Interviews with candidates for U.S. House of Representatives for Virginia’s 10th District

Jennifer Wexton

Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton has served the people of Virginia for over two decades as a prosecutor, advocate for abused children, state Senator, and now as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia’s 10th District.  

After flipping a seat that was held by Republicans for almost 40 years when she ran for Congress in 2018, Wexton has worked across the aisle in Washington to support small businesses and create jobs, ensure all our kids have the opportunity to grow and thrive, and look out for those in need.  

Wexton is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Budget Committee. She lives in Leesburg, Virginia, with her husband, two sons, and two rescued labrador retrievers.  

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Blue Ridge Leader: What experiences in your life do you believe make you the best fit for the 10th Congressional District? 

Jennifer Wexton: I’ve dedicated my career to public service here in VA-10, as a prosecutor, advocate for abused children, state Senator, and now Member of Congress fighting on behalf of our community for the past four years.  

The reason I’ve dedicated so much of my life to public service is I believe I can truly make a positive change in the lives of our kids and families. I’ve put dangerous criminals behind bars, and supported survivors of domestic violence and vulnerable kids.  

In Washington, I’ve delivered for our district by voting to pass legislation that will lower costs for families and fight climate change, rebuild our nation’s infrastructure and expand broadband, and supercharge American manufacturing and innovation to create millions of good-paying jobs. I believe we must continue this progress, which is why I’m fighting to tackle inflation, defend our fundamental rights, and protect our democracy. 

BRL: When elected, what bills would you want to sponsor? 

JW: When reelected, I look forward to building on the progress that I’ve made delivering on the issues that matter most to Virginia families and small businesses. I hope to advance my bipartisan legislation to equip institutions and individuals with the tools to prevent domestic violence before it occurs – delivering resources for prevention programs such as healthy relationship education and bystander empowerment.

Additionally, I plan to move forward with my legislation to support local agritourism businesses by establishing a dedicated federal office of agritourism to provide guidance and resources that can help these key small businesses grow and thrive. 

BRL: What do you think will be the short- and long-term effects of the Inflation Reduction Act? 

JW: I proudly supported the Inflation Reduction Act to lower costs, fight inflation, and reduce the deficit. This major legislation enacted by Democrats will deliver relief to families right now by extending Affordable Care Act subsidies that will save tens of thousands of Virginia-10 families hundreds of dollars on their health care premiums.  

The bill also helps relieve inflationary pressure we’re facing right now by ensuring the biggest corporations pay their fair share in taxes and cracking down on wealthy tax cheats – allowing us to make a down payment of hundreds of billions of dollars to reduce the deficit. We’re also delivering on priorities that I’ve fought for since I came to Congress, like finally empowering Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and capping the cost of insulin for Medicare beneficiaries.  

Finally, the investments we’re making to fight climate change will lower energy costs for families and guarantee a healthy livable planet for future generations. 

BRL: Around what issues do you think are important to move this district and America forward? 

JW: The most pressing issue that I hear from Virginia families today is the burden of rising prices. That’s why I’ve taken action to lower costs by passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which will reduce health care premiums, invest in bringing down energy prices, and ease inflationary pressure. There’s more work to be done, and it remains a top priority.  

In addition, I believe that moving our district and America forward means working to bridge the partisanship that has divided our politics and our communities so much in recent years. I’ve always made it a priority to work across the aisle on the issues that will benefit our kids and families – from helping those struggling with opioid addiction to getting greater funding for childhood cancer research. Restoring civility in our politics begins with our leaders, and I will continue to work in a productive and bipartisan way as your representative in Congress.

Hung Cao

Hung Cao is a retired Navy Captain who served in Special Operations for twenty-five years. Cao lives with his wife, April, and their five children in Purcellville, where they have been active in their community for several years.

Cao’s family escaped Vietnam in 1975 shortly before the fall of Saigon. Moved by the opportunities afforded to his family, Cao vowed to serve his newly adopted country.  

Cao is a member of the inaugural graduating class at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and was accepted to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.  

His non-combat assignments included balancing the Navy’s $140 Billion budget at the Pentagon, writing Department of Defense policy, and participating in humanitarian and disaster relief in Pakistan. Cao retired from the Navy in October of 2021.

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Blue Ridge Leader: What experiences in your life do you believe make you the best fit for the 10th Congressional District?  

Hung Cao: The role of the Federal government is to provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare. How do we do that? First, we must ensure that our country is secure.  

My experience in the United States military along with my professional relationships with federal and local law enforcement agencies, gives me the perspective we desperately need to tackle challenges we face at the southern border.  

As an immigrant to this country, I join Americans in championing an immigration policy which welcomes – like it did my family – those who come legally. For the safety and health of our children, we must secure our border against those who wish to do us harm, by taking advantage of Biden and Wexton’s open border policy to push fentanyl into our communities and kill our loved ones.  

Second, our economy is suffering with the highest inflation in 40 years with no relief in energy and gas prices. Cost of living expenses continue to rise, and Americans are now choosing between paying for food or utility bills. We must cut spending and put more money back in the paychecks of hard-working Americans.  

We need strong Representatives with experience in budgeting, like my time writing the Navy’s $140 billion budget, not more lawyers, in Congress. 

BRL: When elected, what bills would you want to sponsor?  

HC: My top priority is to sponsor fiscally conservative legislation. Currently, Joe Biden, with the support of Jennifer Wexton, is adding a tax burden to middle class Americans through student loan forgiveness and legislation favoring far-left climate policies at a time when one-in-three Americans are dipping into their savings just to cover monthly bills and expenses.  

Also, families must be confident that their Representative will support their right to make decisions for their children. The proposed changes by the Biden Administration for Title IX, removes parents from making personal decisions in their own families and threatens the future of sports for girls and women. As the father of three precious daughters, I can not stand by language that threatens to set women back fifty years. Our daughters deserve to continue to have a fair chance to succeed and achieve in safe and supportive environments.  

BRL: What do you think will be the short- and long-term effects of the Inflation Reduction Act?  

HC: The effects will be devastating. In the short term, it will do nothing to lower inflation and continues the trend of wasteful government spending.  

In the long term, which we may not have with a rapidly declining economy, it will raise taxes for every low-income and middle-class family. It adds 87,000 new IRS agents to conduct audits on families and small business owners. This is not what residents of the tenth district support. We must waste no time reigning in government spending and quickly finding ways to give Americans back their hard-earned money so they can support the economy in their communities.  

BRL: Around what issue do you think are important to move this district and America forward? 

HC: Every voter I have spoken to in the district, whether Republican, Democrat, or Independent is deeply concerned about the direction of the economy.  

We need a Representative who recognizes that without a strong and thriving economy, we can not tackle the more sensitive social issues in a productive way. Representative government means being accessible regardless of party or ideology, and finding a way to come together to help the tenth district thrive. 

We must resolve to hold this Administration accountable for a gross economic downturn over the past two years. In 2021 there was a referendum on education, the failed school systems, and school boards. This midterm election will be a continuation of the concerns of tenth district parents and a new referendum on Joe Biden and Jennifer Wexton’s failed economic policies that continue to weaken American families. 

Residents of Virginia’s tenth district have made it clear that they want change. We need common-sense Representatives in Congress who care more about their district than they do political ideology.  

I served the American people in uniform for twenty-five years, and I’ll continue to serve them in Congress.