Jen Kiggans

Jen Kiggans
Official portrait, 2024
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byElaine Luria
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 7th district
In office
January 8, 2020 – November 15, 2022
Preceded byFrank Wagner
Succeeded byAaron Rouse
Personal details
BornJennifer Ann Moore
(1971-06-18) June 18, 1971 (age 55)
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Steve Kiggans
​
(m. 1999)​
Children4
EducationBoston University (BA)
Old Dominion University (BSN)
Vanderbilt University (MSN)
WebsiteHouse website
Campaign website
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service
1993–2003
UnitNaval Aviator
Battles/warsIraq War
Kosovo War

Jennifer Ann Kiggans (née Moore; born June 18, 1971) is an American politician, former United States Navy helicopter pilot, and geriatric nurse practitioner serving as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 2nd congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served in the Virginia Senate from 2020 to 2022.

Kiggans was first elected to the House in 2022, defeating Democratic incumbent Elaine Luria. She was re-elected in 2024.

Early life and career

Kiggans was born in Tampa, Florida, and graduated from high school in Orlando, Florida. As a high school student, she worked at Walt Disney World. She is an alumna of Boston University. In 1993 and 1994, she taught English in Japan through the JET Programme. She also lived in Japan as a Navy spouse for five years.

Kiggans joined the United States Navy in 1993 and was a Navy pilot for ten years, flying H-46 and H-3 helicopters.

After serving in the military, Kiggans attended nursing school at Old Dominion University and Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. She is an adult geriatric nurse practitioner at Eastern Virginia Medical School and in private practice.

Early political career

In 2019, Kiggans ran for the Virginia Senate for the 7th district, which was being vacated by Republican incumbent Frank Wagner. In the Republican Party primary, Kiggans defeated Virginia Beach School Board member Carolyn Weems, 52% to 48%.

In the general election, Kiggans faced Democratic state Delegate Cheryl Turpin. The race was viewed as competitive, as the district had very narrowly favored Democrats in recent statewide elections. Kiggans and Turpin each spent over $500,000 on television advertisements. Kiggans won, 50.4% to 49.5%.

The Washington Post reported that "Her record didn't always fit neatly along a party line." She voted to expand nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people and for environmental protection measures.

In 2022, Kiggans introduced a bill to prohibit transgender girls from playing girls' sports and voted for an audit of the 2020 election.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Kiggans in 2022

2022

Kiggans announced on April 12, 2021, that she was running for Virginia's 2nd congressional district to challenge Democratic incumbent Elaine Luria in the 2022 election. Virginia's 2nd district—redrawn after the 2020 census—contains Chesapeake, the Eastern Shore, Isle of Wight, Southampton County, Suffolk County, and Virginia Beach.

Kiggans secured her party's nomination on June 21, 2022, after defeating Jarome Bell in the Republican primary with 56% of the vote. She campaigned on issues regarding the economy and inflation, as well as transgenderism and the parental rights movement.

The Cook Political Report rated the election as a "tossup" by November 7, 2022. Kiggans defeated Luria in the November general election—a race viewed as critical for the Republican Party to regain its House majority in the 2022 midterms.

2024

Kiggans announced on January 7, 2024, that she would run for reelection in the 2024 election—a race targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In June 2024, she participated in a rally with former president Donald Trump and incumbent governor Glenn Youngkin in Chesapeake after the first presidential debate.

Kiggans faced Democratic nominee Missy Cotter Smasal, a fellow Navy veteran. Kiggans campaigned on support for a Mexico–United States border wall and lowering inflation occurring under the Biden administration. The Cook Political Report rated the election as "Lean Republican" by November 1, 2024. Kiggans defeated Smasal by a 4-point margin in the general election, larger than her 3-point margin in the 2022 election.

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Kiggans (center) with Governor Glenn Youngkin and Speaker Mike Johnson the night before the 2024 elections

Budget and taxes

In May 2025, Kiggans voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Kiggans advocated to maintain appropriated funds for NASA's Wallops Flight Facility and Langley Research Center in the 2026 federal budget. She argues that these locations are "prized possession for the Commonwealth" and that "the work that's going on there from the defense side, but also on the private industry side, [...] with places like Rocket Lab and Firefly, and Northrop Grumman is there."

Foreign and military policy

Kiggans opposes cuts to funding in the Military Construction, Veteran Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act and supports improving military housing which she has described as, "in disrepair and unlivable".

In 2023, Kiggans was one of 18 Republicans who voted against Jim Jordan's nomination for Speaker of the House all three times. According to Kiggans, Jordan did not grant assurances he wouldn't cut the defense budget.

2026 Iran war

Kiggans has strongly supported the Trump administration in the 2026 Iran war, also known as Operation Epic Fury. Kiggans stated in March 2026 that the goals of the war include "destroying Iran's ballistic missile capability, destroying their navy, and destroying their ability to have nuclear weapons." In June 2026, Kiggans voted against a war powers resolution that would have limited the president's ability to wage war in Iran without congressional consent.

Healthcare

Kiggans voted against extending Affordable Care Act subsidies in December 2025.

Kiggans supports banning abortions after fifteen weeks of pregnancy, except for in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother. In June 2022, she expressed support for the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overruled Roe v. Wade.

Other

According to The Washington Post, Kiggans "has never beat a 'stolen election' drum", but has hesitated to acknowledge Joe Biden as a legitimate president. She called for a forensic audit of Virginia's 2020 presidential election results; a previous audit of those results found no evidence of fraud. She has said that she does not believe the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago was justified.

Personal life

Kiggans is a lifelong Roman Catholic. She has been married since 1999 to Steve Kiggans, a retired Navy F-18 pilot. They have four children. Kiggans' father is also a veteran, serving in the Vietnam War as an Army Green Beret.

Electoral history

U.S. House of Representatives

2022

2022 Virginia's 2nd congressional district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jen Kiggans 23,300 55.69
Republican Jarome Bell 11,330 27.08
Republican Thomas Altman 5,972 14.27
Republican Andrew Baan 1,237 2.96
Total votes 41,839 100.00
General election
Republican Jen Kiggans 153,328 51.63
Democratic Elaine Luria (incumbent) 143,219 48.22
Write-in 442 0.15
Total votes 296,989 100.00

2024

2024 Virginia's 2nd congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jen Kiggans (incumbent) 207,368 50.74
Democratic Missy Cotter Smasal 191,666 46.89
Independent Robert Reid Jr. 9,197 2.25
Write-in 471 0.12
Total votes 408,702 100.00

References

  1. ↑ "About". Jen Kiggans for Congress.
  2. ↑ Saksa, Jim (July 6, 2023). "Being a lawmaker is the latest leap for career-hopping Kiggans". Roll Call. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  3. ↑ Vozzella, Laura (December 27, 2019). "Virginia Senate gains two political outsiders and friends". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Hall, Matt (November 3, 2019). "Interview: Veteran Jen Kiggans Runs for 7th State Senate District". Bearing Drift. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Alum a New US Congresswoman | BU Today". Boston University. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Kiggans Works to Expand Language Education for American Children". US House of Representatives. February 26, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  7. ↑ Russell, Charlie (March 26, 2024). "Congresswoman Kiggans keynotes E.S. Christian Businessmen Prayer Breakfast". Shore Daily News. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  8. ↑ Mitchell, Lynn (April 1, 2019). "Veteran Navy Pilot Jen Kiggans Enters Race for 7th Senate District". Bearing Drift. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  9. ↑ Albiges, Marie (June 3, 2020). "School board member, Navy pilot face off in Virginia Beach Senate GOP primary". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  10. ↑ "2019 Senate of Virginia Republican Primary - District 7". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  11. ↑ Oliver, Ned (September 4, 2019). "Cheat sheet: The House and Senate races most likely to decide control of Virginia's statehouse". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Open Seat Profile - SD7". Virginia Public Access Project. October 17, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  13. ↑ O'Keefe, Jimmy (October 24, 2019). "Va. Senate Candidates Ramp Up Attack Ads Ahead Of Election Day". WHSV-TV. Capital News Service. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  14. ↑ "2019 November General - Member Senate of Virginia (007)". Virginia State Board of Elections. November 10, 2019. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Flynn, Megan (September 11, 2022). "Ad attacks leave Kiggans trying to reclaim image: 'I'm not an extremist'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
  16. ↑ Flynn, Meagan (April 12, 2021). "GOP state senator seeks to challenge Luria for Virginia congressional seat". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Virginia - Congressional District 2" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
  18. ↑ Paybarah, Azi (June 21, 2022). "Who won and who lost in Tuesday's elections". The New York Times. ISSN 1553-8095. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
  19. ↑ "2022 House Race Ratings". The Cook Political Report. November 7, 2022. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
  20. ↑ Oliver, Ned (November 8, 2022). "Kiggans beats Luria in key U.S. House victory for GOP". Axios. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  21. ↑ Steger, Preston (January 3, 2024). "Congresswoman Jen Kiggans to launch 2024 campaign for House re-election in Virginia Beach". WVEC. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  22. ↑ Rene Woods, Charlotte (June 28, 2024). "Trump rallies in Chesapeake, backed by Virginia governor, GOP leaders". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  23. ↑ Rene Woods, Charlotte (October 2, 2024). "Kiggans and Smasal face off in highly competitive 2nd District". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  24. ↑ "2024 CPR House Race Ratings". The Cook Political Report. November 1, 2024. Archived from the original on November 7, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  25. ↑ King, Katie (November 6, 2024). "Jen Kiggans wins 2nd District race against Missy Cotter Smasal". The Virginian Pilot. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Strengthening Conservation Advocacy: Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus Expansion & Reconstitution". National Wildlife Refuge Association. December 15, 2023. Archived from the original on January 28, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Candidates". RMSP PAC. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  28. ↑ "The Republican Governance Group / Tuesday Group PAC (RG2 PAC)". Republican Governance. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  29. ↑ Kim, Noah (July 3, 2025). "Rep. Kiggans discusses lifeguard shortage, voting for the 'Big, Beautiful' bill". WTKR. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  30. ↑ Eason Amado, Hannah (July 3, 2025). "Virginia Republicans celebrate passage of Trump's massive spending bill". 13newsnow.com. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Kiggans will fight to maintain Wallops, Langley funding". Wavy.com. August 15, 2025. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Freshman GOP lawmaker sounds alarm about dilapidated military housing in district".
  33. ↑ Ponton, Brendan (October 23, 2023). "'It's been frustrating:' Rep. Kiggans on House Speaker drama". News 3 WTKR Norfolk. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  34. 1 2 Cox, Leila (March 11, 2026). "Virginia lawmakers react to escalating U.S.-Iran war". WVEC (channel 13). Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  35. ↑ Schmidt, Markus (May 28, 2026). "Kiggans maintains support for Iran war while warning of pain at the pump". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  36. ↑ Anstaett, Colter (June 4, 2026). "'I think you'll see the vote next week:' House passes War Powers Resolution, vote in Senate could be coming". WTKR (channel 3). Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  37. ↑ Wu, Ashley; Gómez, Martín González (June 3, 2026). "How Each House Member Voted on the Iran War Powers Resolution". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  38. ↑ Dougherty, Danny (June 3, 2026). "How Each Member of the House Voted on the War Powers Bill". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  39. ↑ O'Connor, Michael (September 3, 2026). "Jen Kiggans' record on healthcare under scrutiny". Dogwood. Retrieved September 14, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Hampton Roads could help decide control of the House of Representatives". VPM.org. October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Luria, Kiggans react to Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade". 13newsnow. June 24, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  42. ↑ "Trump's influence casts shadow in the Virginia 2nd District race". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Congresswoman Kiggans Honors Fallen Servicemembers in Memorial Day Video". Jen Kiggans. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Republican Primary Election U.S. House • Congressional District 2". Virginia Department of Elections. June 21, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
  45. ↑ "General Election U.S. House • Congressional District 2". Virginia Department of Elections. November 8, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
  46. ↑ "General Election U.S. House • Congressional District 2". Virginia Department of Elections. November 5, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2026.