“As we honor our veterans, we must move beyond ceremonial gratitude,” Dr. Lorita “Rita” C. Daniels announced. “Service requires action. It requires accountability. It requires leadership grounded in real experience and a commitment to listening before legislating. I am running for the U.S. Senate because Virginians deserve a leader who is present, who pays attention, and who stands up for people, not political agendas.”
“This is not about bureaucracy. This is about people,” Daniels said. “We must ensure that every veteran has timely access to high-quality care, that oversight is strong, that caregivers are supported, and that taxpayer investments are used transparently and responsibly. That is leadership.”
Sen. Mark Warner’s (D) seat, which he has held since 2009, is up for re-election in 2026.
Daniels, who holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from Virginia Tech, made her announcement on Veterans Day, highlighting her family’s deep ties to military service. As Chair of the Spotsylvania County School Board, she led every public school in the county to earn Virginia’s Purple Star designation for supporting children of active-duty service members. She will launch “The Re-Envisioning Virginia Tour” in the coming months, a statewide listening effort to shape her policy platform.
According to the Virginia Department of Elections, Daniels was twice elected to the Spotsylvania County School Board, representing the Salem District, winning in 2019 and again in 2023 with 55.6% of the vote.
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