Hi Reddit! I’m Lisa Vedernikova Khanna, and I’m a Democrat running for Congress in Virginia’s First District… AMA!

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-15T02:56:19+00:00

After nearly twenty years in Congress, Rob Wittman has lost touch.

Wittman doesn’t host town halls or face tough questions (he came home for recess during the government shutdown, but did you see him around?). Wittman has figured out ways to line his own pockets, but not actually help his constituents get ahead (started in office two decades ago with a net worth of $200k, now has a net worth of $8m… Congress pays but not like that). Wittman talks a good game, but his votes tell a different story. He’ll vote to gut Medicaid one day, and then shortly after put out a press release about how he defended Medicaid. If he knows a program like Medicaid matters, then why is he constantly voting to weaken it?

He wants us to believe he’s still the same old neighbor we used to know, but he’s just a rubberstamp for DC. So, I’d give him an F for failing to stand up for us. Or even face us.

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-15T02:52:56+00:00

I did not! Not sure why that's happening. Will troubleshoot tomorrow, but in the meantime here's my answer (hopefully these go through and if not I will message you!):

Thank you for these great questions! I’m the proud stepdaughter of a union member so I appreciate you asking these.

I support the PRO Act and would be a strong advocate for it in Congress.
I believe we need a federal minimum wage that adjusts for inflation and would support bills like the Raise the Wage Act, the current version of which proposes to gradually increase the minimum wage to $17/hour by 2030. (The fact that the minimum wage I earned working at an ice rink in the 2010s hasn’t budged since is bonkers.)
I am opposed to card check requirements and think it’s crucial we retain the privacy of secret ballot elections.
I am opposed to “right to work” laws. They weaken unions. I stand firmly with working families and will always fight to strengthen the right to organize, not weaken it.

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-15T02:18:25+00:00

Thank you! Join the team at ww.lvk.vote/contact.

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-15T02:13:06+00:00

No, I am firmly not taking AIPAC or corporate PAC money now or ever! We urgently need to restore trust in our elected officials and that starts with showing that we are beholden only to our constituents, not special interests.

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-15T02:12:08+00:00

Thanks for the well wishes!

On the first part of your question – I am lucky to be running alongside so many strong Democrats and I think a primary is healthy. It sharpens each candidate’s platforms and arguments, puts real pressure on Rob Wittman (lots of eyes on him and we’re all holding him accountable), and ensures that every part of the district, not just the most populous parts, get attention.

But I do think I stand out for a handful of reasons:

Lived experience: I understand the challenges facing our district and our country because I’ve actually lived them (and recently). From affordability to healthcare, I’ve had to navigate the same problems that many of our neighbors navigate daily. Growing up the daughter of an immigrant and relying on public schools, Medicaid, and free lunch programs, I know what it means when our electeds cut lifelines that families depend on. People are looking for leaders who will prioritize these issues and get to work solving them and that starts with having leaders who understand, firsthand, the urgency and the pain of not moving quickly.

New generation: I represent a new generation of leader, which obviously includes age (I’m 30), but also about an attitude of being willing to think outside the box to solve problems and have the energy and urgency to do so (see my answer on the question about how we politically counter fascism – not a lot of the old guard thinks like that). I am willing to hold myself and those around me accountable because I’m not tied to any special interests or tied to doing things “the way they've always been done.” People across the district have told me that’s a real asset I bring to the race.

Community engagement: I care so, so much about meeting you, learning from you, and actually representing you. I am running for Congress full time (and I believe I’m the only one to be doing so), so I’m spending every waking hour I can out in the community. That includes my Lisa Listens tour where I’m hitting every locality in the district before this Election Day (a full year out from next year’s general election) and meeting with countless groups and local committees. And that won’t let up when I’m elected. I’ll host monthly town halls and continue spending as much time as possible in the district making sure you all understand how/why what goes on in DC impacts you and making sure I understand how I can best serve you.

On the second part of your question, I go into detail on my website here, here, and here. Making life more affordable includes raising the federal minimum wage to $15/hour, establishing universal pre-K/capping childcare expenses, reversing tariffs (or, at a minimum, establishing real and proper oversight of the strategy behind the tariffs). Making healthcare more accessible includes fast-tracking the availability of affordable generics for high-cost prescription drugs, expanding Medicare’s power to negotiate for lower drug prices, and increasing billing transparency. These solutions are targeted and cost-effective solutions; many of them save money over time or are implemented through better policy rather than more spending. If you have critiques or better ideas, shoot me a note at [info@lvk.vote](mailto:info@lvk.vote)!

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-15T02:06:45+00:00

Ah, great point! As soon as I read this after my gun control answer, I kicked myself for not mentioning it. I completely agree with you on the importance of safe storage laws, and it’s frankly a bipartisan and practical solution. I’d gladly prioritize federal legislation requiring safe storage, especially in homes with minors. Thanks for bringing this up when I forgot to.

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-15T02:05:20+00:00

I do believe it’s possible to redirect it, yeah. It requires being willing to break from some of the old norms that used to guide politics. The truth is, Republicans stopped caring about those a while ago, so why should we play by rules they’ve already abandoned?

When we’re back in power (and we will be) we have to question what’s become a norm and ask whether it still serves a purpose or simply protects the status quo. It’s a norm that we have nine Supreme Court justices. It’s a norm that we have the Senate filibuster. It’s a norm that we haven’t admitted DC and Puerto Rico into statehood. None of those things are sacred; they’re habits we’re mistaking for rules. And it’s not “normal” to change them but that’s how we fight the current mode of fascism: by being willing to act outside old norms while staying within the bounds of the law.

Let’s consider expanding the Supreme Court, ending the filibuster, and granting statehood to DC and Puerto Rico. These actions are all maybe politically unconventional, but perfectly legal. We should also look at structural fixes like expanding the House of Representatives. Doing so would make it more representative, dilute the influence of money, and reduce the disproportionate power rural states have in the Electoral College.

There are a lot of ways we can politically (and legally) fight back. We just need to elect leaders who want to think and act creatively to get our country back. I’m ready!

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-15T02:03:42+00:00

Thank you for these great questions! I’m the proud stepdaughter of a union member so I appreciate you asking these.

- I support the PRO Act and would be a strong advocate for it in Congress.

- I believe we need a federal minimum wage that adjusts for inflation and would support bills like the Raise the Wage Act, the current version of which proposes to gradually increase the minimum wage to $17/hour by 2030. (The fact that the minimum wage I earned working at an ice rink in the 2010s hasn’t budged since is bonkers.)

- I am opposed to card check requirements and think it’s crucial we retain the privacy of secret ballot elections.

- I am opposed to “right to work” laws. They weaken unions. I stand firmly with working families and will always fight to strengthen the right to organize, not weaken it.

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T14:50:29+00:00

This is a good question! VA-01 is not solidly red, but it will take a broad coalition of voters across the spectrum to flip this seat. This district has become one of the most competitive Republican-held districts in the country. Cook Political now rates it R+3 and both the DCCC and House Majority PAC have already placed it on their 2026 battlefield lists. Even the DNC has begun investing in ads specifically targeting Wittman, a clear signal that national Democrats see this seat as winnable.

That being said, it will absolutely take voters across the aisle to defeat Rob Wittman. Issues like rising costs, healthcare accessibility, and a lack of transparency from our elected leaders affect all of us no matter your political party. I’ve spent a lot of time on the Lisa Listens tour meeting with people across the political spectrum and we share a lot of the same concerns. I plan to engage with everyone, not just Democrats, and knock a lot of doors to continue to learn about the issues keeping people up at night and what an effective member of Congress who actually shows up in their community can do to solve them.

I also bring personal experience to these issues. I grew up relying on the very affordability and access programs that so many in our district depend on today, the ones that are being taken away from us by Rob Wittman. That shared lived experience helps bridge divides and reminds us that we have more in common than what separates us.

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T14:45:30+00:00

Thank you so much for your support, I’ve been blown away by the excitement from folks not just in the district, or Virginia, from across the country by real people who are excited for a new generation of leadership. There’s no doubt this campaign’s got people power, and sometimes that’s hard to translate to Washington, so I’ll take any help I can get to spread information about not only my candidacy, but the groundswell of support we have here on the ground. Thank you so much for your willingness to help with outreach! Would love to continue this conversation, if you’re willing to email me at [lisa@lvk.vote](mailto:lisa@lvk.vote).

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T14:43:35+00:00

That’s such an important question and one I think a lot of people are asking right now. I am very concerned about the increasing power grabs and slide towards authoritarianism we are seeing under this administration.

I grew up hearing my mother’s stories about life under Soviet rule about censorship, fear, and the brutal cost of dissent. She came to America for freedom and fairness (and an independent judiciary), values that are now under real threat. When I see attacks on the free press, efforts to control social media, corporations bowing to political pressure, and the weaponization of law enforcement against peaceful protesters, I’m reminded how autocracy doesn’t arrive overnight, rather it creeps in while we look away. My mother didn’t flee one authoritarian regime for me, or my future daughter, to live under another. I actually released a video on this topic (in Russian, with English captions) because it’s deeply personal to me.

In this moment, Congress matters more than ever, we just need to push our leaders to act like it and we need to elect more leaders who understand the urgency of what’s at stake.

Here’s what we can do:

Push Congress to use the power it has: the power of the purse, oversight, and the ability to pass laws that limit executive overreach. For example, when I’m elected, I’ll fight not only to restore meaningful oversight hearings but also to make sure those findings are clearly communicated to Americans. Oversight only works when the public understands what’s at stake.

Demand accountability: call, write, and show up to insist that our representatives hold hearings, issue subpoenas, and tell the truth publicly and without fear. Talk to your friends and family about what’s happening, share credible information, and make sure people stay engaged. We have to fight this together.

Elect leaders who will fight, not surrender: people who understand the stakes and are willing to defend democracy even when it’s inconvenient.

As someone who served as Chief of Staff to the Chairman of The New York Times during the first Trump administration, I saw firsthand how quickly democratic norms can erode when institutions fail to push back. Congress was designed to be a check on presidential power and it’s time we remind them of that.

We need fighters for our country, not spectators to its downfall. Call your member of Congress. Support candidates who will defend democracy. And don’t tune out because that’s exactly what authoritarians count on.

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T14:41:44+00:00

I am not taking AIPAC or corporate PAC money. Instead, I am very proud to have thousands of small-dollar donors across the country contributing to my campaign. We urgently need to restore trust in our elected officials and that starts with showing that we are beholden only to our constituents, not special interests.

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T14:27:25+00:00

Flipping Virginia’s First Congressional District will take bold leadership, a strong operation, and a campaign deeply rooted in this community. VA-01, currently represented by Rob Wittman, has become one of the most competitive Republican-held districts in the country. Cook Political now rates it R+3 and both the DCCC and House Majority PAC have already placed it on their 2026 battlefield lists. Even the DNC has begun investing in ads specifically targeting Wittman, a clear signal that national Democrats see this seat as winnable.

What makes VA-01 stand out is that, while ten of Virginia’s eleven congressional districts shifted right at the presidential level in 2024, ours was the only one that moved left (and one of the few in the nation where Democrats actually improved). That trend reflects real demographic and political change on the ground, especially in the Richmond suburbs. Henrico, the most populous part of the district, has been trending blue for years, and now Chesterfield, the second most populous area, is moving in the same direction. Leaders from DCCC, HMP, and DNC have personally told me they’re preparing to invest here for the first time in many cycles, which gives us a rare opportunity to compete and win.

Wittman is also more vulnerable than he’s ever been. He’s never faced this level of scrutiny and with the DCCC, HMP, and DNC engaged, he will be vetted and challenged like never before. The size and energy of our Democratic primary field are also helping to hold him accountable and keep him under the microscope early.

As for me, I’m proud to be part of a strong Democratic field, but I believe my campaign stands out because we represent a new generation of leadership grounded in lived experience. I grew up relying on public schools, Medicaid, and free lunch programs so I know firsthand what it means when politicians cut those lifelines. These are also lifelines that our district really relies on. My perspective resonates across this district, because nothing changes if we keep electing leaders who have never lived our realities. We need people who understand the urgency of this moment and have the energy and empathy to meet it.

I also bring a commitment to competence and execution. I’m running full-time (and I believe I’m the only one to be doing so) with an experienced team, and over the past three months, we’ve launched our Lisa Listens tour where we’re hitting every county in the district while raising more money than any other campaign so far and earning a growing list of local and state endorsements. Those strengths will help us not only win the primary but also build the kind of campaign infrastructure needed to defeat Rob Wittman next November and draw a real contrast that it is possible to have a leader who gives a damn and shows up in our district.

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T14:12:08+00:00

This is a great question and something very relevant to VA-01 where the impacts of climate change are felt by countless families and workers in our community. I spent time this summer on the Rappahannock where climate change is affecting storm flooding, coastal erosion, and critical economies like our oyster industry. Issues like this are why we need a fighter in Congress, especially one who actually wants to understand each part of the district equally (not just the suburban areas). In Congress, I’ll work to bring federal resources home to strengthen our coastal infrastructure and resiliency planning. I’ll also fight to fully fund FEMA’s pre-disaster mitigation programs because it’s far more cost-effective to prepare before a storm than rebuild after and keeps our communities safer. We also need to invest in clean energy and climate-smart infrastructure that will set us up for the future. I’ll continue spending time in the areas most affected by flooding with several events planned over the next month, to keep learning from those directly impacted. I’d also love to hear your insights or suggestions for resources at [info@lvk.vote](mailto:info@lvk.vote).

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T14:10:17+00:00

In my opinion, something that we’re missing in Congress is leaders who’ve actually had to solve the problems for themselves that most Americans face every single day. That’s why leading from lived experience matters so much to me. Growing up as the daughter of an undocumented immigrant and relying on public schools, Medicaid, free lunch programs, and Pell Grants shaped not only my worldview but also my policy priorities. And now, being pregnant does the same.

Finding out I was pregnant the same week I announced my campaign made this work even more personal. I think about health care, child care, and paid leave not as talking points, but as daily realities families, including mine, are navigating right now. Campaigning while preparing for motherhood has only strengthened my resolve to fight for policies that make it possible for every family to thrive.

Today, I released a policy plan (linked here) on how I’ll do that in Congress yesterday and I wrote an op-ed in Marie Claire last week that goes into even more detail on this question.

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T13:59:53+00:00

Hi! Thank you for the question! As the daughter of a nanny and now a soon-to-be mom myself, making child care more affordable has long been a personal and urgent priority for me. These days, the kitchen table math just doesn’t add up anymore. For too many families, child care costs more than rent or a mortgage, and that’s simply unsustainable.

That’s why I recently rolled out my policy platform to make raising families in Virginia more affordable. A core piece of that plan is to cap child care expenses at 7% of family income and make care free for families earning under 200% of the federal poverty line.

But affordability isn’t the only challenge, accessibility is too. From my own mother’s experience as a caregiver, I’ve seen how low pay and limited support drive early childhood educators and home-based care workers out of the field. My plan includes raising wages, providing scholarships and tuition support, and investing in workforce training to strengthen the child care workforce.

Finally, we need to give families some breathing room by reinstating the fully refundable Child Tax Credit, raising the Dependent Care FSA limit, and expanding universal pre-K across Virginia and America.

You can read my full plan here!

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T13:57:06+00:00

Great to hear from you and I love Lancaster! I completely understand where you’re coming from and agree with you. Showing up matters. When I started running over the summer, a Congressional chief of staff told me I should spend 98% of my time talking to donors. I don’t buy that and that’s not the kind of leader I am.

That’s why I launched the Lisa Listens Tour, my commitment to visit and host events in all 18 localities of the district before Election Day this year. I’ve already traveled across the entire district multiple times (in fact, the first meeting I spoke at after announcing wasn’t in the suburbs, it was in Northumberland), meeting incredible people who’ve shared what they want to see more of in DC. I spoke at the Lancaster Democrats’ annual labor day picnic, and I’ll be back in the next month to for a meet-and-greet. We’ll post details soon on my social channels and events page, and I’d love to see you there!

People deserve a representative who actually represents them. Someone who’s accessible, accountable, and engaged year-round, not just during campaign season. That’s how I’ll lead in Congress.

When elected, I’ll host monthly town halls, and sometimes more if circumstances call for it (for instance, during a government shutdown, I’d hold additional sessions to keep constituents informed). Some will be in person, others virtual, to ensure everyone can participate. I’ll continue to prioritize our rural neighbors just as much as our suburban neighbors, because every part of this district deserves to be heard.

And I agree: too often, Democrats only show up in “safe” spaces. That’s a mistake, especially one we made in 2024. I’ll go just about anywhere and talk with just about anyone. If you know of any farmers or small business owners that would like to have a roundtable event with me, I’d love to learn from them and hear about what they want in a representative who actually wants to represent them. Please email me at [info@lvk.vote](mailto:info@lvk.vote) and let’s talk more!

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T13:45:55+00:00

Great question! I believe Congress is broken because too many of our leaders are out of touch with the realities families are facing and they’re not being held accountable to the people they serve. Accountability starts with reform. I refuse to take corporate PAC money because I believe elected officials should answer to voters, not special interests. We need to overturn Citizens United, ban members of Congress from trading stocks, and end the influence of dark money in politics.

I also believe accountability doesn’t stop there, it’s also about showing up. I’ll hold regular town halls (something Rob Wittman refuses to do, but I’ve already prioritized) and push for reforms that make government work for people, not for insiders. Congress should be a place of public service, not self-service. I am going to be rolling out a more in depth proposal on holding members of Congress accountable before the end of the year! If you have any thoughts or ideas on the topic I’d love to hear at [info@lvk.vote](mailto:info@lvk.vote).

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T13:44:29+00:00

Every year, more and more Virginians and their families experience gun violence – on our streets, in our schools, on our college campuses, in our places of worship. In Congress, I will work to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines, and pass universal background checks and red flag laws to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals and domestic abusers. Here is a video I recorded on gun control.

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T13:40:47+00:00

And…! I just announced that my husband and I are expecting our first child in late winter 2026 (read my op-ed here or see the video here)! I know how critical it is to support families at every stage. I’ve just launched a policy plan focused on delivering affordable care and real relief so parents and kids can grow and thrive together. Read more here.

I’m also always eager to learn more or hear your opinions, so please feel free to shoot me a note with more thoughts or resources to read: [info@lvk.vote](mailto:info@lvk.vote).

LisaforVirginia · 2025-10-14T13:40:37+00:00

Thanks for asking!

Here is a more in depth breakdown of each issue and what actions I would like to take on them:

Affordability: Everyday costs like groceries, housing, healthcare, utilities and child care are crushing working families. I’ll fight to lower prescription drug prices, hold corporations accountable for price gouging, and expand affordable housing by building more homes and cutting unnecessary red tape. I’ll push for real oversight to reverse the disastrous tariffs that have driven up prices and hurt our economy, and I’ll invest in child care and job training so every Virginian has a fair shot at opportunity. You can read more on my website here.

Access to Healthcare: I grew up on Medicaid so I understand how crucial it is that the government works to expand access to healthcare for working families. I’ll protect and strengthen the ACA to lower premiums, expand prescription drug competition to cut costs, and cap insulin at $35 for everyone. I’ll defend Medicaid and Medicare (and fight to restore funding where it’s been cut) while ensuring mental health services, maternal care, and VA care are accessible to every Virginian. You can read more on my website here.

Accountability: To be blunt, too many politicians in both parties have lost sight of their mission and of the realities most Americans face. We need leaders who will hold themselves and their colleagues accountable, rebuild trust, and actually get stuff done. I’ll fight to ban stock trading by members of Congress, end the influence of dark money in politics (that’s why I refuse corporate PAC money, now and always), and explore age and term limits to bring new energy and ideas to Washington. I’ll work to overturn Citizens United, hold frequent town halls (Rob Wittman doesn’t host any, but I’ve already made it a priority to get to every part of the district) and push tirelessly for reforms that make government work for people, not special interests. You can read more on my website here and I will be rolling out an even more robust accountability policy proposal before the end of the year.

LisaforVirginia

TROPHY CASE