2 Republicans seek the nod from their party in the race to fill Del. Jed Arnold’s seat

Two Republican candidates are vying for their party’s nomination for the 46th District race, in a bid to represent the most conservative district out of the three open seats in this year’s House of Delegates election. 

Mitchell Cornett and Adam Tolbert, both Republicans, signaled their intention to run for the seat after Del. Jed Arnold, R-Smyth County, announced he would not seek reelection in March. He cited his wife’s struggle with long COVID and the need to support his family through her illness as the driving factor in his decision. 

The primary election will take place on June 17, but hundreds of voters in the district have already cast their ballots. Republican voters had submitted 603 ballots in the solidly conservative district with just under two weeks to go until the election, according to data compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project. 

Arnold ran unopposed in 2023. President Donald Trump won the district in 2024 with a 78.5% margin. 

Cornett is a cattle farmer and volunteer first responder in Grayson County. He has referred to himself as a Christian conservative. He is the vice chair of the county Republican Party and sits on the Grayson County Board of Supervisors. He told WCYB-TV in a May interview that he is running for the seat to “stand up for the citizens” of the 46th District and to “be a strong voice for them in Richmond and to not bow to the Richmond establishment.”

Tolbert is the chair of the Smyth County Republican Party and the 9th Congressional District Republican Party. He holds a doctorate degree from Liberty University and works as the senior director of administration at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon. In a separate interview with Channel 5 WCYB in May, he called himself the most experienced candidate in the race. 

“Over the years, all the relationships I’ve built with our legislators and different folks all over Virginia — I’ve got a strong background in public policy and public affairs and I’ll be able to hit the ground running,” he said. 

Tolbert has snagged endorsements from a number of sitting Republican politicians, including Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, Attorney General Jason Miyares, former House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah County, and Arnold, along with a number of other members of the General Assembly from Southwest Virginia. Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, and a number of local elected officials from Grayson and Wythe counties have endorsed Cornett. 

Cornett’s campaign has raised $18,100 through two donations and a $15,000 loan to his own campaign, as of March 31. Tolbert’s campaign raised $29,469, according to VPAP, through one $1,000 loan to his own campaign and 16 donations. The next campaign finance reporting deadline is June 9. 

The winner of the June 17 primary will go on to face Democrat Jamie Ralston Hendry in November, to represent the solidly Republican district. 

The candidates’ responses to questions posed by Cardinal News are listed in alphabetical order. You can find their answers to other questions on our Voter Guide.

Southwest and Southside Virginia have been hit repeatedly by devastating floods and other weather-related disasters. How would you support communities in your district and in other districts in their efforts to rebuild, and how would you work to ensure these communities remain resilient in the face of future disasters?

Cornett: I will advocate for continued and expanded funding of the Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund. Unfortunately, natural disasters have been a common occurrence in Southwest Virginia and the district and [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] has been for the most part ineffective. The hardworking residents of the 46th District deserve help in their time of need when they are rebuilding their lives. I will advocate and support state funding for EMS and Fire Departments.

Tolbert: I would support communities by fighting for more funding for disaster prevention and disaster repair. By securing funds to rebuild our communities we can rebuild with a focus on resilience against future storms and natural disasters. By taking the initiative, we will mitigate future tragedies and be able to weather future storms better than before. I will also work to facilitate communication and cooperation related to disaster prevention and repair between our federal, state, local, and community partner organizations.

What ideas do you have to bring economic prosperity to the district?

Cornett: I will fight against Appalachian Power’s high utility rates that hurt our businesses and families. These high rates put the district at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to recruiting and retaining businesses. I also will advocate for tax cuts so that the people of the district keep more money in their pockets. Also, force AEP to allow broadband to use their utility poles to allow broadband internet so that businesses and individuals can compete in the 21st Century global marketplace.

Tolbert: The best way to bring economic prosperity to the 46th is to create a hospitable climate for businesses and entrepreneurs. Three ways to create that climate is to lower power rates, lower taxes, and cut burdensome regulations. By lowering power rates, lowering taxes, and cutting regulations you reduce the burden on current businesses and you attract other businesses to the area as their cost of doing business will be significantly reduced when compared to other areas.

Access to health care in Southwest Virginia has been a sticking point for a lot of voters. If elected, how will you improve access to health care, not only in your district but for the entire region?

Cornett: I will be an advocate for good quality healthcare in rural Virginia. I will support keeping our doctor’s offices and hospitals open so that our citizens have adequate access to quality care. This is also an important issue on the economic development front, because if a community does not have adequate healthcare, it cannot support more businesses.

Tolbert: The best way to improve access to health care across the entire region is to bring more healthcare providers into the region while at the same time increasing access to education and training for those who want to enter the healthcare workforce along with current healthcare professionals. This two pronged approach will give patients options on who to seek treatment from while driving down the costs of healthcare.

What do you think are some of the biggest issues facing voters in District 46, and how would you address them?

Cornett: The high Appalachian Power rates are a major concern to the voters in the 46th District. People and businesses are struggling to make ends meet due to having the highest electricity rates in the state. We must hold Appalachian Power accountable and fight back against the high rates and use every possible option to lower rates including the possibility of bringing in competition. Also, Appalachian Power needs to provide access to their utility poles to allow for internet companies to provide internet access to our businesses and residents.

Tolbert: Bar none the biggest issue facing the voters in the 46th District is high power bills. There are several ways to address this issue. The first step should be a full and total repeal of the Clean Economy Act. The Clean Economy Act is not in touch with the practical reality of Virginia and its energy needs. Our need for power has grown substantially while our ability to produce power has not grown at nearly the same rate. We must pursue energy sources that are highly efficient and cost effective.

What are the first three bills you plan to introduce in the 2026 session, if elected?

Cornett: 

• A bill to bring relief to citizens in the 46th District and to prohibit Appalachian Power from raising power rates unless approved by a committee of citizens and business owners before being sent to the [State Corporation Commission].
• A bill to help make broadband expansion and construction easier so that citizens within the district can be connected to high-speed internet at a faster rate.
• A bill to help local pharmacies that are facing closure stay open, lower medication prices, and serve the citizens of the district. The district is very rural and there are a very limited number of pharmacies and it is important to retain these pharmacies and not burden our citizens with hour-long travel times to pick up critical and life-saving medications.

Tolbert: 

• Creation of a Department of Government Efficiency — which would find ways to make Virginia’s government operate more efficiently and effectively and break down silos between agencies.

• Rate freeze for five years on electricity bills — rates could be lowered, but not increased.

• Constitutional Carry — which currently exists in some form in 29 states.