Luria, Kiggans face off for 1st time in heated debate about abortion, border security and election integrity

The first debate between Rep. Elaine Luria and her Republican challenger, state Sen. Jen Kiggans, turned heated Wednesday, with Luria saying her opponent lacked courage and was “not fit” to serve in Congress and Kiggans accusing Luria of spreading lies and unfairly attacking her character.

The candidates, competing to represent Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House, debated abortion, border security and election integrity during the roughly two-hour event at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

Luria, a Democrat, said she supported codifying the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which recognized a woman’s right to have an abortion, into federal law and believes decisions about abortion should be decided among a woman, her family and her medical providers.

“She does not believe in choice,” Luria said of Kiggans. “She has said time and again that she wants to restrict a woman’s right to choice.”

Kiggans described herself as a “pro-life candidate” but said she supported exceptions for rape, incest or when the life of a mother is at risk. She accused her opponent of holding the more extreme stance on abortion.

“What are your restrictions on abortion? Tell us, what is the week limit?” Kiggans asked.

When questioned about border security and immigration, Kiggans said she recently toured part of the border with several Republican candidates and met with law enforcement and local property owners who were scared for their safety.

“Our borders are not secure,” said Kiggans, who previously said she believes in completing the border wall. “Every state is a border state at this point.”

Luria said comprehensive immigration reform is needed to help immigrants legally enter and work in the United States.

She said this could be beneficial for businesses who are struggling to find workers, and pointed out many Americans have ancestors who came from other nations.

But Luria said her opponent would “rather just build a wall and keep them out.”

When asked to rate the economy on a scale of one to 10, Kiggans said would give it a one — or less — and blamed President Joe Biden’s policies and “wasteful” spending by the Democrats for driving up prices for things such as gas and groceries.

If elected, she said strengthening the economy would be her top priority.

Luria, who rated the economy as a six, said she didn’t believe her opponent had any real solutions to fix inflation and blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the rising cost of gas. She credited the Democrat-backed American Rescue Plan with providing pandemic relief to businesses.

During a question about the nation’s hostile political climate, Kiggans said she worked to make friends on both sides of the aisle in the General Assembly.

The state senator said she hates the division and heated rhetoric in today’s politics and believes the state and country deserve better.

Luria said the responsibility for the tense political climate rests with the GOP.

She slammed Republicans for going along with former President Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

“One party, and the leadership of that party that my opponent wants to support and vote for as speaker (of the House), doesn’t have the courage to stand up and actually say that it was wrong that we had a violent insurrection at the Capitol,” she said.

Luria, who serves on a House committee investigating the January 2021 attack, said protecting democracy was among her top concerns.

She criticized Kiggans for refusing to publicly state that Biden won in a fair election and said she was “not fit” to serve in Congress.

Kiggans shot back that Luria should be ashamed for attacking her character as a fellow female naval officer. She said she believed that those who broke the law on Jan. 6 should be held accountable.

Kiggans said she would continue working to help voters with concerns about election integrity.

“I want people to feel like when they cast their vote that they have cast it confidently and that their vote counts,” she said.

Kiggans was elected to the General Assembly in 2019. She is a geriatric nurse practitioner and a former Navy helicopter pilot.

Luria was first elected to Congress in 2018. She is a retired Naval commander who served on six ships as a nuclear-trained surface warfare officer.

The debate was hosted by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. Chris Saxman, a former state delegate and executive director of Virginia FREE, a nonprofit that advocates for pro-business government, served as moderator.

Luria and Kiggans will face off again during a candidate forum on Oct. 17 in Smithfield. The event is hosted by the Isle of Wight Citizens Association, Carrollton Civic League, Isle of Wight NAACP and the Central/Southern Citizens Group.

A WTKR televised debate is also set for Oct. 25.

Election Day is Nov. 8; early voting is underway.

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com