Mike Pruitt drops Congressional bid, endorses Tom Perriello

Pruitt cited new redistricting maps as reason for ending campaign

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Albemarle County Board of Supervisor Mike Pruitt, a Navy veteran and civil rights attorney, announced he is dropping his Congressional bid and will endorse fellow Democrat Tom Perriello. Pruitt cited the new redistricting maps as the driving force behind his decision.

Why it matters

The redistricting of Virginia's congressional districts has led to a shift in the political landscape, with Albemarle County and Charlottesville moving from the 5th District to the 6th District. This change has impacted the dynamics of the Congressional race, leading Pruitt to withdraw his candidacy and throw his support behind Perriello.

The details

Pruitt and Perriello had both entered the race to run against 5th District Republican incumbent John McGuire. However, with the new district maps, Perriello is now expected to run in the 6th District, where he resides, against Republican incumbent Ben Cline. Pruitt cited the uphill battle he would face in the new district as the reason for his withdrawal, stating that he believes Perriello will better represent the interests of rural, working Virginians in Congress.

  • Pruitt announced his withdrawal on February 11, 2026.
  • The new redistricting maps were recently made public, prompting Pruitt's decision.

The players

Mike Pruitt

Albemarle County Board of Supervisor, Navy veteran, and civil rights attorney who was running for Congress.

Tom Perriello

Democrat who is expected to run in the 6th District against Republican incumbent Ben Cline.

John McGuire

Republican incumbent of the 5th District, who Pruitt and Perriello had initially planned to run against.

Ben Cline

Republican incumbent of the 6th District, who Perriello is now expected to run against.

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What they’re saying

“I'm a fighter. I joined this race knowing I'd face a hard, uphill battle. But with the newly publicized district maps, I now know that such a fight will do more harm than good. Just as I know Tom Perriello will put in the work to stand up for rural, working Virginians in Congress.”

— Mike Pruitt, Albemarle County Board of Supervisor (cvillerightnow.com)

“We deserve better than politicians like John McGuire who let corporations turn our lives into profit while our communities pay the price.”

— Mike Pruitt, Albemarle County Board of Supervisor (cvillerightnow.com)

What’s next

The new district maps will be put to a public vote this spring, which could further impact the Congressional race in Virginia's 6th District.

The takeaway

The redistricting of Virginia's congressional districts has led to a shift in the political landscape, with Pruitt withdrawing his candidacy and endorsing Perriello, who is now expected to run in the 6th District against the Republican incumbent. This highlights the significant impact that redistricting can have on the dynamics of political races.