Joy
A. Powers
Democrat Joy A. Powers, a Bedford County cattle farmer, challenges incumbent Rep. Morgan Griffith in Virginia's 9th Congressional District in 2026.
- sources
- 15
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 18
Background
Joy A. Powers is a Democratic candidate challenging Republican incumbent H. Morgan Griffith in Virginia's 9th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election. 919 She lives and works on her family's 350-acre cattle farm in Bedford County, Virginia, and also operates a farm-equipment dealership. 38
Before entering electoral politics, Powers founded Restore the Harvest, an organization focused on sustainable agricultural education and resources. 38 She also serves as superintendent of the Bedford County Fair and sits on the Bedford County Agricultural Economic Development Advisory Board. 3
Powers previously ran for Virginia House of Delegates District 51 in 2025, losing to Republican incumbent Eric Zehr. 19 She won the Democratic primary for Virginia's 9th Congressional District in 2026 and is running as what her campaign describes as a "real rural Democrat." 81019
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 9, Virginia
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Cattle farmer and small-business owner, Bedford County, Virginia
- Website
- joyforva.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Date unknownfilingPowers fundraising through July 15: ~$85,000 raised, ~$14,000 cash on hand
FEC-based campaign finance summaries reported by ChamberLight and The Political Group put Powers's total receipts at approximately $85,000 and cash on hand at approximately $14,000 as of July 15, 2026. No later verified fundraising figure was found in the sources reviewed.
Joy Powers - 2026 Candidate, Virginia's 9th District · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8news9th District candidates engage with New River Valley farm issues including drought and rising costs
WSLS reported on 9th District candidates touring New River Valley farms amid drought, hay shortage, and rising diesel costs, reflecting agriculture as an issue in the Powers-Griffith race.
9th District candidates tour New River Valley farms amid drought, hay shortage, rising diesel costs · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 6newsWVTF reports Powers focusing on farmers and rural health care amid hospital financial uncertainty
WVTF quoted Powers expressing concern that rural hospital leaders did not know how they would manage financially, and reported her focus on farmers and rural health care as key campaign issues. The outlet noted the race could reveal how strongly rural voters still back the Republican Party.
Virginia's 9th district race could reveal how strongly rural voters still side with Republican party · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 6newsPowers and Griffith give separate candidate interviews published by WJHL
WJHL published separate video interviews with both VA-09 candidates, Joy Powers and Morgan Griffith, as part of its election coverage ahead of the November 3 general election.
WATCH: Virginia District Nine US House of Representatives candidate interviews · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 6debatePowers's debate challenge to Griffith declined; Griffith says voters already know his positions
WVTF reported that Powers had challenged Griffith to three debates across the district, but Griffith declined, saying voters already know where he stands. No debate between the two candidates was reported in the sources reviewed.
Virginia's 9th district race could reveal how strongly rural voters still side with Republican party · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30newsWSLS reports health care as centerpiece of Powers's campaign against Griffith
WSLS profiled the 9th District race, describing health care as a central focus of Powers's campaign and noting the general competitiveness and dynamics of her challenge to 16-term incumbent Morgan Griffith.
Virginia's 9th District race: Griffith faces challenger Powers in November · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30debateSeveral Virginia congressional races, including VA-09, lack scheduled debates as Election Day approaches
WJLA reported that multiple Virginia congressional races had no debates scheduled as Election Day neared, including the VA-09 race between Powers and Griffith.
Several Virginia races lack debates as Election Day nears · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29filingPowers listed as official 2026 candidate for Virginia's 9th District by Virginia Dept. of Elections
The Virginia Department of Elections posted its official candidate list showing Joy A. Powers as the Democratic candidate for Virginia's 9th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Virginia Dept. of Elections: Candidates & Referendums · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 28newsCardinal News examines what Democrats would need to win Virginia's Republican-held districts, including the 9th
Cardinal News assessed the difficulty facing Powers and other Democratic challengers in Virginia's five Republican-held congressional districts ahead of the November 2026 midterms.
Here's what it would take for Democrats to win in each of ... · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 26newsAnalysis outlines what it would take for Powers to win VA-09 in 2026
The Political Group published an analysis of the conditions under which Powers could defeat incumbent Republican Morgan Griffith in Virginia's heavily Republican 9th District.
What It Would Take for Joy Powers to Win VA-09 in 2026 · Sep 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 21newsPowers outlines rural health care and data-center moratorium positions in VPM candidate Q&A
In a VPM/Radio IQ candidate questionnaire, Powers identified rural health care as a congressional failure, said she would support protecting 340B, changing rural reimbursement formulas, and stabilizing rural hospitals. She also proposed a nationwide temporary moratorium on data centers pending new rules, and listed housing, energy, health care, food costs, and market competition as affordability priorities.
9th District Q&A: Morgan Griffith, Joy Powers · Sep 21, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 18newsEarly in-person voting begins in Virginia ahead of November 3 general election
Early in-person voting opened on September 18 in Virginia. Voter guides published by WTOP and the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance confirmed Joy Powers and Morgan Griffith as the two candidates for Virginia's 9th District.
2026 General Election Center - Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 17newsPowers campaign described as low-budget, focused on keeping Stewartsville Elementary open
Cardinal News reported that Powers was not advertising on television but was posting social-media videos about her efforts to keep Stewartsville Elementary in Bedford County open. Her campaign was described as having limited funds.
10 things to know about the congressional campaigns in ... · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- United Mine Workers of America unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no endorsement date shown. joyforva.com
- National Women's Political Caucus organizationListed on campaign endorsement page and on NWPC's endorsed-candidates page (published August 25, 2026); exact endorsement date not established. joyforva.com
- Kim Willis otherFormer staffer to Congressman Rick Boucher; listed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. joyforva.com
- National Security Leaders for America organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no endorsement date shown. joyforva.com
- Neal Osborne, Vice Mayor of Bristol officialListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. joyforva.com
- John Henry, Andy and Kim Smith otherStewards and co-owners of Smithfield Farms in Russell County; listed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. joyforva.com
- Donna Little otherFormer Virginia House of Delegates candidate; listed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. joyforva.com
- Rural Caucus organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no endorsement date shown. joyforva.com
- Barbara Kingsolver otherAuthor and farmer; listed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. joyforva.com
- NOW PAC (National Organization for Women) organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. joyforva.com
- Taysha DeVaughan otherFormer Democratic nominee for CD-9; listed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. joyforva.com
- Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no endorsement date shown. joyforva.com
- Michael Sutphin, Mayor of Blacksburg officialListed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. joyforva.com
- Andy Kegley otherWythe County community advocate; listed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. joyforva.com
- Beth Macy otherCandidate for CD-6 and author; listed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. joyforva.com
- Anthony Flaccavento otherFormer Democratic nominee for VA-9; listed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. joyforva.com
- Tom Perriello otherCandidate for CD-5; listed on campaign endorsement page; no date given. joyforva.com
- United Auto Workers of America unionEndorsement announced in a campaign blog post dated August 26, 2026. joyforva.com · Aug 26, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $85K
- Spent
- $71K
- Cash on hand
- $14K
As of Jul 15, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6VA09136(opens in a new tab)
Sources 15
- [1] ENDORSEMENTS | Joy Powers For VA(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [2] 9th District candidates tour New River Valley farms amid drought, hay shortage, rising diesel costs(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [3] THE ISSUES | Joy Powers For VA(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [4] 2026 General Election Center - Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [5] Virginia's 9th district race could reveal how strongly rural voters still side with Republican party(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [6] WATCH: Virginia District Nine US House of Representatives candidate interviews(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [7] Several Virginia races lack debates as Election Day nears(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [8] Virginia's 9th District race: Griffith faces challenger Powers in November(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [9] Joy Powers - 2026 Candidate, Virginia's 9th District(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [10] Virginia Dept. of Elections: Candidates & Referendums(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [11] Here's what it would take for Democrats to win in each of ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
- [12] What It Would Take for Joy Powers to Win VA-09 in 2026(opens in a new tab) Sep 26, 2026
- [13] 9th District Q&A: Morgan Griffith, Joy Powers(opens in a new tab) Sep 21, 2026
- [14] 10 things to know about the congressional campaigns in ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [15] BLOG | Joy Powers For VA(opens in a new tab) Sep 4, 2026