Virginia Ninth District congressional candidates

Virginia Ninth District congressional candidates Joy Powers – Democratic candidateAge: 34Profession: Farmer and Small Business OwnerPrevious experience in elected office: No previousexperience in elected office H. Morgan Griffith – Republican incumbentAge: 68 years oldProfession: United States Representative for Virginia's 9th Congressional DistrictPrevious experience in elected office – Majority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates (2000-2010); Member of the Virginia House of Delegates, 8th District (1994-2011) Q: Do you live in the current Ninth Congressional District physical boundaries? Powers: "Yes." Griffith: "My house has been in and out of the district due to various redistricting's over the years. It currently is just outside the lines. If the Democrat redistricting plan last spring had succeeded, both my opponent and I would have been just outside the district. She pledged to run in the 9th either way. The Kingsport Times News office is further outside the district than my house but, like me, serves the people of Southwest Virginia. For readers' information, Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution allows and anticipates this would occur." Q: What makes you qualified to represent all residents of the Ninth Congressional District? Powers: "I am a farmer, a lifelong Southwest Virginian, and someone who understands the challenges facing working families because I've lived them. I know what it's like to worry about rising costs, access to healthcare, and whether the next generation will have opportunities here at home. I'm not a career politician. I'm running because our communities deserve someone who listens, shows up, and puts people ahead of party politics. I'll bring common sense and a commitment to serving every resident of the Ninth." Griffith: "Southwest Virginians have trusted me to represent them for years. That experience has taught me that effective representation requires more than a mere understanding of the issues. It requires knowing the people and communities affected by them. My conservative values, years of service, and leadership positions on influential committees in Congress give our region a strong voice in Washington. I know Southwest Virginia's challenges because this is my home, and I never forget the people who send me to Washington." Q: Since January 2025, inflation, gas and grocery prices all have shown increases in the past 22 months. To what do you attribute those increases and what measures do you think Congress needs to take to begin dealing with those increases? Powers: "Families across Southwest Virginia are paying too much for everyday necessities. Reckless tariffs, trade uncertainty, high energy costs, and corporate consolidation have made an already difficult situation worse. As a farmer, I understand how rising fertilizer, fuel, and transportation costs eventually reach grocery store shelves. President Trump should stop imposing tariffs that hurt American producers and consumers, strengthen competition in the food and energy industries, and support domestic production. We also need to protect working families from healthcare and utility cost increases. Washington should focus on making life affordable, not creating more economic uncertainty." Griffith: "Americans are paying more for everything, from groceries and gasoline to housing and health care. There are many causes, but years of rampant inflation, in part by Biden's economic policies, have made it harder to raise a family and make ends meet. These higher costs don't simply disappear when inflation slows. Congress must work to reverse these inflationary pressures by cutting wasteful spending, unleashing American energy production, and reducing burdensome regulations. We must also encourage greater competition to bring down costs, particularly in health care. Making life more affordable for hardworking families in Southwest Virginia remains one of my priorities." Q: What is your view on current economic/labor conditions, and how do you feel about these recent reporting changes? Powers: "Our economy isn't working well enough for the people who keep it running. Too many Southwest Virginians work hard, sometimes at multiple jobs, and still struggle to afford housing, healthcare, and groceries. I support fair wages, collective bargaining rights, and investments in good-paying jobs that allow families to stay in our region. I am also concerned about changes that reduce the transparency or reliability of federal economic reporting. Americans deserve accurate, independent information about employment, wages, and inflation. Politicians should be held accountable for economic conditions, not allowed to obscure the facts." Griffith: "The hardworking men and women of Southwest Virginia have long been the backbone of our region's economy. From agriculture and manufacturing to coal and natural gas, our communities have weathered changing economic conditions while continuing to produce the goods and resources our nation depends upon. I'm encouraged by new investments and manufacturing opportunities happening throughout the Ninth District. Still, we cannot make wise decisions without solid facts. Reliable labor statistics are key to understanding what our workers face. If the federal government wants to change how it reports those numbers, it should be for greater accuracy and transparency, not less. As always, my focus is on protecting the jobs we have, bringing in new opportunities, and making sure families in Southwest Virginia can build a good life. That's what matters most to me, both as your Congressman and as your neighbor. " Q: Both of you, within the past 12 months, have made statements on your positions about public town hall meetings with the Ninth District constituency. For the record again, what is your position on holding regular, in-person meetings with sufficient lead time and accessibility to the entire public? Powers: "Absolutely. Holding regular, open, in-person town halls should be a basic responsibility of serving in Congress. Morgan Griffith has gone nearly 15 years without holding an open, in-person town hall, and the people of Southwest Virginia deserve better. I've already held public town halls across the district because I believe elected officials should answer directly to the people they represent. In Congress, I'll continue holding town halls throughout the Ninth District, with adequate public notice, accessible locations, and opportunities for everyone to participate, including those who disagree with me. Accountability doesn't end on Election Day." Griffith: "The Ninth District spans more than 10,000 square miles, larger than nine states in landmass. When not in Washington, I travel throughout the district meeting constituents face to-face, addressing their needs. My telephone town halls reach far more constituents than bricks-and-mortar locations, ensuring geography and physical impairment do not limit access. Staged events meant to draw attention to the organizer, not foster meaningful conversation, do not help me hear issues impacting my constituents. The people of Southwest Virginia know where I stand. I consistently defend our conservative values like protecting the right to life, the Second Amendment, and championing keeping taxes lower." Q: How do you plan to represent the entire Ninth Congressional District, regardless of residents' political positions or economic status? Powers: "When I'm elected, I won't represent Democrats or Republicans. I'll represent the people of Southwest Virginia. Whether you're a farmer in Washington County, a coal miner in Buchanan County, a student in Montgomery County, or a retiree in Bedford, your concerns deserve to be heard. I'll maintain accessible constituent services, hold regular public meetings, and work with anyone willing to improve life in our communities. We won't agree on everything, but everyone deserves respect and a voice in Washington. My decisions will be guided by what's best for the Ninth District, not party leaders, wealthy donors, or political insiders." Griffith: "I have never made any secret of where I stand. I fight to protect rural hospitals, expand access to telemedicine, combat the scourge of fentanyl, and stand up for the farmers and families who are the backbone of Southwest Virginia. But my commitment to Southwest Virginians extends well beyond the issues on which we agree. When a veteran needs help securing benefits or a family has trouble with Social Security, political affiliation makes no difference. In 2025, my office opened more than 1,175 constituent cases involving over 40 federal agencies. Every constituent deserves to be heard and treated fairly." Q: Public health: The Trump administration has proposed and — in some cases — cut funding for Medicare programs and federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance policies. The Department of Health and Human Services has relaxed guidelines for childhood vaccinations. The federal provisions for food inspections stand in contrast to reports of contaminated produce and questionable inspections of ground beef in recent months. Your views on the situation? Powers: "Healthcare and public safety should never be sacrificed for political agendas or corporate profits. Southwest Virginia already faces hospital closures, healthcare workforce shortages, and families struggling to afford coverage. Cutting healthcare funding or allowing insurance premiums to rise will only make those problems worse. I support protecting Medicare, preserving affordable insurance coverage, and ensuring childhood vaccination recommendations follow established medical science. As a cattle farmer, I also understand the importance of strong food safety standards. Americans deserve confidence that the food they purchase is safe and that federal inspectors have the resources to protect consumers." Griffith: "As Chairman of the House Health Subcommittee, I have strived to make health care more affordable and accessible, particularly in rural communities like Southwest Virginia. I helped advance the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, which would reduce out-of-pocket costs, expand insurance options, and require greater transparency from pharmacy benefit managers. I backed extending protections to Medicare-dependent hospitals and supported expanding telehealth so rural residents can obtain care locally. I also chaired hearings on FDA food safety and advocated stronger oversight, since public health relies on both access and accountability." Q: Miners' health: The Trump administration has delayed implementation of a 2024 federal rule setting tighter limits on miners' exposure to silica dust because of research showing that rock dust causes complicated black lung with greater damage to lungs than just coal dust. Do you support implementation of the rule now? Why do you take that particular position? Powers: "Yes. Southwest Virginia's coal miners have sacrificed enough of their health to power this country. We have known for years that exposure to silica dust can cause devastating, irreversible lung disease, yet miners continue developing complicated black lung at alarming rates. Delaying stronger protections puts more workers at risk. I support implementing the 2024 silica rule as soon as legally possible, strengthening enforcement, and ensuring miners have access to screenings, treatment, and the benefits they've earned. No miner should have to choose between earning a paycheck and being able to breathe. Their lives are worth protecting." Griffith: "Coal miners have powered Southwest Virginia and helped meet America's energy needs for generations. They deserve protection from devastating diseases like black lung. I have supported federal funding for Stone Mountain Health Services, which operates Virginia's only federally funded Black Lung Clinic Program, serving miners throughout our region. I have also supported free black lung screenings and questioned HHS Secretary Kennedy about protecting miners' health. The 2024 silica rule remains under federal court review. The dangers of silica exposure demand serious attention, and any final standard must protect miners while providing clear, workable requirements for mine operators." Q: FEMA assistance has been delayed to some areas affected by a variety of natural disasters. What would you tell Ninth District residents about that issue? Powers: "When disaster strikes, families shouldn't have to wait months for Washington to decide whether they deserve help. Communities across Southwest Virginia know firsthand the devastation caused by flooding and severe storms. FEMA assistance should be timely, accessible, and based on need, not politics. I would work directly with local officials to expedite disaster declarations, secure recovery funding, and ensure residents aren't buried in paperwork while trying to rebuild their lives. I also support investments in flood mitigation and resilient infrastructure. When our neighbors lose everything, the federal government has a responsibility to show up and deliver." Griffith: "Hurricane Helene devastated Southwest Virginia, destroying homes, businesses, roads, and vital infrastructure. Having witnessed the destruction, I understand recovery cannot wait on bureaucracy. Following Helene, I pushed approval of Governor Youngkin's disaster declaration and supported disaster relief funding that continues to help. I also cosponsored legislation to cut bureaucratic red tape, expediting recovery assistance. Federal, state, and local agencies all play roles in distributing disaster funds. When delays occur, we must identify the obstacles and address them. Southwest Virginians rebuilding their lives deserve timely assistance. For specific delays people should contact my office so we can help with the problem."