Vindman, Subramanyam sworn in on Capitol Hill

U.S. Reps. Eugene Vindman, D-Va.-7th District, and Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va.-10th District, were sworn in Jan. 3 at the onset of the 119th Congress.

The two congressmen took the oath of office at the U.S. Capitol surrounded by their families and fellow legislators. While both are children of immigrants – Vindman’s family hailing from Ukraine and Subramanyam’s from India – they each took different paths to the nation’s capital.

On the campaign trail, Subramanyam championed issues emanating from his bipartisan approach in the state legislature, where he founded the “Commonwealth Caucus” seeking common ground among fellow legislators.

Among Subramanyam’s highest priorities were gun violence prevention, efforts to lower prescription drug prices and support Medicare, a reduction of toll costs for commuters, energy bill refunds for Virginia consumers and issues related to education and housing costs.

Subramanyam was elected as a delegate in the Virginia General Assembly in 2019, representing the 87th District, and a state senator in 2023, representing the 32nd District.

In 2024, he defeated Republican Mike Clancy in the congressional contest by about 4.5%, or just under 19,000 votes. Subramanyam saw his most significant gains in Loudoun County, where he won by about 29,000 votes.   

The 10th District includes all of Loudoun County – making up more than half its voters – along with all of Fauquier and Rappahannock counties and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. It also includes the western half of Prince William County and about 15,000 voters in the Clifton and Union Mill areas of southern Fairfax County.

Both Vindman and Subramanyam tied their Republican opponents to Project 2025 throughout the campaign. A prominent figure in President-elect Trump’s first impeachment, Vindman used his ultimate dismissal from the Trump administration as a springboard. 

Subramanyam often expressed his desire to be a uniting force, emphasizing in his victory speech that he would welcome Clancy’s supporters and work with them, maintaining the bipartisan approach that was a trademark of his work in the General Assembly.   

Vindman focused his campaign on abortion, reiterating during debates and media interviews that reproductive rights were the most crucial issue in last November's election. The congressman also prioritized local issues, recommending price caps on groceries, supporting measures to lower housing costs and striving to improve public education.   

Vindman inherits the 7th Congressional District seat from outgoing Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who held the seat for six years and three consecutive terms. The 7th District, redrawn after the 2020 Census, includes eastern Prince William County as well as all of Stafford, Spotsylvania, Orange, Culpeper, Greene, Madison, King George and Caroline counties; the city of Fredericksburg, and a small portion of northern Albemarle County.

A Dale City resident, Vindman benefited greatly from his large win in Prince William County, where he prevailed by just under 39,000 votes over his opponent, Republican Derrick Anderson. Anderson won each of the 7th District’s 11 localities except for Prince William and the city of Fredericksburg – with margins that ultimately granted Vindman victory by about 2.5% overall, or nearly 11,000 votes.