McClellan Holds Virginia 4th District Seat
Democratic Rep. Jennifer McClellan leads Republican challenger Robert Murray Jr. by more than 35 points in the preliminary count.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
Rep. Jennifer McClellan, a Democrat, retained Virginia's 4th Congressional District seat in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 election. The Associated Press called the race based on preliminary results, with McClellan holding 67.1% of the vote as of about 8:30 p.m.
Why it matters
The result keeps the district in Democratic hands for another term and reflects a wide margin over Republican challenger Robert Murray Jr., who has never held elected office. Results remain preliminary until certified by Virginia's State Board of Elections.
McClellan held 67.1% of the vote as of about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, leading Murray by more than 35 points. The figures are preliminary and remain subject to certification by Virginia's State Board of Elections.
The players
Jennifer McClellan
A Democrat who has served in elected office for more than 20 years, including the Virginia General Assembly and now the U.S. House of Representatives.
Robert Murray Jr.
A Republican challenger who founded an IT company in Richmond's Southside after high school and has never held elected office.
The details
McClellan has served in elected office for more than 20 years, including in the Virginia General Assembly before her current seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Murray founded an IT company in Richmond's Southside after high school and has not previously held public office.
Timeline
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Voters cast ballots in the district election.
About 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: McClellan held 67.1% of the vote in preliminary returns.
Political Context
Results in this race remain provisional until Virginia's State Board of Elections certifies the count, the step that makes the outcome official. Until certification, the 67.1% figure reported Tuesday evening is the working tally used for the race.
Voters in Virginia's 4th District now have a settled preliminary result, but the official outcome depends on certification by the State Board of Elections. The result determines which representative serves the district in the U.S. House.
The takeaway
Preliminary results can shift before certification, so readers should look to official state election reporting for the final count in close or contested races. In this race, the margin is wide enough that the outcome is unlikely to change.
Further reading
Explore more on Elections in Virginia for context on how state races are decided.
