U.S. House, Virginia 3rd Congressional District · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in Virginia's 3rd Congressional District?
Bobby Scott has the strongest record in Virginia's 3rd Congressional District. Bobby Scott scores 70 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Steve Woll at 59 and Edwin Rivera Jr. at 50, as of October 5, 2026. Bobby Scott's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Steve Woll's highest marks are roots in the constituency and command of the job. Makiba Gaines (4 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Independent
Makiba Gaines
On the ballot as Makiba A. Gaines
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Edwin Rivera Jr.
On the ballot as Edwin Rivera, Jr.
50 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Bobby Scott
On the ballot as Robert C. "Bobby" Scott
70 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 55
- Qualifications
- 85
- Performance
- 69
Independent
Steve Woll
On the ballot as Stephen C. Woll
59 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Makiba Gaines
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Edwin Rivera Jr.
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Bobby Scott
- On the record2021-07-22
PolitiFact Virginia rated False his July 12, 2021 statement that every Republican in Congress voted to defund the police by voting against the American Rescue Plan.
- On the record2005-01-06 and 2021-01-06
Voted Nay on the 2005 objection to Ohio's electors and Nay on both January 2021 objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electors.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 7, Jan. 6, 2005, House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
- On the record1994 to 2002
Voted No on the 1994 crime bill conference report, Nay on the 2001 USA PATRIOT Act and Nay on the 2002 Iraq war resolution, each against the recorded vote of the House Democratic leader.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 416, Aug. 21, 1994, House Clerk Roll Call 398, Oct. 24, 2001, House Clerk Roll Call 455, Oct. 10, 2002
- Credit2025 to 2026
Held in-person town halls in Norfolk (June 2025), Chesapeake and Hampton (August 2025), and, per his office, Portsmouth, Newport News and Norfolk in 2026, alongside telephone town halls.
Sources: WAVY (via Yahoo News), Aug. 16, 2025, WAVY (via Yahoo News), Feb. 6, 2025, Office site, Town Halls, Roundtables and Community Forums
- Credit2025-08-13
Held a press conference outside the Hampton VA Medical Center in August 2025 on staff shortages at Veterans Affairs facilities in Hampton Roads, reported by WHRO.
Source: WHRO, Aug. 13, 2025
- Credit2022-06-25
His Keep Kids Fed Act provisions, introduced with Rep. Virginia Foxx and Sens. Stabenow and Boozman, were enacted as S. 2089 and signed June 25, 2022, extending child nutrition waivers.
Sources: NBC News, June 23, 2022, GovTrack, H.R. 8150 (117th)
- Credit2022-12-27
His Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act (H.R. 8166, two Republican cosponsors) was enacted as S. 3846 and signed Dec. 27, 2022.
Source: GovTrack, H.R. 8166 (117th)
- Credit2019 to 2022
Chaired the House Committee on Education and Labor in the 116th and 117th Congresses and is now its Ranking Member.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Bobby Scott (Virginia), committee assignments, GovTrack, committee membership
Steve Woll
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Makiba Gaines. No public record found.
Edwin Rivera Jr.. Campaign committee reports (July quarterly and pre-primary) are on file with the FEC. No FEC administrative fine record found. No House candidate financial disclosure was found in the Clerk search.
Source: FEC candidate page
Bobby Scott. Annual financial disclosure for 2025 is on file with the House Clerk, filed Aug. 4, 2026. A periodic transaction report for Dec. 28, 2021 sales was signed Jan. 10, 2022, inside 45 days. No ethics finding or FEC fine found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077012, House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20020194, House Committee on Ethics site search for Bobby Scott (only hits are 2004 and 2008 statements on a complaint against Rep. Jim McDermott), FEC contribution totals by state
Steve Woll. Campaign committee reports (July quarterly and pre-primary) are on file with the FEC. No FEC administrative fine record found. No House candidate financial disclosure was found in the Clerk search.
Source: FEC candidate page
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Makiba Gaines. No public record found.
Edwin Rivera Jr.. No public record found.
Bobby Scott. Voted against the recorded position of House Democratic leaders on the 1994 crime bill, the 2001 USA PATRIOT Act and the 2002 Iraq war resolution. No recorded break with leadership in the last 10 years was found.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 416, Aug. 21, 1994, H.R. 3355, House Clerk Roll Call 398, Oct. 24, 2001, H.R. 3162, House Clerk Roll Call 455, Oct. 10, 2002, H.J.Res. 114
Steve Woll. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Makiba Gaines. No public record found.
Edwin Rivera Jr.. No public record found.
Bobby Scott. Office lists in-person town halls in Portsmouth, Newport News and Norfolk in 2026 plus telephone town halls. WAVY reported in-person town halls in Norfolk, Chesapeake and Hampton in 2025. No 2026 general election debate found.
Sources: Office site, Town Halls, Roundtables and Community Forums, WAVY (via Yahoo News), Aug. 16, 2025, WAVY (via Yahoo News), June 16, 2025
Steve Woll. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Makiba Gaines. No public record found.
Edwin Rivera Jr.. Described as a U.S. Army veteran by the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press editorial board; Ballotpedia lists U.S. Army service and work as a police officer. No formal conduct finding found.
Sources: Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press editorial, Aug. 11, 2026, Ballotpedia, Edwin Rivera
Bobby Scott. In the U.S. House since 1993 after 15 years in the Virginia General Assembly. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics conduct finding found. A 2017 harassment accusation by a former fellow is unresolved and listed in the Record.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Bobby Scott (Virginia), House Committee on Ethics site search for Bobby Scott
Steve Woll. Navy veteran per his answers to the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press; his campaign biography describes 21 years as a Meteorology and Oceanography Officer. No formal conduct finding found.
Sources: Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Sept. 23, 2026, candidate questionnaire, WAVY candidate profile (via Yahoo News), Sept. 10, 2026, quoting his campaign biography
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Makiba Gaines. No public record found.
Edwin Rivera Jr.. Served in the U.S. Army and as a police officer in Puerto Rico per Ballotpedia and his campaign biography. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified results found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Edwin Rivera, WAVY candidate profile (via Yahoo News), Sept. 10, 2026, quoting his campaign biography
Bobby Scott. Voted Nay on the Jan. 6, 2005 Ohio objection and Nay on both Jan. 6 and 7, 2021 objections. In 2001 and 2017 no objection was received and no roll call held. Not on the Texas v. Pennsylvania amicus brief.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 7, Jan. 6, 2005, House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021, Congressional Record, Jan. 6, 2001, joint session (govinfo), Congressional Record, Jan. 6, 2017, joint session (govinfo), U.S. Supreme Court docket No. 155, Original, amicus brief of 126 Representatives (the only Scotts listed are Austin Scott of Georgia, Scott DesJarlais and Scott Perry)
Steve Woll. Served in the U.S. Navy per his questionnaire answers and campaign biography. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified results found.
Sources: Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Sept. 23, 2026, candidate questionnaire, WAVY candidate profile (via Yahoo News), Sept. 10, 2026, quoting his campaign biography
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Makiba Gaines. Practicing attorney at Polaris Law Firm with a law degree from Regent University, per her answers to the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press; describes herself as a solo-practicing civil rights attorney. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Sept. 23, 2026, candidate questionnaire, Campaign site, home page
Edwin Rivera Jr.. Former police officer in Puerto Rico and U.S. Army veteran who retired as a disabled veteran, per Ballotpedia and his campaign biography. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Edwin Rivera, WAVY candidate profile (via Yahoo News), Sept. 10, 2026, quoting his campaign biography
Bobby Scott. In the U.S. House since 1993, now in his 17th term and seeking an 18th. Served in the Virginia Senate 1983 to 1993 and House of Delegates 1978 to 1983.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Bobby Scott (Virginia), WTKR voter guide, Sept. 30, 2026
Steve Woll. Retired Navy officer with a Naval Postgraduate School master's degree and a William and Mary MBA, now principal of Little Creek Applied Science, per his questionnaire answers. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Sept. 23, 2026, candidate questionnaire, WAVY candidate profile (via Yahoo News), Sept. 10, 2026, quoting his campaign biography
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Makiba Gaines. Answered the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press questions on flooding, data centers and affordability with positions in general terms, including federal funding for wetlands, shorelines and drainage and support for data center moratoriums where needed.
Source: Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Sept. 23, 2026, candidate questionnaire
Edwin Rivera Jr.. Campaign website lists positions in general terms on education, tolls, health care, youth development, veterans, public safety, Social Security and economic development, as excerpted by Ballotpedia.
Bobby Scott. Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce and its Chair in 2019 to 2022. Sponsored legislation includes the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 and the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Ballotpedia, Bobby Scott (Virginia), committee assignments, GovTrack, H.R. 8150 (117th)
Steve Woll. Gave specific federal proposals to the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, including a review of the National Flood Insurance Program, NOAA funding, removing across-the-board tariffs and raising the federal minimum wage. Campaign site has an issues section.
Source: Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Sept. 23, 2026, candidate questionnaire
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Makiba Gaines. Answered the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press 2026 questionnaire. Had not answered the WAVY questionnaire or the Ballotpedia 2026 survey; campaign site has a biography but no issue pages.
Sources: Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Sept. 23, 2026, candidate questionnaire, Ballotpedia, Makiba Gaines, WAVY candidate profile (via Yahoo News), Sept. 10, 2026
Edwin Rivera Jr.. Campaign website publishes issue positions. Did not respond to the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press questionnaire or the WAVY candidate questionnaire and has not completed the Ballotpedia 2026 survey.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Edwin Rivera, Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Sept. 23, 2026, WAVY candidate profile (via Yahoo News), Sept. 10, 2026
Bobby Scott. Office offers an email newsletter and lists in-person and telephone town halls. Did not answer the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press 2026 questionnaire and has not completed the Ballotpedia 2026 survey. Campaign site publishes issue positions.
Sources: Office site, home page, Office site, Town Halls, Roundtables and Community Forums, Campaign site, home page, Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Sept. 23, 2026, Ballotpedia, Bobby Scott (Virginia)
Steve Woll. Answered the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press 2026 questionnaire and publishes an issues section on his campaign site. Had not answered the WAVY questionnaire or the Ballotpedia 2026 survey. Site lists town halls with dates to be determined.
Sources: Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Sept. 23, 2026, candidate questionnaire, Campaign site, home page, Ballotpedia, Stephen Woll
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Makiba Gaines. Told the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press she was born in Portsmouth and raised in Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Beach; campaign address is a Chesapeake post office box. No itemized FEC contributions on file.
Sources: Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Sept. 23, 2026, candidate questionnaire, Virginia Department of Elections, Nov. 3, 2026 federal offices candidate list
Edwin Rivera Jr.. Lives in Newport News per Ballotpedia and his campaign biography; campaign address is a Newport News post office box. FEC by-state data shows $650 in itemized individual contributions, all from Virginia.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Edwin Rivera, Virginia Department of Elections, Nov. 3, 2026 federal offices candidate list, FEC contribution totals by state
Bobby Scott. Grew up in southeast Newport News and has held Virginia offices since 1978; campaign address is in Newport News. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 80 percent of itemized individual contributions from Virginia.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Virginia Department of Elections, Nov. 3, 2026 federal offices candidate list, FEC contribution totals by state
Steve Woll. Says the Navy brought him to Hampton Roads more than 25 years ago and he stayed; campaign address is in Norfolk. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 53 percent of itemized contributions from Virginia.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Virginia Department of Elections, Nov. 3, 2026 federal offices candidate list, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Makiba Gaines. No public record found.
Edwin Rivera Jr.. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Source: FEC contribution totals by state
Bobby Scott. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Source: FEC candidate page
Steve Woll. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Source: FEC contribution totals by state
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Makiba Gaines. No public record found.
Edwin Rivera Jr.. No public record found.
Bobby Scott. Center for Effective Lawmaking Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.156 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.585, classed as below expectations. Raised to 2 under E14: his Keep Kids Fed Act provisions were enacted June 25, 2022.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress (row for Scott, Bobby, 118th Congress), GovTrack, H.R. 8150 (117th), NBC News, June 23, 2022
Steve Woll. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Makiba Gaines. No public record found.
Edwin Rivera Jr.. No public record found.
Bobby Scott. Missed 286 of 21,039 roll call votes, 1.4 percent, from January 1993 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Steve Woll. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Makiba Gaines. No public record found.
Edwin Rivera Jr.. No public record found.
Bobby Scott. One district office in Newport News plus the Washington office. Office offers help with federal agencies and lists 15 in-person or telephone town halls from February 2025 to August 2026; WAVY reported 2025 town halls in Norfolk, Chesapeake and Hampton.
Sources: Office site, About (office locations), Office site, Serving You, Office site, Town Halls, Roundtables and Community Forums, WAVY (via Yahoo News), Aug. 16, 2025
Steve Woll. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Makiba Gaines. No public record found.
Edwin Rivera Jr.. No public record found.
Bobby Scott. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index, 118th Congress first session (2023): score -0.84973, ranked 300 of 436, a negative score outside the bottom quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores, 118th Congress (alphabetical column)
Steve Woll. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Makiba Gaines. No public record found.
Edwin Rivera Jr.. No public record found.
Bobby Scott. No public record found.
Steve Woll. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 5, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Virginia's 3rd Congressional District?
Bobby Scott has the strongest record in Virginia's 3rd Congressional District. Bobby Scott scores 70 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Steve Woll at 59 and Edwin Rivera Jr. at 50, as of October 5, 2026. Bobby Scott's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Steve Woll's highest marks are roots in the constituency and command of the job. Makiba Gaines (4 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Virginia's 3rd Congressional District in 2026?
Makiba A. Gaines (Independent), Edwin Rivera, Jr. (Republican), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic, incumbent), Stephen C. Woll (Independent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Makiba Gaines a good candidate for Congress?
Makiba Gaines has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Edwin Rivera Jr. a good candidate for Congress?
Edwin Rivera Jr. scores 50 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 50 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Bobby Scott a good candidate for Congress?
Bobby Scott scores 70 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 55 of 100, qualifications 85 of 100, performance 69 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Steve Woll a good candidate for Congress?
Steve Woll scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Virginia race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Virginia 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.