2nd District Democratic primary candidates: Missy Cotter Smasal and Jeremiah ‘Jake’ Denton IV
Three U.S. House of Representatives districts represent areas in Hampton Roads, and Democratic primaries will be held in two.
In the 2nd Congressional District, Missy Cotter Smasal and Jeremiah “Jake” Denton IV will vie for the Democratic nomination. The winner will challenge Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans in what is considered among the most competitive House races in the nation. Kiggans unseated Elaine Luria in 2022. The district spans the Eastern Shore, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Isle of Wight and Franklin.
Primary elections are June 18, but in-person early voting is open and runs through June 15.
Missy Cotter Smasal
Age: 46
Occupation/job title: Executive Director at Valor Run (nonprofit) and adjunct professor at Old Dominion University
Education: Bachelor of Arts in political science from Villanova University; Master of Science in education from Old Dominion University
Previous elected offices held (if any): N/A
Military service (if any): Navy veteran; Served as a Surface Warfare Officer deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom
Website: missy4congress.com
What do you see as the most pressing issue facing the nation and, if elected to Congress, what legislation would you put forth to help address it?
In Congress, I would prioritize defending and protecting reproductive rights, abortion access, and health care. I will vote to restore Roe v. Wade and guarantee that women have the freedom to make their own health care decisions. I’m proud to be the only candidate in this race backed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund and other women’s organizations. Coastal Virginians are also concerned about the rising costs of everyday expenses. In Congress, I will focus on bringing down prices to protect Virginia families and businesses. That starts with taking on the large corporations that took advantage of the pandemic to price gouge Virginians to increase their profits — and aren’t letting up today. We need to crack down on oil and gas companies, massive food conglomerates, and multinational retailers, and hold them accountable for their refusal to lower prices.
Social Security and Medicare could fall short on money in the next decade. How would you propose to reform the programs or the method for funding them and would you consider cuts to keep the programs solvent?
I will never support cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Period. We must take action to ensure that both programs remain strong for future generations. Congress has spent years playing politics and not taking action to protect retirement security for Virginians. The wealthy should pay their fair share in taxes by lifting the Social Security tax cap for high income earners to keep the program funded for the long term. And I’ll protect and expand Medicare’s ability to negotiate lower prescription drug prices which saves money for Medicare and seniors alike, and I’ll never support privatizing Social Security nor attempts to cut Medicare by turning it into a voucher program. Medicare and Social Security should be protected by ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share — NOT by cutting benefits for seniors.
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Jeremiah “Jake” Denton IV
Age: 48
Occupation/job title: Constitutional law and civil rights attorney, Denton Law, PC
Education: Juris Doctorate, William & Mary School of Law
Previous elected offices held (if any): N/A
Military service (if any): N/A
Website: jakedentonforcongress.com
What do you see as the most pressing issue facing the nation and, if elected to Congress, what legislation would you put forth to help address it?
The conservative bloc of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade was an assault on women’s reproductive health and opens the door to ending more privacy protections like the right to same-sex marriage or interracial marriage. This disastrous decision fractured the United States into states where care is legal in one state and not the other, jeopardizing IVF care and forcing pregnant women to choose between life-saving operations and arduous and burdensome travel. If elected, I’ll vote to codify Roe v Wade on day one and look to codify more privacy protections that are under threat by this conservative majority.
Social Security and Medicare could fall short on money in the next decade. How would you propose to reform the programs or the method for funding them and would you consider cuts to keep the programs solvent?
We cannot cut Social Security or Medicare. These are vital programs for seniors in our country who have spent their lives paying to ensure these benefits would be there to support them in their retirement. We have a responsibility to care for older generations. I’m committed to a bipartisan process that works to ensure Social Security and Medicare is not just there for my generation but for my kids’ generation as well. I’m committed to doing the right thing by baby boomers as they start to retire and to make the tough decisions that maintain fiscal discipline in Congress.
