GOP Rep Jen Kiggans, a former US Navy helicopter pilot, has tossed her support behind Army veteran Derrick Anderson’s candidacy
Former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret and combat veteran Derrick Anderson got another big thumbs-up in his quest to win a hotly contested House seat.
Rep. Jen Kiggans, who used to fly helicopters for the U.S. Navy, said she’s backing Anderson to represent Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Right now, that seat is held by Rep. Abigail Spanberger. The district is a big target for Republicans in 2024 to try to make their majority in the House stronger.
“I’m happy to support Derrick Anderson for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District,” said Kiggans. “Derrick’s sensible conservative ideas are just what Washington needs. Being a veteran myself, I trust Derrick to work really hard to support our military and make our country stronger.”
Expressing gratitude for Kiggans’ backing, Anderson conveyed to Fox News Digital that the congresswoman’s endorsement validates the value of electing determined representatives to Congress for the betterment of their constituents.
“I’m grateful for Congresswoman Kiggans’ support, a fellow Virginia veteran,” he remarked. “Her track record demonstrates that electing a tenacious advocate to Congress yields positive results for our state. I anticipate collaborating closely with her to foster the growth and prosperity of Virginia.”
“There’s an abundance of tasks demanding attention right now — from securing the border and combating inflation and excessive spending to restoring America’s global standing, among others. I’m prepared to dive in headfirst and advocate for conservative principles in Congress,” he emphasized.
In addition to Kiggans’ endorsement, Anderson has garnered support from several other veterans currently serving in Congress. These include Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL from Wisconsin; Rep. Brian Mast, an Army veteran from Florida; Rep. Mike Waltz, a former Green Beret also from Florida; and Sen. Tom Cotton, a former Army Ranger from Arkansas.
Anderson, a former Army member who served from 2006 to 2014 and completed six tours of duty in the Middle East as part of the Global War on Terror, initiated his congressional campaign in September. Although he initially contested for the seat in 2022, he narrowly missed securing the Republican primary to former congressional candidate Yesli Vega.
After defeating Vega in the general election with a margin of just under 5%, Spanberger, a former CIA operative, secured her third term. In November, she declared her decision not to seek re-election to her House position, opting instead to pursue the governorship of the state.
Anderson is among the nine candidates contending for the Republican nomination in the district.
Republicans presently maintain a narrow three-seat majority in the House of Representatives and aim to strengthen their position in the upcoming elections, partly by leveraging President Biden’s waning popularity. Despite gaining control of the chamber in the 2022 midterm elections, the party’s performance fell short of expectations.
However, the GOP has grown increasingly worried following the defeat of Republican candidate Mazi Pilip to former Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, in the special election for New York’s 3rd Congressional District. This election occurred after nearly all Democrats and 105 Republicans voted to expel then-GOP Rep. George Santos late last year.