer, Morgan Griffith, Eugene Vindman, Suhas Subramanyam, and James Walkinshaw. Virginians also reelected Sen. Mark Warner to a fourth term.

The 5th congressional district race between U.S. Rep. John McGuire and former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello was too close to call as of Wednesday morning.

With the Trump administration’s recent executive order injecting uncertainty into Bay protection efforts, strong leadership and advocacy in Congress is needed more than ever.

Federal funding for the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program, NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office, and USGS’s Chesapeake Bay Program Activities, as well as legislation like the Farm Bill, are critical for preserving the Bay and its waterways, mitigating climate change, and enhancing water quality for the more than 18 million people who call the watershed home.

CBF Senior Policy Director Keisha Sedlacek issued the following statement:

“The incoming Virginia delegation will be sworn in at a critical time for Chesapeake Bay restoration and preservation efforts. Strong leadership in Congress will be needed to help ensure that we continue to build on solid but incomplete progress on Bay cleanup targets and beat back efforts that threaten Bay health.

Saving the Bay has always been a bipartisan endeavor. We’re confident the incoming delegation will continue regional leaders’ strong stewardship of Bay priorities and we look forward to working with them.”