Robert
P. "Family Man" Murray, Jr.
Republican challenger Robert P. "Family Man" Murray, Jr. is running for Virginia's 4th Congressional District seat in 2026.
- sources
- 9
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 0
Background
Robert P. "Family Man" Murray, Jr. is the Republican challenger for Virginia's 4th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 U.S. House election. He is not the incumbent; the sitting representative is Democrat Jennifer L. McClellan. The Virginia Department of Elections and the FEC both classify him as a challenger. (1, 5)
According to his campaign biography, Murray grew up in Chesterfield, Virginia, and started an IT company on Richmond's south side after high school. He later joined IBM's federal-government technology consulting practice, where he held technology consulting and CIO advisory roles, eventually retiring after overseeing an AI deployment. (2, 3)
Murray's campaign biography states he attended VCU, Randolph-Macon, and the University of Mary Washington before graduating summa cum laude from William & Mary. He also studied in Germany and completed an MBA at Emory University's Goizueta Business School. His LinkedIn profile corroborates the William & Mary BBA and the Emory MBA. (2, 8)
His campaign focuses on Richmond and Southside Virginia, the communities that make up Virginia's 4th District. No prior elected offices were identified in the sources reviewed. (2, 4)
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 4, Virginia
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- murrayforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 8newsMurray shifts position on Flock-style license-plate cameras, now calling for a ban or removal
Murray emailed Dispute Index asking it to change his listed position on automatic license-plate reader systems to 'Ban or remove,' a notable shift from his September 18 VPM questionnaire response in which he said their civil-rights costs outweighed benefits 'until properly governed.' The October 8 statement came via email rather than a public campaign release.
2026 Midterm Elections · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8pollForecast model gives Murray less than 1% chance of winning VA-4; race rated Solid D by major forecasters
A Seldon forecast page updated October 8–10 gave Rep. McClellan greater than 99% probability of winning and Murray less than 1%. The race was rated 'Solid D' by Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball. This is a model forecast, not a published poll.
Virginia’s 4th District 2026 Forecast: McClellan vs. Murray · Seldon Beta · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 7newsMurray sends written statement to Dispute Index on Iran war powers: would vote for ceasefire resolution absent classified evidence
In a written statement sent to Dispute Index (listed under October 7, with PDF emailed October 8), Murray said that based on publicly available information he would vote for a war-powers resolution directing a U.S. ceasefire against Iran until Congress formally declares war, adding: 'Compelling classified intelligence of a just cause or an imminent threat would change my vote.'
2026 Midterm Elections · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 4newsVA-4 race noted in Newsweek coverage of Virginia as an unexpected House battleground amid data-center politics
Newsweek referenced Virginia's congressional races, including VA-4, in coverage of how the state's data-center industry has become a factor in midterm House contests.
How US Data Center Capital Became Unexpected House ... · Oct 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 28filingChamberLight reports no FEC filings on record for Murray; McClellan shows $1.1M raised
ChamberLight's race tracker reported no FEC reports on file for Murray's campaign. By contrast, incumbent Rep. Jennifer McClellan had raised $1.1 million, spent $992,000, and held $197,000 cash on hand through July 15, per FEC-reported committee totals.
Virginia's 4th Congressional District 2026: McClellan vs. Murray | ChamberLight · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 18newsVPM publishes candidate questionnaire for VA-4; Murray details policy positions and personal motivation
VPM published a candidate Q&A identifying McClellan, Murray, and independent Joan E. 'Andrews' Bell as candidates. Murray described entering politics after a Wisconsin family-court case in which he alleged a judge falsified his girlfriend's divorce after court paperwork went missing, a case he said reached the U.S. Supreme Court by 2025. He said Rep. McClellan and other congressional Democrats never responded to his proposed legislation. On policy, Murray said he would oppose federal involvement in reproductive rights, described himself as personally believing life begins at conception, opposed three Virginia ballot amendments, proposed housing deregulation and changes to federal spending and taxes, and said he favored shifting the federal tax burden away from individual income taxes.
4th District Q&A: Jennifer McClellan, Robert “Family Man” Murray · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 18newsMurray states civil-rights costs of automatic license-plate readers outweigh benefits 'until properly governed'
In the VPM questionnaire, Murray said the civil-rights costs of automatic license-plate readers outweighed their benefits until they are properly governed — a position he would later revise in October.
4th District Q&A: Jennifer McClellan, Robert “Family Man” Murray · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 17newsNews profile published on 4th District Republican candidate Robert Murray
A local news outlet published a profile of Robert P. 'Family Man' Murray Jr. as the Republican candidate in Virginia's 4th Congressional District.
Meet the candidates: 4th District Republican candidate Robert Murray · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 14newsVirginia early voting period opens ahead of November 3 midterm Election Day
Virginia's early in-person voting period opened. Election Day for the 2026 midterms is November 3, 2026.
Early voting starts Friday for Virginia midterms · Sep 14, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $1,228
- Spent
- $27
- Cash on hand
- $1,201
As of Sep 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6VA04129(opens in a new tab)
Sources 9
- [1] Virginia’s 4th District 2026 Forecast: McClellan vs. Murray · Seldon Beta(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [2] 2026 Midterm Elections(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [3] How US Data Center Capital Became Unexpected House ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 4, 2026
- [4] Robert Murray for Congress | Virginia's 4th District(opens in a new tab) Oct 4, 2026
- [5] Virginia's 4th Congressional District 2026: McClellan vs. Murray | ChamberLight(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
- [6] 4th District Q&A: Jennifer McClellan, Robert “Family Man” Murray(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
- [7] Meet the candidates: 4th District Republican candidate Robert Murray(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [8] Early voting starts Friday for Virginia midterms(opens in a new tab) Sep 14, 2026
- [9] Robert P. "Family Man" Murray, Jr. — official campaign website(opens in a new tab)