Cao wins Republican nomination, will face incumbent Sen. Kaine in the fall

Loudoun County resident Hung Cao easily won the Republican nomination Tuesday to challenge U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine in November. 

With all of the state's 133 localities reporting results as of early Wednesday morning, Cao had 61.8% of the votes. None of the other four candidates had more than 11%. The Associated Press projected that Cao would win less than 30 minutes after polls closed. 

Cao is a retired U.S. Navy officer who lives in Purcellville. In 2022, he challenged current 10th District Rep. Jennifer Wexton but lost by about 19,000 votes, 53% to 47%. 

Cao raised over $2.5 million in his primary campaign but faces an uphill battle against Kaine, who is seeking his third term in the Senate. Kaine has raised over $14.5 million for his reelection.

Kaine, Virginia's lieutenant governor from 2002-2006 and governor from 2006-2010, was first elected to the Senate in 2012, defeating Republican George Allen for a seat previously held by Democrat Jim Webb. Kaine easily won reelection in 2018 over Republican Corey Stewart, then chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.  

In Tuesday's Republican primary, Cao was the favorite from the outset, raising more than twice as much money as any other candidate. Unofficial vote totals as of early Wednesday were:

• Cao, 166,248, or 61.8%
• Scott Parkinson, 29,457, 11%
• Eddie Garcia, 26,258, 9.8%
• Chuck Smith, 23,781, 8.8%
• Jonathan Emord, 23,188, 8.6%

In a statement after being declared the winner, Cao said, "Tomorrow, we begin our campaign to save the country that saved my life. I spent 25 years in the Navy, while Tim Kaine spent 30 years in elected office....The difference is this: Tim Kaine got rich, and I got scars."

Cao said that despite what Kaine's ads will say he would not vote for a federal abortion ban and he will protect Social Security and Medicare. 

"And likewise, no matter what Tim Kaine and his super PACs say, Kaine will not secure our border or deport the illegal immigrants that should have never been in this country," he added.