April 20, 2017 – Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post
State Sen. Jennifer Wexton will announce Thursday she is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Rep. Barbara Comstock (R) in a northern Virginia district that President Donald Trump lost last year.
Many Democrats consider Wexton, a former prosecutor from Loudoun County, the strongest candidate in a field of hopefuls who would stand out in a typical year.
A wave of liberal activism galvanized by Trump’s election convinced Wexton she could unseat Comstock despite the congresswoman’s success in competitive races.
“The grassroots energy is so inspiring,” she said in an interview at her Leesburg home on Wednesday. “I’m seeing all these people who are resisting and persisting and doing what they can to hold their representatives accountable. And this is something I can do. I can help by helping to hold Barbara Comstock accountable.”
Democrats say they expect Wexton to capitalize on her experience in public office and roots in Loudoun County, the heart of the district home to a savvy, diverse electorate courted by both parties.