Virginia’s 5th Congressional District race features heated political ads

The race for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District has intensified with new political advertisements focusing on the voting record of Republican candidate John McGuire, who previously served in the Virginia General Assembly, NBC12 reported.

One ad from Tom Perriello’s campaign, titled “Her Life,” highlights McGuire as the sole senator voting against raising the state’s minimum marriage age from 16 to 18. Records from the General Assembly website confirm McGuire was the only no vote on that legislation, according to NBC12.

McGuire defended his vote on 12 News Midday, explaining that Virginia already had strict protections in place, including requirements for emancipation and judicial approval for 16- or 17-year-olds to marry.

The ad also claims McGuire fought to keep the Epstein files secret and protected big tech companies preying on girls. While McGuire initially voted against some measures related to the Epstein files, he ultimately supported the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed in November of the previous year, NBC12 noted.

The ad claims McGuire is costing residents $3,700 per year and that he accepted money from big tech, lobbyists, and Dominion Energy. NBC12 referenced Moody’s Analytics data showing that as of late 2026, the average U.S. household is paying about $230 more per month for goods and services compared to the previous year, but did not confirm a direct link to McGuire’s actions or funding.