What's on the Ballot in Harrisonburg: November 3, 2026 Election

The races below are read from the City of Harrisonburg, the state election office and Ballotpedia. What each candidate says is quoted from their own campaign site or a questionnaire they answered, with the link beside it. This page does not recommend anyone.

Election day is November 3, 2026. Last updated October 4, 2026. For polling places, hours and ID rules, see voting in Harrisonburg.

Federal

U.S. Senate

Candidate list from Virginia Department of Elections [web:3]

Mark R. Warner(Democratic)Incumbent

Campaign website

Warner lives in Alexandria and was a technology entrepreneur who co-founded the company that became Nextel. He served as Virginia governor from 2002 to 2006 and has represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate since 2009; he holds a B.A. from George Washington University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. (VPM, U.S. Senate candidate Q&A)

In their own words

Affordability and housing: Warner says affordability is a priority and supports making housing easier to build, refunding tariffs he considers unlawful, and ensuring data-center developers pay costs associated with their projects. VPM, U.S. Senate candidate Q&A
AI and workers: He says Congress should prepare workers for AI-related disruption and establish guardrails for data centers, while promoting competition and safety and protecting national security. VPM, U.S. Senate candidate Q&A
Abortion: He supports the Women’s Health Protection Act, which he says would guarantee access to abortion care nationwide. VPM, U.S. Senate candidate Q&A

Bert Mizusawa(Republican)

Campaign website

In their own words

Budget and taxes: Mizusawa says he would focus on balancing the federal budget and reducing the tax burden on Virginia families. Bert for Senate, Issues
Health care: He says he would seek to lower health care costs, hold insurers accountable, and support funding for rural hospitals. Bert for Senate, Issues
Energy: He supports bringing new nuclear power online, describing it as a way to provide reliable energy and reduce household energy costs. Bert for Senate, Issues

U.S. House of Representatives, 6th District

Candidate list from Virginia Department of Elections [web:3]

Beth A. Macy(Democratic)

Campaign website

Macy lives in Roanoke and is a reporter and author who spent 25 years reporting for The Roanoke Times before writing several books, including Dopesick. She earned a journalism degree from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in English and creative writing from Hollins University; the VPM questionnaire says she has not held elected or appointed office. (VPM, 6th District candidate Q&A)

In their own words

Data centers: Macy supports a moratorium on new data-center construction until protections are in place for land, water, energy costs, and future jobs. VPM, 6th District candidate Q&A
Health care: She supports restoring Affordable Care Act tax credits, reversing Medicaid cuts, and pursuing universal health coverage; she also says she would seek to limit private-equity ownership of local hospitals. VPM, 6th District candidate Q&A
Jobs and taxes: Macy supports raising the Social Security tax cap, taxing capital gains fairly, and investing in job training through community colleges and high schools. Roanoke Rambler, candidate interview and issue coverage

Ben L. Cline(Republican)Incumbent

Campaign website

Cline lives in Fincastle in Botetourt County and represents Virginia’s 6th Congressional District, a seat he has held since 2019. Before Congress, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2018 and worked as an attorney, including as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County; he holds a bachelor’s degree from Bates College and a law degree from the University of Richmond. (VPM, 6th District candidate Q&A)

In their own words

Data centers: Cline said he opposes additional data-center construction until sufficient government guardrails are in place; he has also supported requiring data centers to pay for new transmission infrastructure. Cardinal News, data-center coverage
Energy and economy: Cline’s official congressional site lists finding energy solutions, growing the economy, and fixing health care among his areas of work. U.S. Congressman Ben Cline, official website
Campaign priorities: His campaign issues page lists support for the Second Amendment, election integrity, and what it describes as protecting the unborn. Ben Cline for Congress, Issues

City

Harrisonburg City Council (two seats)

Candidate list from Virginia Department of Elections [web:3]

Dany R. Fleming(Democratic)Incumbent

Campaign website

Fleming is Harrisonburg’s vice mayor and was born and raised in the city. The city’s biography lists James Madison University; WHSV described him as an incumbent council member when it interviewed candidates for the 2026 primary. (WHSV, Harrisonburg City Council candidate interview, City of Harrisonburg, Vice Mayor Dany Fleming)

In their own words

Housing: Fleming says Harrisonburg should expand housing options across income levels, including starter and move-up homes, and described increasing homeownership as a goal. WHSV, Harrisonburg City Council candidate interview
Childcare and business: He supports expanding childcare opportunities and supporting small businesses to create more opportunities for growth and family financial stability. WHSV, Harrisonburg City Council candidate interview
Housing affordability: His campaign lists housing choices and affordability across income levels as a priority, alongside schools, transportation, public safety, and economic opportunity. Dany Fleming for City Council

Monica L. Robinson(Democratic)Incumbent

Campaign website

Robinson is an incumbent Harrisonburg City Council member completing her first term; the city lists her current term as 2023–2026. The sources reviewed do not state her occupation or how long she has lived in Harrisonburg. (WHSV, City of Harrisonburg)

In their own words

City priorities: Robinson said she wants to address city challenges through transparency, community engagement and social justice. She identified affordable housing, economic development, public services, zoning updates and public safety as continuing priorities. WHSV
Public engagement: She said transparency means being open and honest with residents about city decisions, and community engagement means listening to constituents and allowing them to help shape solutions. WHSV

Sal T. Romero Jr.(Independent)

Rocktown Now reported that Romero announced an independent candidacy for Harrisonburg City Council. The announcement page reviewed did not provide further sourced background details or local-issue positions. (Rocktown Now)

School board

Harrisonburg School Board (three seats)

Candidate list from Virginia Department of Elections [web:3]

Rachel G. Smallwood(Independent)

Smallwood is a first-time candidate for the Harrisonburg City Public School Board. She works as a senior project manager for Rock Solid Project Solutions, serves on the city’s Park and Recreation Advisory Committee through 2027, and has worked as an adjunct professor at several universities, including the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The local article reports that she did not complete an interview or respond to requests to reschedule; no positions were stated in the sources reviewed. (The Citizen, iVoterGuide)

Debra Stevens Fitzgerald(Independent)

Fitzgerald is a semi-retired economics professor at Blue Ridge Community College and a former Harrisonburg School Board chair. She served eight years on the board after being elected in 2016, then left in 2024; the article says she is seeking to return after a two-year gap. The sources reviewed do not state how long she has lived in the area. (The Citizen)

In their own words

Education policy: Fitzgerald said she was motivated to run partly by concern about federal education policy, saying she wanted “to actually do something useful” rather than continue “doom scrolling.” The Citizen
Staff bargaining: She supported allowing collective bargaining for school staff; the article notes that one of her final votes during her previous board service was in favor of it. The Citizen

Emma Phillips(Independent)Incumbent

Phillips is the incumbent school board member seeking another term, having completed her first four-year term; she is also a parent of children in Harrisonburg public schools. The sources reviewed do not state her occupation or how long she has lived in the area. (The Citizen)

In their own words

Staff retention: Phillips said teacher retention is an important issue for a second term. She helped push for a paid parental-leave policy for school staff and advocated for salary increases above the amounts allotted in the state budget. The Citizen
Student support: She said she wants the district to continue celebrating its diversity and to address needs such as closing achievement gaps, particularly for English-language learners. The Citizen
Career education: She described career and technical education as a priority and said the district is developing a technical and career center through a community partnership. The Citizen

Ballot measures

Proposed Constitutional Amendment, Question 1

Would amend the Virginia Constitution to protect personal decisions about reproductive care, protect patients and health-care providers from punishment for those decisions, and permit certain third-trimester abortion restrictions with exceptions when the pregnant person's health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive.

Candidate list from Virginia Department of Elections [web:20]

Proposed Constitutional Amendment, Question 2

Would amend the Virginia Constitution to remove its same-sex marriage ban, affirm marriage rights for two adults regardless of sex, gender, or race, and require legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law.

Candidate list from Virginia Department of Elections [web:19]

Proposed Constitutional Amendment, Question 3

Would amend the Virginia Constitution to establish a fundamental right to vote, restore voting rights automatically upon release from incarceration after a felony conviction, and update the provision concerning persons found to lack capacity to understand voting.

Candidate list from Virginia Department of Elections [web:16]