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| Meta Title | Virginia’s 6th Congressional District opponents reflect on State of the Union |
| Meta Description | President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address is drawing different reactions from political opponents in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District. |
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| Boilerpipe Text | HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - President Donald Trump’s
State of the Union address
is drawing different reactions from political opponents in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District.
Rep. Ben Cline, R, touted the administration’s record, citing tax relief measures and inflation reduction, while his
Democratic challenger, Ken Mitchell
, criticized partisan divisions in Congress.
“I was very pleased to hear from President Trump about the accomplishments over the course of the last year of his administration,” Cline said. “It’s been a very successful time in the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill — no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, more child tax credit going into people’s pockets.”
Cline highlighted inflation control as a centerpiece of his endorsement, noting the administration reduced inflation from 10% under the Biden administration to 2%-2.5%. He also pointed to border security and foreign policy initiatives as key achievements.
On the other side of the aisle, Mitchell, who ran against Cline in the 2024 election and plans to do so again in 2026, focused on the partisan atmosphere that permeated the chamber during the joint session.
“It clearly shows that we need leadership up in Washington that can break part of that partisan divide there,” Mitchell said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m seeking to go to Congress. I consider myself a very commonsense Democrat, and I look to serve the people — not the party, not the administration.”
Mitchell called on lawmakers to maintain decorum and seek common ground across party lines, emphasizing that Congressional proceedings should demonstrate practicality and bipartisanship to Americans.
“It is a joint session of Congress, and it’s an opportunity to demonstrate to the other side of the aisle that you are common sense, that you are practical, and that you are approachable,” Mitchell said. “We’ve seen it from both sides of the aisle, we’ve got to find that bipartisan common ground. That’s what leadership works for.”
Regarding Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s Democratic response to the speech, Mitchell commended her questions challenging Trump’s priorities.
“She asked three very legitimate questions: Do you feel that the president is working for you? Do you feel that the president is making your life more affordable? And do you feel that the president is keeping you safe, both domestically and abroad?” Mitchell said. “I think that’s where we need to work together to find solutions for affordability for hardworking Virginians.”
Meanwhile, Cline said the governor was hypocritical with her statements about affordability.
“That’s the height of hypocrisy and arrogance, quite frankly, on the governor’s part. When she was a part of causing all of the unaffordable measures when it comes to energy unaffordability, she voted for the Green New Deal,” Cline said. “When it comes to all the different housing affordability, she voted for more regulations on housing measures that made it more expensive to buy a home, so she’s a large part of this unaffordability crisis.”
The contrasting responses from the two candidates underscore the polarized political landscape heading into the 2026 midterm elections, presenting Virginia voters with fundamentally different visions for the district’s representation in Congress.
Copyright 2026 WHSV. All rights reserved. |
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# Virginia’s 6th Congressional District opponents reflect on State of the Union
Close
President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address is drawing different reactions from political opponents in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District.
By [Mason Willett](https://www.whsv.com/authors/Mason.Willett/)
Published: Feb. 26, 2026 at 11:43 PM UTC
HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - President Donald Trump’s [State of the Union address](https://www.whsv.com/2026/02/25/read-complete-transcript-trumps-2026-state-union/ "https://www.whsv.com/2026/02/25/read-complete-transcript-trumps-2026-state-union/") is drawing different reactions from political opponents in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District.
Rep. Ben Cline, R, touted the administration’s record, citing tax relief measures and inflation reduction, while his [Democratic challenger, Ken Mitchell](https://www.whsv.com/2025/11/15/ken-mitchell-announces-2026-bid-virginias-sixth-district-seat-congress/ "https://www.whsv.com/2025/11/15/ken-mitchell-announces-2026-bid-virginias-sixth-district-seat-congress/"), criticized partisan divisions in Congress.
“I was very pleased to hear from President Trump about the accomplishments over the course of the last year of his administration,” Cline said. “It’s been a very successful time in the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill — no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, more child tax credit going into people’s pockets.”
Cline highlighted inflation control as a centerpiece of his endorsement, noting the administration reduced inflation from 10% under the Biden administration to 2%-2.5%. He also pointed to border security and foreign policy initiatives as key achievements.
On the other side of the aisle, Mitchell, who ran against Cline in the 2024 election and plans to do so again in 2026, focused on the partisan atmosphere that permeated the chamber during the joint session.
“It clearly shows that we need leadership up in Washington that can break part of that partisan divide there,” Mitchell said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m seeking to go to Congress. I consider myself a very commonsense Democrat, and I look to serve the people — not the party, not the administration.”
Mitchell called on lawmakers to maintain decorum and seek common ground across party lines, emphasizing that Congressional proceedings should demonstrate practicality and bipartisanship to Americans.
“It is a joint session of Congress, and it’s an opportunity to demonstrate to the other side of the aisle that you are common sense, that you are practical, and that you are approachable,” Mitchell said. “We’ve seen it from both sides of the aisle, we’ve got to find that bipartisan common ground. That’s what leadership works for.”
Regarding Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s Democratic response to the speech, Mitchell commended her questions challenging Trump’s priorities.
“She asked three very legitimate questions: Do you feel that the president is working for you? Do you feel that the president is making your life more affordable? And do you feel that the president is keeping you safe, both domestically and abroad?” Mitchell said. “I think that’s where we need to work together to find solutions for affordability for hardworking Virginians.”
Meanwhile, Cline said the governor was hypocritical with her statements about affordability.
“That’s the height of hypocrisy and arrogance, quite frankly, on the governor’s part. When she was a part of causing all of the unaffordable measures when it comes to energy unaffordability, she voted for the Green New Deal,” Cline said. “When it comes to all the different housing affordability, she voted for more regulations on housing measures that made it more expensive to buy a home, so she’s a large part of this unaffordability crisis.”
The contrasting responses from the two candidates underscore the polarized political landscape heading into the 2026 midterm elections, presenting Virginia voters with fundamentally different visions for the district’s representation in Congress.
*Copyright 2026 WHSV. All rights reserved.*
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| Readable Markdown | HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - President Donald Trump’s [State of the Union address](https://www.whsv.com/2026/02/25/read-complete-transcript-trumps-2026-state-union/ "https://www.whsv.com/2026/02/25/read-complete-transcript-trumps-2026-state-union/") is drawing different reactions from political opponents in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District.
Rep. Ben Cline, R, touted the administration’s record, citing tax relief measures and inflation reduction, while his [Democratic challenger, Ken Mitchell](https://www.whsv.com/2025/11/15/ken-mitchell-announces-2026-bid-virginias-sixth-district-seat-congress/ "https://www.whsv.com/2025/11/15/ken-mitchell-announces-2026-bid-virginias-sixth-district-seat-congress/"), criticized partisan divisions in Congress.
“I was very pleased to hear from President Trump about the accomplishments over the course of the last year of his administration,” Cline said. “It’s been a very successful time in the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill — no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, more child tax credit going into people’s pockets.”
Cline highlighted inflation control as a centerpiece of his endorsement, noting the administration reduced inflation from 10% under the Biden administration to 2%-2.5%. He also pointed to border security and foreign policy initiatives as key achievements.
On the other side of the aisle, Mitchell, who ran against Cline in the 2024 election and plans to do so again in 2026, focused on the partisan atmosphere that permeated the chamber during the joint session.
“It clearly shows that we need leadership up in Washington that can break part of that partisan divide there,” Mitchell said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m seeking to go to Congress. I consider myself a very commonsense Democrat, and I look to serve the people — not the party, not the administration.”
Mitchell called on lawmakers to maintain decorum and seek common ground across party lines, emphasizing that Congressional proceedings should demonstrate practicality and bipartisanship to Americans.
“It is a joint session of Congress, and it’s an opportunity to demonstrate to the other side of the aisle that you are common sense, that you are practical, and that you are approachable,” Mitchell said. “We’ve seen it from both sides of the aisle, we’ve got to find that bipartisan common ground. That’s what leadership works for.”
Regarding Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s Democratic response to the speech, Mitchell commended her questions challenging Trump’s priorities.
“She asked three very legitimate questions: Do you feel that the president is working for you? Do you feel that the president is making your life more affordable? And do you feel that the president is keeping you safe, both domestically and abroad?” Mitchell said. “I think that’s where we need to work together to find solutions for affordability for hardworking Virginians.”
Meanwhile, Cline said the governor was hypocritical with her statements about affordability.
“That’s the height of hypocrisy and arrogance, quite frankly, on the governor’s part. When she was a part of causing all of the unaffordable measures when it comes to energy unaffordability, she voted for the Green New Deal,” Cline said. “When it comes to all the different housing affordability, she voted for more regulations on housing measures that made it more expensive to buy a home, so she’s a large part of this unaffordability crisis.”
The contrasting responses from the two candidates underscore the polarized political landscape heading into the 2026 midterm elections, presenting Virginia voters with fundamentally different visions for the district’s representation in Congress.
*Copyright 2026 WHSV. All rights reserved.* |
| Shard | 154 (laksa) |
| Root Hash | 6625046733947495354 |
| Unparsed URL | com,whsv!www,/2026/02/26/6th-district-opponents-share-thoughts-state-union/ s443 |