With Virginia’s state elections just under three months away, candidates across the commonwealth are mobilizing their campaigns. Known for its off-year elections, Virginia often sets the tone for the congressional midterms that take place throughout the country the following year. In Virginia, an election in a purple district outside of the capital of Richmond has the potential to swing control of the Democrat-run House of Delegates to Republicans.
Virginia’s November elections will feature all 100 seats in the House of Delegates and the top three executive positions in the state, including the governor’s mansion.
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In House District 57, encompassing parts of Henrico and Goochland counties near Richmond, incumbent Republican state Del. David Owen is seeking reelection against Democrat challenger May Nivar. This district is known for being competitive—having swung back-and-forth between parties in recent election cycles.
Owen won the seat in 2023 after a tight battle against Democrat Susanna Gibson, securing the win by nearly 1,000 votes despite being outspent by roughly $500,000 by Gibson. In the 2024 presidential election, former Vice President Kamala Harris received over 53% of the district’s votes, while President Donald Trump drew 44%.
Nivar emphasized the need for students to have access to quality education. “I am committed to raising teacher pay, addressing teacher shortages, and ensuring schools have the specialists and counselors needed to support our children,” Nivar says on her website. “Investing in our schools is investing in Virginia’s future.”
The Daily Signal contacted Nivar’s campaign but had not received comment as of publication time.
Nivar is an alumna of the CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellowship and a former member of Altria’s Women’s Network Mentoring Committee. Additionally, she has garnered endorsements from several prominent Democrats, including the Democrats’ nominee for governor, Abigail Spanberger—who grew up in Henrico county—and former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.
The Republican candidate is also focusing on schools, citing education as one of the top issues his district faces.
“I helped pass a bipartisan budget that included record investments in education, increased teacher pay, and strengthened school safety,” Owen told The Daily Signal. “Additionally, I co-patroned two education bills, including one that will ban harmful dyes in school lunches such as Red No. 40, and another that requires school leadership to notify all parents of any school-connected overdoses.”
The Republican delegate said he went door-to-door and delivered over 1,200 student Honor Roll certificates.
“I found that many schools in our district no longer publicly honor academic achievement,” he said. “I believe that needs to change. We should be celebrating excellence, not minimizing it. I’ll continue advocating for an education system that uplifts effort, celebrates success, and reinforces the value of education.”
If re-elected, Owen said one of his top priorities will be to eliminate the car tax.
“Virginians are tired of being taxed year after year simply for owning a vehicle,” he said. “This tax hits working families, commuters, and small businesses, especially in District 57, where reliable transportation is essential for daily life. Getting rid of the car tax would provide immediate financial relief to thousands of residents and make our region more affordable.”
Nivar said she would promote good-paying jobs, increase wages, cut red tape for small businesses, and provide tax relief for families.
“I will also work to lower the cost of living—making housing, health care, and everyday necessities more affordable—and invest in career and technical education to prepare workers for the jobs of tomorrow,” her website says.
Nivar’s priorities include addressing climate change and expanding the use of clean energy, according to her website.
“Preserving the Virginia Clean Economy Act is essential to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050,” she said on her website. “I will also oppose any efforts to withdraw Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a critical program that mitigates climate change and protects us from extreme weather. By acting boldly now, we can ensure a sustainable, healthier Virginia for generations to come.”
As reported previously by The Daily Signal, a recent study conducted by the Thomas Jefferson Institute showed the phasing out of coal and gas in favor of renewable sources such as wind and solar, as mandated by the Clean Economy Act, will lead to “more shortages and skyrocketing costs” for energy.
Under the law, energy companies that fail to comply with the energy mandates will face noncompliance costs. The Thomas Jefferson Institute projected these costs to climb to $609 million in one year, with consumers facing the effects.