From 2002 to 2016, the 86th District was represented by Republican
Tom Rust. In 2013, he was challenged by Democrat
Jennifer Boysko, with Rust narrowly prevailing, winning by just 32 votes. Boysko ran again in the next cycle (2015) and Rust announced he would retire rather than seek reelection. Vargas received
The Washington Post's endorsement and initially had support from the
Latino Victory Fund, but the latter rescinded its support after learning Vargas did not support an
Obama Administration immigration policy offering protection from deportation and temporary work permits to some parents of American citizens (
DAPA). Boysko, a
pro-choice candidate who supported the
Medicaid expansion, The 86th district seat was vacated again when Boysko was elected to the state senate in January 2019. prompting a February 19 special election. Dentist
Ibraheem Samirah won the Democratic nomination in a
firehouse primary on January 12, and
U.S. Air Force veteran Gregg Nelson received the Republican nomination in a mass meeting held January 22. Samirah won the contest with 59.5% of the vote and was sworn in the next day, becoming the youngest member of the state legislature. On February 4, 2021,
Irene Shin, the executive director of The Virginia Civic Engagement Table, announced that she is running for this seat in the June 8, 2021 Democratic Primary. Shin defeated Samirah in the June 2021 primary and in the November 2, 2021 general election, Republican Julie Perry, with 65.4% of the vote. ==District officeholders==