Wexton's victory was described as illustrative of a "blue wave" in which Democrats won back the House majority that year and made gains in other offices across the country and as a repudiation of then-President Trump.

"[23] In the rural parts of the 10th district, there was some concern that the 2018 China–United States trade war and the Trump tariffs on steel and aluminum, along with anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies that make it harder to find migrant workers, could reduce the profitability of agricultural businesses.

According to Mark Rozell, dean of George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government, "They may think Comstock has done a good job, she has represented the district well, she does great constituent services, she shows up everywhere to every local event, and for some of these voters none of that matters.

[28] Wasserman noted that "several Republicans privately express doubts about spending millions on expensive DC television trying to save this seat when there are far cheaper routes to holding the majority.

"[15] According to Washington Post reporter Jenna Portnoy, in April 2018, "Experts say Comstock will be tough to beat given her strong name recognition, relentless campaign style and embrace of some moderate positions that polls show resonate with voters in the closest thing Virginia has to a swing district.

[37] For the second election cycle in a row, Comstock was on the National Republican Congressional Committee Patriot Program list of vulnerable House members who would receive additional financial and strategic support for their races.

[42] According to Jake Kastan, although the party that controls the White House typically loses, on average, 32 seats in the first midterm election, Republican incumbents like Comstock had many advantages, including more money and resilient local brands.

He also noted that House Republicans had unveiled a "Better Off Now" message that makes the connection between GOP policies and record low unemployment, a surging economy, higher take-home pay, and a strengthened military.

[47] After the primary election, the Cook Political Report moved the district (along with four other districts)[48] from "Toss Up" to "Lean Democratic," noting Comstock's underwhelming performance against Hill, including in the Shenandoah Valley, and the possibility that Republican senatorial candidate Corey Stewart's nomination could "alienate independents, depress Republican interest in the Senate race and allow Kaine to run up the score in the 10th CD, compounding Comstock's challenge.

[51] A study by the Christopher Newport University Wason Center for Civic Leadership's Rachel Bitecofer predicted Comstock would lose and that the deciding factor for Democrats was getting their own partisans to the polls rather than swaying independent voters.

[54] She has described Comstock as an "anti-science Congresswoman"[55] and she said, "One of the first things we saw the Trump administration do was to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture from sharing data with the public, which any scientist will tell you is a big red flag.

[59] She helped to write the California Consumer Transparency Act and served as a senior State Department official in the Obama Administration, continuing her work against human trafficking.

[64] Of the candidates, Helmer had spent the most time in the national spotlight for his sometimes-provocative TV spots, which led to his sparring with hosts on the conservative talk show Fox & Friends.

He served on the federal task force that led the corruption case against lobbyist Jack Abramoff as well as officials in Congress and the White House,[68] including U.S. Reps. Robert Ney and William J.

[71] Stover argued that she was the only primary candidate with extensive, senior-level federal legislative experience, having brokered compromises in Congress to pass bills and briefed President Obama in the Situation Room.

[89] Friedman and Stover fought for the same pool of undecided voters, and Cook Political Report remarked that if Wexton is "able to run up the score in her own Loudoun County-based state senate district, it'll probably be enough to win a low turnout race.

[99] Hill said that what triggered his decision to run for the seat was Comstock's vote against an amendment that would have barred the Pentagon from paying for gender transition surgeries or hormone therapy for transgender service members.

[101] Comstock faced a long-shot challenge in the primary from former combat pilot Shak Hill, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in the 2014 United States Senate election in Virginia.

"[115] Fairfax teachers union president Kimberly Adams, Loudoun School for the Gifted founder Deep Sran, financial consultant Michael Pomerleano, wounded veterans advocate Julien Modica, general practitioner Shadi Ayyas,[116] and retired Naval intelligence officer David Hanson[117] filed paperwork to compete in the Democratic primary.

[125] She had also praised the military budget increases in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 as a win for defense contractors and Pentagon employees in her district, and authored legislation to combat the opioid epidemic and MS-13 gang problem that had sprouted in some Northern Virginia neighborhoods.

[127] Wexton accused Comstock of fearmongering and race-baiting for pushing legislation that would allow the federal government to deport immigrants on the suspicion of gang activity and fund anti-gang task forces.

[131] Wexton was not yet in favor of moving forward with impeachment, saying she wanted to collect facts and evidence first, although she said, "The biggest problem facing those in VA-10 is President Trump, and Barbara Comstock's refusal to stand up to him.

[139] Wexton criticized Comstock's statement in a tweet, saying, "POTUS can end this awful policy today, but by lacking the courage to demand that, she supports these innocent children being used as political pawns.

[12] Comstock's donors included Michael Chertoff, head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush; Todd Stottlemyer, chief executive of the Inova Center for Personalized Health, and his wife; former Mississippi governor Haley Barbour; Ed Gillespie's campaign committee; and Carly Fiorina.

[149] Comstock's donors included Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone and his wife, Elaine; the Susan B. Anthony List; the National Shooting Sports Foundation; Dominion Energy; and American and United Airlines.

[161] Comstock's Democratic challengers focused on the issue of gun control, prompted by the district's increasing population of college-educated white-collar workers and suburbanites' changing attitudes in the wake of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

[162][163] Pelletier pivoted off of his Justice Department credentials by demanding a criminal investigation into links between the National Rifle Association, US-sanctioned Russians and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

[101] On transportation, Biggins cited a permanent funding mechanism for Metro, Virginia Railway Express to places like Winchester and Berryville, and light rail[132] and buses as ways to help deal with infrastructure problems.

[167] Friedman criticized the Tax Reform Act for benefiting corporations and the wealthy above working families, singles, and those in most need, and Helmer called for a complete rewrite of the legislation.

[168] Hill claimed that Trump's tax plan supports working families, and that companies are repatriating to the United States and reinvesting in their businesses, creating more employment opportunities.