GOP primary winner announced after competition between Navy Seal, Green Beret, Marine, and Trump official.

Derrick Anderson emerged victorious in the hard-fought Republican primary for the chance to secure the 7th Congressional District seat currently held by Democrat Abigail Spanberger. With a commanding lead of about 10% over his closest competitor, Anderson’s win was confirmed by the Associated Press on Tuesday.

The Republican primary field was crowded with six candidates, featuring impressive individuals such as Navy SEAL combat veteran Cameron Hamilton, U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret Derrick Anderson, author and artist Maria Martin, Marine Corps veteran Jon Myers, entrepreneur John Prabhudoss, and Terris Todd, who served in the Trump administration as the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.

Spanberger, the incumbent, announced last year her decision not to seek re-election as she sets her sights on running for governor in 2025. The Democratic primary on Tuesday saw seven candidates competing for the nomination to represent the district.

The 7th Congressional District covers a vast area from central Virginia into parts of Northern Virginia, including counties like Orange, Culpeper, Spotsylvania, and segments of Prince William County outside of Washington, D.C. Based on electoral ratings, the district is currently categorized as leaning towards the Democratic Party.

During the primary campaign, Anderson managed to amass the highest amount of donations, exceeding $1.1 million, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project. Hamilton followed closely with over $720,000 raised. Polls leading up to election day had Anderson and Hamilton as the top contenders.

Rep. Tom Emmer, the House majority whip from Minnesota, threw his support behind Anderson, describing him as a “conservative leader who will deliver for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.”

Emmer emphasized Anderson’s support from military veterans, local sheriffs, and influential figures in the conservative movement, emphasizing his commitment to pushing back against what he termed as Joe Biden’s failed policies.

Despite their lack of prior experience in public office, both Anderson and Hamilton have expressed their endorsement of former President Donald Trump for the 2024 election. Anderson highlighted his broad support, especially from key figures within the Republican Party, emphasizing the need to rally behind Trump as the presumptive nominee.

Hamilton, on the other hand, distinguished himself as the “most conservative candidate” in the race due to his unwavering defense of civil liberties and principled conservative values, even in cases where he may clash with his own party.

The primary race in Virginia coincided with a meeting between Trump and Governor Glenn Youngkin, focusing on strategizing to shift the state’s political landscape towards the Republican camp in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Virginia has consistently voted for Democratic presidential candidates since 2008’s victory by Barack Obama.