This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Democratic Delegate Kathy Tran faces a challenge from Republican Ed McGovern in HD-18.
Virginia’s House District 18 lies entirely within Fairfax County, covering suburban communities in the western part of the county, including Centreville, Chantilly, and Fair Oaks. In the 2024 election Democratic presidential and senatorial nominees carried the district by comfortable double-digit margins.
Virginia’s House District 18 lies entirely within Fairfax County, covering suburban communities in the western part of the county, including Centreville, Chantilly, and Fair Oaks. In the 2024 election Democratic presidential and senatorial nominees carried the district by comfortable double-digit margins.
Incumbent Democratic Delegate Tran was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2017 and is the Majority Caucus Chair. She was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the U.S. following the Vietnam War. Delegate Tran graduated from Duke University and obtained her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan. She worked for 12 years at the U.S Department of Labor. She and her husband live in West Springfield with their five children.
Committee Assignments: Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (Natural Resources Subcommittee Chair), Finance, Health and Human Services (Vice Chair; Social Services Subcommittee Chair), Rules
- Co-sponsored a bill to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Co-sponsored a bill to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution
Delegate Tran fights for increased investments in public schools, higher education, and student financial aid. Key legislation:
- Co-patroned a bill to raise teacher pay to the national average
- Voted against a “forced-outing” bill, targeting transgender students
- Voted to require transgender student-friendly policies in public schools
- Voted to increase protections and support against cyber-bullying
Delegate Tran believes that all Virginians have a right to high-quality healthcare, affordable childcare, and good job opportunities. Key legislation:
- Chief patron of a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Co-patroned a bill to establish paid family and medical leave
- Voted in favor of a bill to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted to authorize offshore wind farm energy capacity
- Co-sponsored a bill to cap the cost of insulin at $50 for a 30-day supply
- Voted in favor of establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans
- Voted in favor of a bill to establish the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted to require state health insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved birth control
- Co-patroned a bill to establish Gun Free Zones in Capitol Square and public institutions of higher education
- Voted to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or possession of assault-style weapons
- Voted to establish regulations for AI
- Voted to establish the Internet Safety Advisory Council
- Voted to prohibit the use of campaign funds for personal expenses
Committee Assignments: Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (Natural Resources Subcommittee Chair), Finance, Health and Human Services (Vice Chair; Social Services Subcommittee Chair), Rules
- Co-sponsored a bill to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Co-sponsored a bill to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution
Delegate Tran fights for increased investments in public schools, higher education, and student financial aid. Key legislation:
- Co-patroned a bill to raise teacher pay to the national average
- Voted against a “forced-outing” bill, targeting transgender students
- Voted to require transgender student-friendly policies in public schools
- Voted to increase protections and support against cyber-bullying
Delegate Tran believes that all Virginians have a right to high-quality healthcare, affordable childcare, and good job opportunities. Key legislation:
- Chief patron of a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Co-patroned a bill to establish paid family and medical leave
- Voted in favor of a bill to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted to authorize offshore wind farm energy capacity
- Co-sponsored a bill to cap the cost of insulin at $50 for a 30-day supply
- Voted in favor of establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans
- Voted in favor of a bill to establish the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted to require state health insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved birth control
- Co-patroned a bill to establish Gun Free Zones in Capitol Square and public institutions of higher education
- Voted to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or possession of assault-style weapons
- Voted to establish regulations for AI
- Voted to establish the Internet Safety Advisory Council
- Voted to prohibit the use of campaign funds for personal expenses
The Opposition
Republican Ed McGovern is a retired federal employee originally from Philadelphia. McGovern holds degrees in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and Political Science from Shippensburg University. He pledges to prioritize “education over ideology,” but does not specify what that means. He hopes to bring more federal agencies to Fairfax County and wants to slash green energy mandates.McGovern does not support access to abortion.Recommendation
Due to her continued advocacy for abortion access, quality public education, and workers' rights, Incumbent Democratic Delegate Kathy Tran is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-22
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Democratic Delegate Kathy Tran faces a challenge from Republican Ed McGovern in HD-18.
Virginia’s House District 18 lies entirely within Fairfax County, covering suburban communities in the western part of the county, including Centreville, Chantilly, and Fair Oaks. In the 2024 election Democratic presidential and senatorial nominees carried the district by comfortable double-digit margins.
Virginia’s House District 18 lies entirely within Fairfax County, covering suburban communities in the western part of the county, including Centreville, Chantilly, and Fair Oaks. In the 2024 election Democratic presidential and senatorial nominees carried the district by comfortable double-digit margins.
Incumbent Democratic Delegate Tran was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2017 and is the Majority Caucus Chair. She was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the U.S. following the Vietnam War. Delegate Tran graduated from Duke University and obtained her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan. She worked for 12 years at the U.S Department of Labor. She and her husband live in West Springfield with their five children.
Committee Assignments: Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (Natural Resources Subcommittee Chair), Finance, Health and Human Services (Vice Chair; Social Services Subcommittee Chair), Rules
- Co-sponsored a bill to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Co-sponsored a bill to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution
Delegate Tran fights for increased investments in public schools, higher education, and student financial aid. Key legislation:
- Co-patroned a bill to raise teacher pay to the national average
- Voted against a “forced-outing” bill, targeting transgender students
- Voted to require transgender student-friendly policies in public schools
- Voted to increase protections and support against cyber-bullying
Delegate Tran believes that all Virginians have a right to high-quality healthcare, affordable childcare, and good job opportunities. Key legislation:
- Chief patron of a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Co-patroned a bill to establish paid family and medical leave
- Voted in favor of a bill to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted to authorize offshore wind farm energy capacity
- Co-sponsored a bill to cap the cost of insulin at $50 for a 30-day supply
- Voted in favor of establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans
- Voted in favor of a bill to establish the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted to require state health insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved birth control
- Co-patroned a bill to establish Gun Free Zones in Capitol Square and public institutions of higher education
- Voted to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or possession of assault-style weapons
- Voted to establish regulations for AI
- Voted to establish the Internet Safety Advisory Council
- Voted to prohibit the use of campaign funds for personal expenses
Committee Assignments: Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (Natural Resources Subcommittee Chair), Finance, Health and Human Services (Vice Chair; Social Services Subcommittee Chair), Rules
- Co-sponsored a bill to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Co-sponsored a bill to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution
Delegate Tran fights for increased investments in public schools, higher education, and student financial aid. Key legislation:
- Co-patroned a bill to raise teacher pay to the national average
- Voted against a “forced-outing” bill, targeting transgender students
- Voted to require transgender student-friendly policies in public schools
- Voted to increase protections and support against cyber-bullying
Delegate Tran believes that all Virginians have a right to high-quality healthcare, affordable childcare, and good job opportunities. Key legislation:
- Chief patron of a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Co-patroned a bill to establish paid family and medical leave
- Voted in favor of a bill to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted to authorize offshore wind farm energy capacity
- Co-sponsored a bill to cap the cost of insulin at $50 for a 30-day supply
- Voted in favor of establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans
- Voted in favor of a bill to establish the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted to require state health insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved birth control
- Co-patroned a bill to establish Gun Free Zones in Capitol Square and public institutions of higher education
- Voted to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or possession of assault-style weapons
- Voted to establish regulations for AI
- Voted to establish the Internet Safety Advisory Council
- Voted to prohibit the use of campaign funds for personal expenses
The Opposition
Republican Ed McGovern is a retired federal employee originally from Philadelphia. McGovern holds degrees in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and Political Science from Shippensburg University. He pledges to prioritize “education over ideology,” but does not specify what that means. He hopes to bring more federal agencies to Fairfax County and wants to slash green energy mandates.McGovern does not support access to abortion.Recommendation
Due to her continued advocacy for abortion access, quality public education, and workers' rights, Incumbent Democratic Delegate Kathy Tran is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-22
