Virginia Meteorologist Sean Sublette has announced he will join the race for Virginia’s 1st Congressional District.
In a post on social media, Sublette, a Democrat, is looking to unseat incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Robert Wittman, who he accused of being part of a system of “conspiracies and lies” in Washington D.C. under GOP leadership.
“This is an unprecedented time in our nation’s history,” Sublette said. “Conspiracies, lies, and gaslighting are running amok. We need more scientists in Congress. I was born and raised here, and I am running to represent all Virginians from Chesterfield County to the Chesapeake Bay. There are lots of reasons to do this now.”
Sublette is a Richmond native who developed a passion for science from an early age and worked at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center after earning a master’s degree in meteorology. He has worked as a TV weatherman for more than 20 years and owns Sublette Weather and Consulting.
Democrats are hoping to flip the seat, which stretches from the Northern Neck to Virginia’s Historic Triangle, and includes parts of Hanover, Henrico, and Chesterfield Counties. Democrats actually have a voter registration advantage in the district at 43% to 40%, according to the most recent L2 voter data. But Wittman won reelection last year with more than 56% of the vote, and in 2022 with about the same.
Sublette decided to run to oppose President Donald Trump and the GOP’s recent budget bill slashing Medicaid, social programs, and the state’s federal workforce, according to his campaign website.
“I am running to serve the people in Virginia’s First District — from Chesterfield County to the Chesapeake Bay — to drive down the costs of living, simplify healthcare, and defend our Constitution from the lies and conspiracies constantly being belched from the GOP,” Sublette said.
Sublette further called out Wittman, who he said has not been held accountable for siding with Trump and his Republican colleagues over the people of Virginia.
“We must protect rural hospitals that have been torn apart by Republican budget cuts, conserve clean air and water in the face of climate change, and protect everyone’s civil liberties,” Sublette said. “For too long, Rob Wittman has been left unaccountable as he sides with Donald Trump and his GOP enablers. That must end.”
Sublette is joining a crowded field with several Democratic hopefuls, including Salaam Bhatti, Amanda Pohl, Melvin Tull, Andrew Lucchetti, and James Shea.
