Joan
E. "Andrews" Bell
Independent anti-abortion activist challenging Rep. Jennifer McClellan in Virginia's 4th Congressional District (2026)
- sources
- 8
- positions
- 1
- endorsements
- 0
Background
Joan E. "Andrews" Bell is an independent challenger running for U.S. House in Virginia's 4th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election. The FEC classifies her as a challenger; the incumbent is Rep. Jennifer McClellan. 17
Bell is widely identified with decades of anti-abortion activism, including involvement with Operation Rescue and Red Rose Rescues. Her campaign website describes a lifetime spent defending the unborn. 1119 A 2023 report placed her in Montague, N.J., though her current residence was not confirmed by the sources reviewed. 20
No prior elected office, formal education history, or separate current occupation beyond her candidacy and activism were established by the sources reviewed. 12
At a glance
- Party
- Independent
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 4, Virginia
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- joan.vote(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 8newsVPM reports Bell is a member of the Babies.Vote joint fundraising committee
VPM reported, citing FEC records, that Bell was a member of the Babies.Vote joint fundraising committee alongside Randall Terry and Joshua Ertle, and described her as a friend of fellow committee members. Committee member Alan Aversa claimed their TV ads could reach 'over 90% of the D.C. TV viewership.'
Candidate in Virginia's 7th District recruited one of his opponents · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 6filingVirginia Dept. of Elections posts Bell on federal candidate list for Nov. 3 election
Virginia's Department of Elections updated its federal candidate list on Oct. 6, confirming Bell's placement on the Nov. 3 ballot as an independent candidate in Virginia's 4th Congressional District.
Virginia Dept. of Elections: Candidates & Referendums · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30newsiVoterGuide publishes Bell questionnaire profile with policy positions
iVoterGuide published a profile with Bell's questionnaire responses, reporting she supported legal protection for human life 'from conception until natural death' and supported enforcing the Comstock Act. The profile was updated Oct. 10.
Joan E. "Andrews" Bell - Voter Guide · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 28newsChamberLight shows no FEC reports on file for Bell's campaign committee
ChamberLight's VA-04 election page displayed 'NO FEC REPORTS ON FILE' for Bell, indicating no candidate-committee FEC reports were available to summarize at the time of the listing.
Joan Andrews Bell (I) — 2026 Candidate, Virginia's 4th District · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 22newsBell named in anti-abortion graphic TV ad campaign targeting Trump and GOP
A press release carried by Christian Newswire announced a multi-candidate campaign using graphic anti-abortion TV ads and named Bell among the candidates involved. No Bell-specific ad schedule or spending figure was provided.
Trump Confronted by TV Ads of Graphic Images of Aborted ... · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 18filingBell listed as independent candidate in Virginia's 4th District on election guides
Contemporary Virginia election guides, including Axios (published Sept. 21, updated Oct. 5) and others, listed Joan E. 'Andrews' Bell as an independent candidate in VA-04 alongside Democrat Jennifer McClellan and Republican Robert Murray for the Nov. 3 election.
Virginia early voting starts Sept. 18: What's on the ballot - Axios · Sep 21, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 18newsVPM reaches out to Bell campaign for VA-04 candidate Q&A
VPM published a candidate survey for Virginia's 4th Congressional District and noted it had reached out to the Bell campaign. Answers from other candidates were presented, but none from Bell appeared on the page.
4th District Q&A: Jennifer McClellan, Robert “Family Man” Murray · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $0
- Spent
- $0
- Cash on hand
- $0
Reporting date not available. ↳ FEC record H6VA04137(opens in a new tab)
Sources 8
- [1] Candidate in Virginia's 7th District recruited one of his opponents(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [2] Joan Andrews Bell (I) — 2026 Candidate, Virginia's 4th District(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [3] Joan for Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [4] Joan E. "Andrews" Bell - Voter Guide(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [5] Virginia Dept. of Elections: Candidates & Referendums(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [6] Trump Confronted by TV Ads of Graphic Images of Aborted ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
- [7] Virginia early voting starts Sept. 18: What's on the ballot - Axios(opens in a new tab) Sep 21, 2026
- [8] 4th District Q&A: Jennifer McClellan, Robert “Family Man” Murray(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026