This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate A.C. Cordoza faces a challenge from Democrat Virgil Thornton for HD-86.
Virginia's House District 86 includes Poquoson City and portions of Hampton City and York County in the Hampton Roads region. In the 2024 election is leaned Democratic by narrow single-digit margins.
Virginia's House District 86 includes Poquoson City and portions of Hampton City and York County in the Hampton Roads region. In the 2024 election is leaned Democratic by narrow single-digit margins.
Virgil G. Thornton Sr. is a lifelong Virginian and community-focused leader, now running as the Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 86th House District. With decades of experience as a Navy civilian technician, foster parent, and executive coach, he champions education, small business growth, and family empowerment—driven by a vision to build a stronger Virginia from the grassroots up.
Virgil G. Thornton Sr. will support HJ 1, which will enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
Virgil Thornton is committed to funding schools and providing every child with a high-quality and affordable education.
Thornton advocates for creating living-wage jobs and believes that thriving small businesses are the “backbone of a strong economy."
Thornton believes “healthcare is a right, not a privilege” and that no one should have to choose between their health and financial stability.
Delegate Cordoza voted against a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution. He opted not to vote on a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted for a“forced outing” bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Refused to vote on a bill establishing the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control so he wouldn’t have to go on the record
- Voted against requiring insurance providers to cover birth control
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against establishing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Virgil G. Thornton Sr. will support HJ 1, which will enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
Virgil Thornton is committed to funding schools and providing every child with a high-quality and affordable education.
Thornton advocates for creating living-wage jobs and believes that thriving small businesses are the “backbone of a strong economy."
Thornton believes “healthcare is a right, not a privilege” and that no one should have to choose between their health and financial stability.
The Opposition
Incumbent Republican Delegate A.C. Cordoza was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2021. He unsuccessfully ran for a Hampton City Council seat in 2020. He served in the U.S. Air Force and attended Thomas Nelson Community College. Later, he worked in cybersecurity at Newport News Shipbuilding. Delegate Cordoza is the Vice-Chairman of the Hampton Republican Party.Delegate Cordoza voted against a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution. He opted not to vote on a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted for a“forced outing” bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Refused to vote on a bill establishing the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control so he wouldn’t have to go on the record
- Voted against requiring insurance providers to cover birth control
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against establishing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Recommendation
Based on his support for abortion access, quality, affordable healthcare, and quality public education, Virgil Thornton Sr. is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-22
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate A.C. Cordoza faces a challenge from Democrat Virgil Thornton for HD-86.
Virginia's House District 86 includes Poquoson City and portions of Hampton City and York County in the Hampton Roads region. In the 2024 election is leaned Democratic by narrow single-digit margins.
Virginia's House District 86 includes Poquoson City and portions of Hampton City and York County in the Hampton Roads region. In the 2024 election is leaned Democratic by narrow single-digit margins.
Virgil G. Thornton Sr. is a lifelong Virginian and community-focused leader, now running as the Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 86th House District. With decades of experience as a Navy civilian technician, foster parent, and executive coach, he champions education, small business growth, and family empowerment—driven by a vision to build a stronger Virginia from the grassroots up.
Virgil G. Thornton Sr. will support HJ 1, which will enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
Virgil Thornton is committed to funding schools and providing every child with a high-quality and affordable education.
Thornton advocates for creating living-wage jobs and believes that thriving small businesses are the “backbone of a strong economy."
Thornton believes “healthcare is a right, not a privilege” and that no one should have to choose between their health and financial stability.
Delegate Cordoza voted against a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution. He opted not to vote on a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted for a“forced outing” bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Refused to vote on a bill establishing the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control so he wouldn’t have to go on the record
- Voted against requiring insurance providers to cover birth control
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against establishing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Virgil G. Thornton Sr. will support HJ 1, which will enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
Virgil Thornton is committed to funding schools and providing every child with a high-quality and affordable education.
Thornton advocates for creating living-wage jobs and believes that thriving small businesses are the “backbone of a strong economy."
Thornton believes “healthcare is a right, not a privilege” and that no one should have to choose between their health and financial stability.
The Opposition
Incumbent Republican Delegate A.C. Cordoza was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2021. He unsuccessfully ran for a Hampton City Council seat in 2020. He served in the U.S. Air Force and attended Thomas Nelson Community College. Later, he worked in cybersecurity at Newport News Shipbuilding. Delegate Cordoza is the Vice-Chairman of the Hampton Republican Party.Delegate Cordoza voted against a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution. He opted not to vote on a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted for a“forced outing” bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Refused to vote on a bill establishing the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control so he wouldn’t have to go on the record
- Voted against requiring insurance providers to cover birth control
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against establishing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Recommendation
Based on his support for abortion access, quality, affordable healthcare, and quality public education, Virgil Thornton Sr. is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-22
