With the retirement of Representative Bob Goodlatte, voters in the 6th Congressional District have a rare opportunity to vote for an open seat.
And the two candidates running in the district shared their ideas Monday night in Lynchburg.
Running in what is considered a reliably Republican district, Democrat Jennifer Lewis made it clear from the start that she was running a progressive campaign.
A mental health worker from Waynesboro, Lewis highlighted a medicare for all proposal. "And just so everyone knows, we already pay for everybody to have healthcare," Lewis told the audience. "When they show up in an emergency room, they have to treat that person. And spending money when they get to that level is more expensive than doing it in a preventative way."
Her Republican opponent, Rockbridge-area Delegate Ben Cline, said a medicare for all program would result in huge tax increases. "The ACA inserted government between residents and their health care providers. Doubling down on that is not the right solution," Cline said. "What the right solution is is to open up the marketplace and actually encourage competition in the marketplace."
The forum was organized by the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance.
Cline told the audience he supported free trade and hoped the Trump-administration tariffs would be short-lived. Lewis said she doesn't support the Trump tariffs and said policy is hurting businesses and farmers in the district.
Candidates running in the 5th Congressional District, Leslie Cockburn and Denver Riggleman, also participated in the forum.
