By Haley Stoltz
U.S. Rep. Ben Cline held off a challenge from longtime journalist Beth Macy on Tuesday night in the 6th district congressional race.
Cline, a Republican who has represented the 6th district since 2018, earned 166,569 votes, with 90% of the ballots counted. Macy, a Democrat who worked for the Roanoke Times for more than 20 years, got 130,856 votes.
Macy wanted to reverse many of President Donald Trump’s policies, including his tariffs. She sought to move toward “Medicare for all,” and end the war in Iran.
Cline campaigned on reducing the high cost of consumer goods, lowering taxes, and cutting back on government regulations.
Cline gathered with supporters in Fishersville on Tuesday night, saying voters in the 6th district demonstrated their desire for conservative representation. At 9:15 p.m., he told the crowd that he would fight to represent them, even if the Democrats took control of the House of Representatives.
“The votes of the people of the Shenandoah Valley cannot be bought,” he said. “They are solid conservatives that are going to stand up for solid conservative values each and every day.”
Macy stayed close to home, gathering with supporters at The Exchange Music Hall in downtown Roanoke. During her remarks, she celebrated the Democratic victories across the country, and the progress she made in the district.
“We passed amendments to help protect reproductive health care, gay marriage, and former felons who paid their debts to society,” she said with her arms in the air. “Across the country, a big, beautiful blue washing across the land, and it might end up looking like more of a tsunami.”
Cline has said this campaign was similar to others in all aspects except for fundraising, an area where Macy raised substantially more money than he did.
Virginia’s 6th district has historically leaned heavily Republican. In her successful gubernatorial bid, Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger lost the district by 16 points.