Democrat Tom Perriello represented Virginia’s Fifth District in the United States House of Representatives for one term after he narrowly defeated Republican Virgil Goode in the 2008 election 158,810 votes to 158,083 votes.
Perriello lost a reelection bid in 2010 to Republican Robert Hurt by a wider margin in a three-way race in which Hurt got 50.8 percent of the votes cast. Perriello garnered 47 percent and independent Jeffrey Clark received 2.1 percent.
Perriello went on to serve in a number of positions in the U.S. State Department and ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2017 but lost to Ralph Northam in the primary by a 55.9 percent to 44.1 percent margin.
On December 9, Perriello released a video on Facebook stating he is entering the race for the Democratic nomination for his old seat.
“Things are out of control,” Perriello said. “People are angry and confused and they have a right to be. Families can’t afford groceries because Republicans in Congress like John McGuire won’t stand up to Trump’s tariffs.”
McGuire won election in 2024 against Democrat Gloria Tinsley Witt after unseating incumbent Republican Robert Good in a primary contest with 50.3 percent of the vote. McGuire argued that Good was not sufficiently loyal to Donald Trump after endorsing another candidate in the 2024 nomination race.
Perriello joins a nomination race in which there are six other Democrats including Albemarle Supervisor Mike Pruitt.
Other candidates include: Paul Riley of Crozet, a candidate in 2024; Kate Zabriskie of Lynchburg; Adele Stichel of Charlottesville, Suzanne Krzyanowski of Bedford County; and Robert William Tracinski of Charlottesville.
According to the Federal Election Commission, Pruitt raised $223,585.11 through September 30. Zabriski is the only other candidate to file in that reporting cycle with receipts of $13,426.76 and expenditures of $15,153.24 with the Virginia Public Access Project reporting a $1,726 deficit.
In his two-minute campaign announcement, Perriello touted his public service and previous experience.
“When you elected me to Congress, I listened and I fought to bring down the cost of health care, to expand rural Internet access, and to bring good paying jobs into our region, including clean energy jobs,” Perriello said “I fought to to protect civil rights, public education and reproductive freedom. And I’ve stood up to corruption, hate and authoritarianism at home and abroad.”
The full campaign video can be seen on Perriello’s campaign website.
For more information, consult these stories:
- Perriello announces 5th District candidacy, Sarah Allen, CBS19 News, December 9, 2025
- Former Rep. Tom Perriello jumps into the 5th District race amid redistricting upheaval, Elizabeth Beyer, Cardinal News, December 9, 2025
- Perriello mounts comeback bid in Virginia’s 5th District, Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury, December 9, 2025
- Morning Digest: An unlikely Obamacare champion just launched an unexpected comeback, David Nir, Downballot, December 10, 2025
Before you go: Paid subscribers cover the cost of conducting research for this article which was originally published in the December 9, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. You can either subscribe through Substack, make a monthly contribution through Patreon, or consider becoming a sponsor. The goal of Town Crier Productions is to increase awareness about what is happening at the local, regional, state, and federal government levels. Please share the work with others if you want people to know things.
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