Republican state Sen. John McGuire and Democrat Gloria Witt met on the debate stage Thursday for the first and likely the only time, to make their appeals to voters as to why each should be the one to represent Virginia’s 5th Congressional District.
McGuire is favored to win the general election in the solidly Republican district after he toppled the incumbent, Rep. Bob Good, by about 370 votes in a contentious primary. Thursday night was the first time he graced any debate stage during the election year after he declined to debate Good.
Witt defeated her two Democratic opponents with 57% of the vote after meeting them on the debate stage multiple times throughout the primary.
The two candidates disagreed for much of the 45-minute debate, but they seemed to have one similarity: They both put emphasis on trades and access to career and technical education as a way to better support rural communities.
Questions posed to the two congressional hopefuls were submitted prior to the event by students at Hampden-Sydney College, where the debate took place. The topics ranged from issues specific to the 5th District and rural life, to foreign policy, to civility in politics during a time of hyperpartisanship in Congress.
What did the candidates say about issues in 5th District and rural America?
Witt said she supports policies that would lower pharmaceutical costs, increase access to affordable housing and expand career and technical education for students, when asked how she plans to bring economic relief to the district. McGuire said the U.S. needs to become energy independent through fracking and other methods to lower the cost of living, and that he would support legislation to do so.
McGuire said he would support legislation that supports the trades and said that the U.S. needs to become energy dominant to lower the cost of fuel when asked how he would tackle challenges that are unique to life in rural areas. Witt said she would support legislation that provides access to affordable housing and healthcare, broadband access in rural areas and career and technical education.
When asked whether the federal government has a role to play in education policy and how she would support K-12 education, Witt said she would increase teacher wages, bring in subject matter experts to become teachers, and support career and technical education. McGuire said that children should be taught how to think and not what to think, and that he wants education policy to continue to be decided at the local level.
What did the candidates say about foreign policy?
When asked about policy to fix the U.S. immigration system, McGuire said he “totally supports President Trump’s idea of taking these dangerous criminals and taking them back to their countries.” Witt said that immigration supports the U.S. economy by providing U.S. businesses with labor that they would not otherwise have. She said would work to fix the current immigration system with resources and technology.
McGuire said the U.S. needs to put money toward helping people affected by Hurricane Helene when asked about further funding for Ukraine in their ongoing war with Russia. Witt said that “Ukraine is fighting a war for democracy,” and that she is “all in for fully funding whatever it takes” in order for Ukraine to maintain its freedom.
What did the candidates say about civility and political polarization?
Witt said she would accept the results of the Nov. 5 election regardless of the outcome when asked. She pointed out that McGuire attended the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021. McGuire said he would accept the results of the election, “if it’s fair.” But, he said, “there is nothing wrong with challenging irregularities until you’re satisfied.” Regarding his attendance at the rally on Jan. 6, McGuire said he was exercising his constitutional rights.
McGuire pointed to his record of working on bipartisan legislation in the General Assembly when asked if he thinks he will be able to work across the aisle in Congress in a time of hyperpartisanship. Witt said she planned to work in a bipartisan manner if elected to Congress and pointed out that McGuire also voted against a number of bipartisan bills during his time in the General Assembly.
Who are the candidates?
McGuire, a staunch conservative and an early supporter of former President Donald Trump, received Trump’s endorsement in the primary against Good. McGuire has said that he has “a Biblical worldview and will always stand up for righteousness.” He was first elected to represent the 56th District in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2017, when the district included areas north and west of Richmond, prior to redistricting. He ran unopposed in the 2023 election for the 10th Senate District and announced his bid for Congress just days after winning the seat.
In his closing remarks on Thursday, McGuire talked about his family, his background as a Navy SEAL, and his experience learning to walk again after an injury.
“What I learned is that there is no substitute for hard work,” he said.
Witt was born and raised in Amherst County, and while she’s always considered herself a “country girl,” she is also a businesswoman, a mother and a grandmother. She has worked for 32 years with global energy leader Framatome (formerly AREVA). She also served as a board member of several organizations, including as president of the NAACP Amherst County branch and as a board member with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities.
In her closing remarks, Witt talked about growing up in rural Amherst County. Her values, she said, are faith, family, justice and community.
“I want to be your voice in Congress, because I am District 5,” she said.
