Democrat Knapp enters race for Virginia's First Congressional District seat

Another Democrat has entered the race for the party's nomination in Virginia's First Congressional District.

Former U.S. Navy fighter pilot and national security official Jason Knapp announced recently that he will seek the nomination and, ultimately, the seat currently held by Republican Congressman Rob Wittman. He is the eleventh Democrat to do so, though two – Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk Amanda Pohl and meteorologist Sean Sublette – already have ended their brief campaigns.

Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor is the most prominent Democrat in the field and already has raised the most of any Democratic candidate ($362, 407), despite announcing for the seat just more than two months ago.

Knapp's campaign said that he is running to “restore the promise of America for those who have been left behind by career politicians and corporate special interests.”

“As a Navy fighter pilot flying combat missions over Iraq, as an Executive Officer at NATO working with twenty-eight allied nations, and as a Defense Fellow in Congress, I learned that trust is everything — and that America keeps its promise when leaders put people first,” said Jason. “I fought for this country abroad. . . After years of being ignored by career politicians backed by corporate special interests, working families and veterans deserve better. I’m running to restore that trust and ensure America keeps its promise to every community in VA-01.”

Knapp was raised by a single mother and spent more than two decades as a Naval officer and F/A-18 pilot. He touted his experience in defense, foreign policy and economy issues as strengths.

Knapp previously served as a Veterans Advanced Energy Fellow with the Atlantic Council, a role through which he focused on strengthening America’s energy security and competitiveness.

He currently currently leads Capitol Energy Advocacy, an organization he founded to advance clean-energy and advanced-manufacturing policy.