EXCLUSIVE — A Virginia Republican fighting to defend her House seat will have the support of Americans for Prosperity Action after receiving the Koch-funded organization’s endorsement.
The Virginia Beach-anchored congressional district of Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) could prove critical to House Republicans in November as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) seeks to protect his razor-thin majority during the 2024 elections.
“We are thrilled to endorse Jen Kiggans for reelection in U.S. Congress,” AFP Action Virginia senior adviser C.J. Sailor told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday. “As a responsible and pragmatic legislator, Kiggans has consistently championed initiatives that prioritize the well-being of her constituents.”
“At a time when inflation is at its highest, her tireless efforts to streamline government processes, reduce unnecessary regulations, and ensure fiscal accountability showcase her commitment to creating an economy that fosters innovation and prosperity,” Sailor said. “Additionally, Kiggans has been a vocal proponent of healthcare reforms that prioritize patient choice, competition, and affordability.”
Kiggans, a former Navy pilot, nurse practitioner, and Virginia state senator, is a first-term congresswoman who was elected to replace Democrat Elaine Luria in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District in 2022. Luria, herself a freshman lawmaker, was defeated by Kiggans 52% to 48%, or by 10,000 votes, that cycle.
Although Kiggans’s 2024 Democratic challenger, either Missy Cotter Smasal or Jake Denton, will not be chosen until June 18, her race is considered to be a lean-Republican contest by election prognosticators Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball and tilt Republican by Inside Elections.
“AFP Action recognizes the importance of endorsing candidates who share our vision for a society in which individuals can flourish and prosper,” AFP’s Sailor added. “Jen Kiggans embodies these principles, and we are confident that her continued service will contribute to the advancement of policies that empower individuals and foster economic growth.”
AFP Action’s endorsement means Kiggans’s campaign will be helped by advertising and grassroots organizing paid for by the super PAC. As of January, the group had $1 million cash on hand.
Other 2024 candidates to earn AFP Action’s endorsement include Senate contenders Tim Sheehy in Montana, Pete Ricketts in Nebraska, Sam Brown in Nevada, Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania, and Eric Hovde in Wisconsin, in addition to 19 House counterparts such as Arizona’s Juan Ciscomani and David Schweikert and Michigan’s Tom Barrett.
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AFP, more broadly, has been criticizing President Joe Biden for his economic policies, which he himself has described as Bidenomics, and paid for an ad, “Runaway Train,” broadcast in the states of 31 members of Congress before his State of the Union address last week.
“Bidenomics is an absolute train wreck,” AFP Government Affairs Vice President Akash Chougule said at the time. “Runaway government spending unleashed the highest levels of inflation in four decades and squeezed family budgets to the breaking point. … Every lawmaker who set this train in motion should have to explain to their constituents why they voted to raise prices and greenlight Biden’s most reckless economic policies.”