Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, is exploring a run for Congress.
On Monday morning, Rasoul will announce that he has filed paperwork to create an exploratory committee. In an interview Sunday night, Rasoul said he may not make a formal decision on whether to run until he knows the shape of any new congressional districts that might be drawn in the spring if Virginians approve a referendum to adopt a constitutional amendment to allow new districts to be drawn.
Rasoul lives in the 6th Congressional District, which, as currently drawn, is the second most Republican district in the state. It’s represented by Ben Cline of Botetourt County. However, it’s possible that, with redistricting, Roanoke could be drawn into a more Democratic-leaning district that includes Charlottesville — and, depending on how it’s drawn, might not include any Republican incumbent. “Once we know what the new districts are, then I’ll be able to decide whether I’m running for one of those districts,” Rasoul said.
His announcement comes after the U.S. Supreme Court last week upheld Texas redrawing its congressional districts to create more Republican seats, a move that has set off other new maps in other states, both blue and red. In the statement Rasoul will make Monday, which he shared with Cardinal News, Rasoul describes the potential redistricting in Virginia “a consequence of Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on our democracy.”
His statement goes on to say: “Our region deserves a fighter in Congress who will never back down in the face of injustice at home and abroad, and will tackle the affordability crisis that we all face. As a Palestinian-American who has represented Appalachia in the Virginia General Assembly for over a decade, I am proud to have spent my career standing up to special interests who have rigged the system against Virginia’s working families.”
“Virginians are looking for bold, experienced, progressive leadership that meets this moment and delivers results by guaranteeing healthcare as a human right through Medicare for All, protecting our access to clean air and water through a Green New Deal, and ending all military aid to Israel, which has waged a genocide in Gaza using our taxpayer dollars in violation of American law. I look forward to exploring the best path to serve our community as the stakes rise higher by the day.”
Rasoul has represented Roanoke in the House of Delegates since 2014. He is currently chair of the House Education Committee. He sought the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 2021, finishing second in a field of six candidates. He was a formidable fundraiser in that campaign, raising more than $2 million. For comparison, that was more than this year’s primary winner, Ghazala Hashmi, raised.
The current 6th District already has three Democratic contenders — Pete Barlow, a former Federal Emergency Management Agency worker from Augusta County; Roanoke author Beth Macy; and Ken Mitchell, a retired Army officer from Rockingham County.
If the districts were redrawn to pair Roanoke and Charlottesville, that would put Macy and Rasoul into a district with three announced Democratic candidates now in the 5th District — Albemarle County Supervisor Mike Pruitt, retired Army officer Paul Riley of Albemarle, and Charlottesville lawyer Adele Stichel. Depending on how the districts might be drawn, a fourth and fifth Democratic candidate from the 5th District could be included — Lynchburg physician Suzanne Krzyzanowski and Lynchburg business owner Kate Zabriskie. The Federal Elections Commission website also lists a sixth Democratic candidate in the 5th District, writer Robert Tracinski of Louisa County.