Taylor was challenged in the Republican primary by former James City County Supervisor Mary Jones, who attacked Rep. Taylor for his moderate stances and because she believed he had not backed President Donald Trump's proposals strongly enough.

[11] The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee supported Elaine Luria, a United States Naval commander, for the nomination.

[14] Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell had been appointed as a special prosecutor to investigate claims that Taylor's aides forged signatures, including those of Delegate Glenn Davis and his wife,[15] on Shaun Brown's petitions to make the ballot as an independent candidate.

[15] Democrats asked the Virginia State Board of Elections to remove Brown from the ballot for falling short of the 1,000 signatures required,[17] and filed suit.

[19] A review of the signatures also revealed that more than 50 Virginia Beach sheriff's employees had signed petition forms at work to get Brown on the ballot during the closing days of the petition drive, when petitioners were scrambling to meet the deadline.

[20] Brown was accused by federal prosecutors of lying to the Federal Election Commission about donating $700,000 to her campaign and bilking the government by falsifying the number of meals her nonprofit fed to needy children, but her trial—in which Brown testified in her own defense and was subjected to a lengthy cross-examination[21]—ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked 11–1.

[24] In September, circuit judge Gregory Rupe ordered Brown off the ballot.

Brown subsequently appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court but justices declined to hear her case.

[49] Instead of a traditional primary to elect the Democratic and Republican nominees, party delegates voted to hold district conventions instead.

The Republican convention was held on June 2, 2018, less than one week after Garrett announced he would not seek reelection.

[59][60] Republican delegates decided to hold a party convention instead of the primary to choose their nominee.

Eight Republicans ran in the convention in this district, where State Delegate Ben Cline was chosen as the GOP nominee.

Six Democratic candidates, encouraged by the fact that Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock's district voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, submitted the required number of signatures to run for that seat.

[84] Republicans believed, however, that given that Comstock was an excellent fundraiser and fierce campaigner, she would be able to keep the seat.

[98] Comstock tweeted, "It is good news for all voters in the 10th District that Nathan Larson, a convicted felon who served time in prison for threatening to kill the President and is an admitted pedophile, an admitted rapist, white supremacist, and misogynist, is now off the ballot in the 10th Congressional District.