Del. Jed Arnold will not seek reelection, according to an announcement by the lawmaker published by a Pulaski County newspaper on its website Friday.
In the statement on The Patriot/The Southwest Times, the Smyth County Republican cited his wife’s struggle with long COVID and the need to support his family through her illness as the driving factor in his choice to not seek reelection.
Arnold did not respond to a request for comment from Cardinal News regarding his decision.
As of Friday afternoon, Republican Adam Tolbert and Democrat Jamie Ralston Hendry were listed on the Virginia Public Access Project’s website as candidates in the district that includes Grayson County, Smyth County, Wythe County and part of Pulaski County.
A former legislative aide to then-Del. Jeff Campbell, R-Smyth County, Arnold won an unopposed special election in August 2023 to succeed his former boss to represent the 46th District in the House of Delegates.
Campbell’s seat became vacant after he resigned earlier that summer to take a judgeship. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Attorney General Jason Miyares, then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert, then-House Majority Leader Terry Kilgore, then-Deputy House Majority Leader Israel O’Quinn, and then-House Caucus Chair Amanda Batten all endorsed Arnold within a day after the special election was set.
He went on to run unopposed in the staunchly Republican district in November of that year.
“Jed Arnold hasn’t been a member of the House of Delegates long, but his impact during his years in this institution as an aide and member has been immense,” House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah County, said. “Jed is a strong, conservative voice for his community. I thank him for his service, and wish he and his family all the best as they move into the next chapter of their lives.”
Out of the 15 House bills Arnold introduced during the 2025 session, six were sent on to the governor’s desk, where they await his signature or veto. Those cover issues including criminal justice reform, warning lights for social service vehicles, parental custody and the designation of a memorial bridge over I-81.
Arnold was assigned to the House Courts of Justice and General Laws committees as well as the Courts of Justice — Judicial and General Laws — Housing/Consumer Protection subcommittees, during the 2025 session.
