BY KAREN ALEMAN AND LILY NIPPER
STAFF WRITERS
RICHMOND CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE

Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Ben Cline defeated Democratic candidate Beth Macy in the race for Virginia’s 6th Congressional District.

As of 9:30 p.m., Cline captured 56.84% of the vote to Macy’s 43.16%. Cline’s 2026 victory margin was lower than his 28.3% margin in the 2024 race against Democratic candidate Ken Mitchell.

Cline campaigned on lower taxes, reducing regulations, and increasing energy production. He appealed to a district that voted 61.1% for Donald Trump compared to 34.8% for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Macy, an author and former journalist in her first campaign for office, emphasized affordability for rural Virginia farmers and working families. Her campaign focused on holding government officials accountable, making healthcare affordable and strengthening schools.

Despite Macy’s campaign outspending Cline’s four-to-one on political ads, Cline was overwhelmingly expected to win according to numerous polls and analysts.

Cline represented Virginia’s 24th district from 2002 to 2018, and then the 6th district from 2018 to 2026 after Congressional boundaries were redrawn.