Missy Cotter Smasal

Abortion

Supports protecting and codifying abortion rights.

Cotter Smasal ran as a Democrat in VA-02 and was endorsed by groups focused on reproductive rights, framing abortion access as a central campaign issue against Rep. Jen Kiggans.

Gun Safety

Supports stronger gun safety measures such as expanded background checks and red flag laws.

She was listed by Giffords, a prominent gun violence prevention organization, indicating an endorsed pro-gun-safety platform.

Veterans and Military Families

Emphasizes support for veterans and military families, drawing on her Navy spouse background.

Coverage of her campaign in the heavily military VA-02 district highlighted her connection to Navy families as part of her platform contrast with Kiggans, a veteran herself.

Healthcare

Supports protecting and expanding access to affordable healthcare, including the Affordable Care Act.

As a Democratic challenger, she positioned healthcare access as a key differentiator in debates against Kiggans, per Washington Post debate coverage.

Democracy and Voting Rights

Supports protecting voting rights and democratic institutions.

Campaign messaging in local coverage framed her run partly as a defense of democratic norms, common among 2024 Democratic challengers in swing districts.

Economy and Cost of Living

Focuses on lowering costs for working families and addressing inflation concerns.

Debate coverage indicated economic issues were central to her contrast with Kiggans, though specific policy proposals were not detailed in available grounding.

Coastal Resilience and Climate

Supports investment in coastal resilience and climate adaptation given Virginia Beach's flood risks.

As a Virginia Beach-based candidate, local reporting suggests she highlighted flooding and climate resilience as regional priorities, though detailed policy specifics are limited.