CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Pledging to work for rural Virginia, tackle affordability and healthcare issues and “fire John McGuire,” former Congressional representative Tom Perriello accepted the Democratic nomination to run again for the seat in the 5th District.

“It’s a big deal to ask people for their vote,” Perriello told Cville Right Now on Tuesday night. “What we see is the listening that we’ve done in the hundreds and hundreds of sessions across the district have really added up to a lot of excitement for our race. We’re excited not just to be unifying the Democratic party, but we are already building a lot of support from independents and Republicans who want to see a different direction in Washington.”

As of 9 p.m., with 23 of 24 localities reporting, Perriello had gained 18,878 votes, easily outpacing Lynchburg’s Dr. Suzanne Krzyzanowski (3,692) and journalist and author Rob Tracinski (1,457).

Once official, that result will match Perriello up with Republican incumbent Rep. John McGuire, a first-term Congressional representative who soundly defeated primary challenger Melanie Lucero on Tuesday.

Earlier in the night, at Perriello’s primary night event at Kardinal Hall in Charlottesville, the former Congressman’s family, staff and supporters mingled amidst blue and white balloons and “Perriello for Congress” signs as they awaited the results of the vote.

A loud cheer went up just before 7:30 p.m. when some outlets began projecting Perriello as the winner.

Perriello, clad in his signature blue jeans and light blue striped dress shirt, addressed the crowd about 15 minutes later, after the Associated Press and CNN both called the race in his favor.

“This is about restoring common sense and a constitutional balance of power,” Perriello told the crowd in his victory speech. “We have had Congress fail to do its job when it comes to tariffs, when it comes to this war, when it comes to checking corruption that’s out of control.”

Perriello campaign director Lily Franklin, also a state delegate, told Cville Right Now that voting turnout Tuesday was better than the 2024 primaries, despite the odd August date.

Franklin flipped a previously Republican 41st District in Southwest Virginia in 2025. She said there are parallels between her victory and the race Perriello is now officially running against incumbent Rep. John McGuire, who decidedly defeated Melanie Lucero for the Republican nomination on Tuesday.

“You have to show up and listen to people and then be willing to do the work to deliver for them,” Franklin told Cville Right Now. “That’s what we see in this race too. They’re very similar in the sense that I had a rural district that felt forgotten. And that’s what’s happening here in the 5th District. We have a district that has had a Republican nominee for years that hasn’t been delivering, hasn’t been showing up and listening. That’s what people want to see.”

Perriello spoke about kitchen table issues, including affordability and healthcare access, especially in rural areas. He laid much of the blame at the feet of McGuire for supporting President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill budget act. Perriello criticized McGuire and Congress for not exerting its power and allowing Trump’s policies on tariffs and the war in Iran to add to the rising cost of living.

“Everyone else in the country is looking at us because we have the chance to reshape the balance of power in this country and restore our Constitution,” Perriello said. “The path back to freedom goes through Virginia’s 5th District, the path back to affordability goes Virginia’s 5th District, and the path back to sanity goes through Virginia’s 5th District.”

Tracinski released a statement Tuesday night pledging his support for Perriello while continuing to focus on what he’s labeled the Constitutional abuses of power by the Trump administration.

“I’ve been saying all along that the people of the Fifth District need someone who will stand up for their rights and interests in Washington, DC, and someone who is not just a rubber stamp for Trump,” Tracinski’s statement said. “I am certain that Tom Perriello will be far, far, far more responsive to the will of the voters than our incumbent, John McGuire.”