Where Blacksburg Candidates Stand on the Issues: November 3, 2026 Election
What each candidate on the Blacksburg ballot has said, sorted by issue, in their words or a close paraphrase, with the source linked. A candidate with nothing on record is listed as such. This page does not score, rank or recommend anyone.
Election day is November 3, 2026. Last updated October 9, 2026. For every race and candidate, see what's on the ballot in Blacksburg.
Immigration
U.S. Senate
Mark R. Warner (Democratic, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Bert Mizusawa (Republican)
Immigration: Mizusawa says he prioritizes housing and energy costs, border enforcement and immigration-law enforcement, and ensuring only legal immigrants enter the country. (Blacksburg Local, “What’s on the Ballot in Blacksburg: November 3, 2026 Election”)
Health care and retirement
U.S. House of Representatives, 9th District
Joy A. Powers (Democratic)
Rural health: She says she would fight to protect rural hospital funding and expand mental-health and addiction treatment so people can get care close to home. (Joy Powers for Virginia — Priorities)
H. Morgan Griffith (Republican, incumbent)
Maternal health: He said improving maternal health is a priority and is working to advance legislation expanding grants to train obstetric and other health professionals in rural areas. (Cardinal News, “Griffith seeks a ninth term in the 9th District”)
Sheriff, Montgomery County
Tim Andrew Brown (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
Robert G. Page (Republican)
Deputy wellness: Page says he is working to formalize a flexible care plan for deputies following critical incidents, building on existing mental-health and peer-support programs. (Robert Page for Sheriff)
Schools and education
U.S. House of Representatives, 9th District
Joy A. Powers (Democratic)
Education: She supports stronger school funding, fair pay for teachers, and investment in career and technical education and community colleges. (Joy Powers for Virginia — Priorities)
H. Morgan Griffith (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Sheriff, Montgomery County
Tim Andrew Brown (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
Robert G. Page (Republican)
School and child safety: He says he intends to maintain school resource officers in every county school and ensure they have the training and tools to protect and support students. He also describes plans for a child-victim interview room and additional investigator training for crimes against children. (Robert Page for Sheriff)
Housing
U.S. Senate
Mark R. Warner (Democratic, incumbent)
Affordability: Warner says affordability efforts should include expanding housing supply and returning tariff payments he considers illegal; he also says data-center developers should pay for the grid costs they cause. (Blacksburg Local, “What’s on the Ballot in Blacksburg: November 3, 2026 Election”)
Bert Mizusawa (Republican)
Affordability: He supports lowering taxes on home sales and for Virginia families, and expanding nuclear power to help reduce energy costs. (WAVY, “Republican Senate nominee Bert Mizusawa zeroes in on affordability, data centers ahead of midterms”)
Blacksburg Town Council, special election (2 seats)
Leslie C. Harwood (Independent)
Long-term planning: Harwood says Blacksburg’s challenge is growing and adapting while preserving what makes the community distinctive. She calls for long-term planning that accounts for housing, transportation, economic development, the tax base, infrastructure and Virginia Tech. (Vote411)
Joel L. Goodhart (Independent)
Growth and zoning: He supports land-use and zoning decisions that encourage productive growth and discourage car-dependent suburban sprawl. (Joel Goodhart for Blacksburg)
Housing: He says access to affordable, quality housing is vital and supports a diverse range of housing options for residents at different income levels, ages and life stages. (Joel Goodhart for Blacksburg)
Public safety
Sheriff, Montgomery County
Tim Andrew Brown (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
Robert G. Page (Republican)
Jail reentry: He says he is committed to improving access to education, substance-abuse treatment, job readiness and rehabilitation programs in the jail to help reduce recidivism. (Robert Page for Sheriff)
Energy and utilities
U.S. Senate
Mark R. Warner (Democratic, incumbent)
Data centers: Warner says data-center companies should disclose their water and energy impacts and pay for the grid upgrades they require, rather than passing those costs to residents. (The Virginian-Pilot, “Virginia Senate race: Bert Mizusawa and Mark Warner on flooding and affordability”)
Bert Mizusawa (Republican)
No public statement found in our sources.
U.S. House of Representatives, 9th District
Joy A. Powers (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
H. Morgan Griffith (Republican, incumbent)
Data centers: Griffith said he wants data centers to locate in the region so the United States can compete with China, while supporting a Ratepayer Protection Act so residents do not pay for the grid infrastructure data centers require. (Cardinal News, “Griffith seeks a ninth term in the 9th District”)
Farming, land and water
U.S. House of Representatives, 9th District
Joy A. Powers (Democratic)
Family farms: She supports a farm bill focused on family-scale and independent producers, with a strong safety net, fair access to federal programs, local food-system support and a right to repair farm equipment. (Joy Powers for Virginia — Priorities)
H. Morgan Griffith (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Roads and infrastructure
U.S. Senate
Mark R. Warner (Democratic, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Bert Mizusawa (Republican)
Flood resilience: On coastal flooding, he encourages local investment in stormwater infrastructure, dredging and pump stations, and says he supports adaptation to reduce flood risks. (The Virginian-Pilot, “Virginia Senate race: Bert Mizusawa and Mark Warner on flooding and affordability”)
Blacksburg Town Council, special election (2 seats)
Leslie C. Harwood (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Joel L. Goodhart (Independent)
Streets and transportation: Goodhart supports slower, safer streets for people walking, rolling, driving or using public transit, and says street investment can support community connection and sustainability. (Joel Goodhart for Blacksburg)
Environment
U.S. Senate
Mark R. Warner (Democratic, incumbent)
Flood resilience: He supports practical, science-based approaches to reducing emissions and strengthening community resilience to climate impacts, and cited federal coastal-risk-reduction funding he helped secure for Virginia communities. (The Virginian-Pilot, “Virginia Senate race: Bert Mizusawa and Mark Warner on flooding and affordability”)
Bert Mizusawa (Republican)
No public statement found in our sources.
Elections and government
Sheriff, Montgomery County
Tim Andrew Brown (Democratic)
Trust and accountability: He says he would build community trust through transparency, open dialogue and public accountability, and ensure consistent professionalism and integrity among deputies. He also lists developing future deputies through mentorship, training and leadership as a priority. (Tim Brown for Sheriff)
Public transparency: He supports quarterly public updates about the sheriff’s office, including outreach activities and enforcement statistics, and regular meetings with the media. (Blacksburg Local)
Robert G. Page (Republican)
No public statement found in our sources.
Blacksburg Town Council, special election (2 seats)
Leslie C. Harwood (Independent)
Transparency: Harwood says decisions should be transparent throughout the process, so residents can understand how they are made, rather than learning about them only after the fact. (Cardinal News)
Joel L. Goodhart (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Jobs and the economy
Blacksburg Town Council, special election (2 seats)
Leslie C. Harwood (Independent)
Growth and collaboration: Her campaign lists stronger community collaboration and smart, sustainable growth among its priorities. (Leslie Harwood for Blacksburg)
Joel L. Goodhart (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Other positions
U.S. House of Representatives, 9th District
Joy A. Powers (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
H. Morgan Griffith (Republican, incumbent)
Opioid response: His campaign says he has worked on policies addressing opioid addiction through both treatment and prevention. (Morgan Griffith for Congress — Issues)
Sheriff, Montgomery County
Tim Andrew Brown (Democratic)
Community safety: He says he would protect Montgomery County while building stronger relationships with every neighborhood. (Tim Brown for Sheriff)
Robert G. Page (Republican)
No public statement found in our sources.