Denver Riggleman

Denver Lee Riggleman III

Republican Party

Prior offices

U.S. House Virginia District 5

Successor: Bob Good

Predecessor: Thomas Garrett

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Elections and appointments

Last convention

June 13, 2020

Contact

Campaign website

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Denver Lee Riggleman III (Republican Party) was a member of the U.S. House, representing Virginia's 5th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2019. He left office on January 3, 2021.

Riggleman (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Virginia's 5th Congressional District. He lost in the Republican convention on June 13, 2020.

Biography

Riggleman served in the United States Air Force from 1992 to 1996. In 2007 he co-founded Analyst Warehouse LLC and acted as CEO of the company until 2015. At the time of the 2018 election, Riggleman was a co-owner and co-operator of Silverback Distillery, a business he founded with his wife, Christine, in 2014.

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2021

The 116th United States Congress began on January 9, 2019, and ended on January 3, 2021. At the start of the session, Democrats held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (235-200), and Republicans held the majority in the U.S. Senate (53-47). Donald Trump (R) was the president and Mike Pence (R) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2021
Vote	Bill and description	Status
Yea	Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020   The Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020 (H.R. 1044) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives seeking to increase the cap on employment-based visas, establish certain rules governing such visas, and impose some additional requirements on employers hiring holders of such visas. The bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended.	Passed (365-65)
Nay	The Heroes Act   The HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to address the COVID-19 outbreak by providing $1,200 payments to individuals, extending and expanding the moratorium on some evictions and foreclosures, outlining requirements and establishing finding for contact tracing and COVID-19 testing, providing emergency supplemental appropriations to federal agencies for fiscal year 2020, and eliminating cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatments. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (208-199)
Nay	For the People Act of 2019   The For the People Act of 2019 (H.R.1) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to protect election security, revise rules on campaign funding, introduce new provisions related to ethics, establish independent, nonpartisan redistricting commissions, and establish new rules on the release of tax returns for presidential and vice presidential candidates. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (234-193)
Yea	CARES Act   The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on March 27, 2020, that expanded benefits through the joint federal-state unemployment insurance program during the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation also included $1,200 payments to certain individuals, funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and funds for businesses, hospitals, and state and local governments. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.	Passed (419-6)
Nay	Equality Act   The Equality Act (H.R. 5) was a bill approved by the House Representatives that sought to ban discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity by expanding the definition of establishments that fall under public accomodation and prohibiting the denial of access to a shared facility that is in agreement with an indiviual's gender indenitity. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (236-173)
Nay	Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019   The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 (H.R. 8) was a bill approved by the House that sought to ban firearm transfers between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (240-190)
Nay	American Dream and Promise Act of 2019   The American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R.6) was a bill approved by the House Representatives that sought to protect certain immigrants from removal proceedings and provide a path to permanent resident status by establishing streamlined procedures for permanant residency and canceling removal proceedings against certain qualifed individuals. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (237-187)
Yea	National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020   The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (S. 1790) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on December 20, 2019, setting policies and appropriations for the Department of Defense. Key features of this bill include appropriations for research/development, procurement, military construction, and operation/maintenence, as well as policies for paid family leave, North Korea nuclear sanctions, limiting the use of criminal history in federal hiring and contracting, military housing privatization, and paid family leave for federal personnel. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (377-48)
Yea	Families First Coronavirus Response Act   The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on March 18, 2020, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing access to unemployment benefits and food assistance, increasing funding for Medicaid, providing free testing for COVID-19, and requiring employers to provide paid sick time to employees who cannot work due to COVID-19. The bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.	Passed (363-40)
Yea	Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019   The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (H.R. 1994) was a bill passed by the House Representatives that sought to change the requirements for employer provided retirement plans, IRAs, and other tax-favored savings accounts by modfying the requirements for things such as loans, lifetime income options, required minimum distributions, the eligibility rules for certain long-term, part-time employees, and nondiscrimination rules. The bill also sought to treat taxable non-tuition fellowship and stipend payments as compensation for the purpose of an IRA, repeal the maximum age for traditional IRA contributions, increase penalties for failing to file tax returns, allow penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans if a child is born or adopted, and expand the purposes for which qualified tuition programs may be used. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (417-3)
Nay	Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act   The Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) was a bill approved by the House Representatives that sought to address the price of healthcare by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate prices for certain drugs, requiring drug manufactures to issue rebates for certain drugs covered under Medicare, requiring drug price transparency from drug manufacturers, expanding Medicare coverage, and providing funds for certain public health programs. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (230-192)
Nay	Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020   The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 1865) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on December 20, 2019, providing appropriations for federal agencies in fiscal year 2020. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (297-120)
Yea	Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019   The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 (S. 1838) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on November 27, 2019, directing several federal departments to assess Hong Kong's unique treatment under U.S. law. Key features of the bill include directing the Department of State to report and certify annually to Congress as to whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous from China to justify its unique treatment, and directing the Department of Commerce to report annually to Congress on China's efforts to use Hong Kong to evade U.S. export controls and sanctions. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.	Passed (417-1)
Yea	MORE Act of 2020   The MORE Act of 2020 (H.R. 3884) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to decriminalize marijuana by removing marijuana as a scheduled controlled substance and eliminating criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana. This bill required a simple majority vote from the House.	Passed (228-164)
Yea	Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020   The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 6074) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 6, 2020, providing emergency funding to federal agencies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Key features of the bill include funding for vaccine research, small business loans, humanitarian assistance to affected foreign countries, emergency preparedness, and grants for public health agencies and organizations. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to suspend the rules and pass the bill.	Passed (415-2)
Yea	Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019   The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.J.Res. 31) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on February 15, 2019, providing approrations for Fiscal Year 2019. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (300 -128)
Yea	John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act   The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S. 47) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Doanld Trump on March 12, 2019. This bill sought to set provisions for federal land management and conservation by doing things such as conducting land exchanges and conveyances, establishing programs to respond to wildfires, and extending and reauthorizing wildlife conservation programs. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.	Passed (363-62)
Yea	William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (On passage)   The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and vetoed by President Donald Trump on December 23, 2020. Congress voted to override Trump's veto, and the bill became law on January 1, 2021. The bill set Department of Defense policies and appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021. Trump vetoed the bill due to disagreement with provisions related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the renaming of certain military installations, limits on emergency military construction fund usage, and limits on troop withdrawals. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House on passage, and a two-thirds majority vote in the House to override Trump's veto.	Passed (335-78)
Yea	William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Overcoming veto)   The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and vetoed by President Donald Trump on December 23, 2020. Congress voted to override Trump's veto, and the bill became law on January 1, 2021. The bill set Department of Defense policies and appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021. Trump vetoed the bill due to disagreement with provisions related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the renaming of certain military installations, limits on emergency military construction fund usage, and limits on troop withdrawals. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House on passage, and a two-thirds majority vote in the House to override Trump's veto.	Passed (322-87)
Yea	Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019   The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (S.24) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on January 16, 2019, that requires federal employees who were furloughed or compelled to work during a lapse in government funding to be compensated for that time. The bill also required those employees to be compensated as soon as the lapse in funding ends, irregardless of official pay date. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to suspend the rules and pass the bill.	Passed (411-7)
Nay	Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. (Article 1)   The 2020 impeachment of Donald Trump (R) was a resolution before the 116th Congress to set forth two articles of impeachment saying that Trump abused his power and obstructed congress. The first article was related to allegations that Trump requested the Ukrainian government investigate former Vice President Joe Biden (D) and his son, Hunter Biden, in exchange for aid, and the second was related to Trump's response to the impeachment inquiry. The House of Representatives approved both articles of impeachment, and the Senate adjudged that Trump was not guilty of either charge. The articles of impeachment required a simple majority vote in the House.	Guilty (230-197)
Nay	Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. (Article 2)   The 2020 impeachment of Donald Trump (R) was a resolution before the 116th Congress to set forth two articles of impeachment saying that Trump abused his power and obstructed congress. The first article was related to allegations that Trump requested the Ukrainian government investigate former Vice President Joe Biden (D) and his son, Hunter Biden, in exchange for aid, and the second was related to Trump's response to the impeachment inquiry. The House of Representatives approved both articles of impeachment, and the Senate adjudged that Trump was not guilty of either charge. The articles of impeachment required a simple majority vote in the House.	Guilty (229-198)

Elections

2020

See also: Virginia's 5th Congressional District election, 2020

Virginia's 5th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 23 Democratic primary)

Virginia's 5th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 13 Republican convention)

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 5

Bob Good defeated Cameron Webb in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bob Good (R)	52.4	210,988
		Cameron Webb (D)	47.3	190,315
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	1,014

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 402,317
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 5

Cameron Webb defeated Claire Russo, Roger Dean Huffstetler, and John Lesinski in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on June 23, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Cameron Webb	66.6	35,965
		Claire Russo	18.2	9,833
		Roger Dean Huffstetler	9.9	5,337
		John Lesinski	5.4	2,902

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 54,037
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Kim Daugherty (D)
• Shadi Ayyas (D)

Republican convention

Republican convention for U.S. House Virginia District 5

Bob Good defeated incumbent Denver Lee Riggleman III in the Republican convention for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on June 13, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bob Good (R)	59.8	1,517
		Denver Lee Riggleman III (R)	40.2	1,020

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,537
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Virginia's 5th Congressional District election (June 2, 2018 Republican primary)

See also: Virginia's 5th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

Denver Lee Riggleman III defeated Leslie Cockburn in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on November 6, 2018.

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 5

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Denver Lee Riggleman III (R)	53.2	165,339
		Leslie Cockburn (D)	46.6	145,040
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	547

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 310,926
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Note: John Hargis ran as a write-in candidate in the general election.

Democratic nominating convention

The 5th Congressional District Democratic Committee held a nominating convention on May 5, 2018. Leslie Cockburn received a majority of the votes to secure the Democratic nomination.

Republican nominating convention

The 5th Congressional District Republican Committee held a nominating convention on June 2, 2018. Denver Riggleman was chosen by the party to compete in the general election.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Denver Lee Riggleman III did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Virginia's 5th Congressional District Republican Committee reported that Bob Good received 58% of the vote to incumbent Riggleman's 42% at the Republican Party convention in Virginia's 5th Congressional District on June 13, 2020.

Riggleman alleged that the nomination process had been compromised. He tweeted the night of June 13, "Voting irregularities and ballot stuffing has been reported in multiple counties in the #VA05. Voter fraud has been a hallmark of this nomination process and I will not stand for it. @VA_GOP needs to reevaluate their priorities. We are evaluating all our options at this time." As of August 17, 2020, Riggleman had not formally contested the results.

2018

Campaign website

Riggleman’s campaign website stated the following:

“	Denver Riggleman is a native Virginian, veteran, conservative, and proven businessman who brings business knowledge and experience to Washington. Denver is a family man first, not a politician, and is dedicated to supporting legislation that helps the average American. With a commitment to cutting federal regulations, making the Republican tax cuts permanent and safeguarding American interests overseas, Denver will bring common sense back to Washington. Denver believes that government intrusion, bureaucratic mismanagement and crippling over-regulation are the biggest threats to achieving the American Dream. In Congress, Denver will be a steadfast conservative who will focus on a pro-business agenda, while working tirelessly for a federal government that is more efficient, less intrusive, and accountable to its citizens. Read more about the issues below: Taxes A Businessman’s take on Taxes As a 5th District business owner, Denver felt the positive impact of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” and used these savings to create additional services and manufacturing jobs in the district. Many provisions of tax reform go into full effect for the first time in 2019, but some cuts have already helped his family expand its business into different markets. As great as these cuts have been for job growth, Denver knows there is more work to do. Tax cuts for individuals must remain permanent so that families can keep their hard-earned wages. Denver will fight to make sure tax cuts remain permanent so that all 5th District businesses have the security and stability to grow. When elected, Denver will vote for permanent tax cuts and continue to fight for tax reform. Government Regulation, Transparency & Accountability A Businessman’s take on Government Regulation, Transparency & Accountability Denver has decades of experience in the private sector and understands what it takes to start and maintain a successful business in Virginia. As the former CEO of a federal contracting company and the Co-Founder of a robust family business here in Nelson County (Silverback Distillery), Denver fought against weaponized regulations crafted by lobbyists and government bureaucrats. These regulations threaten entrepreneurs, agricultural interests, and district employees and create insurmountable fixed costs for many businesses. When Denver built his manufacturing facility, he encountered numerous unnecessary local, state, and federal regulations. The fight against these hurdles put in place by government and corporate bullies compelled Denver to run for public office. He knows that the best economy is one that allows businesses to grow and thrive with little or no government interference. By cutting federal regulations, Denver will fight corporate and government interests that try to pick winners and losers. Denver will the cut red tape limiting 5th District industry. He will ensure that the 5th District thrives through access to free markets, fair competition, and labor. When the President said he was going to “Drain The Swamp,” Denver knew exactly what he was referring to. For too long, lobbyists have worked behind closed doors to craft new regulations and new laws that favor large corporate donors at the expense of free market competition, limited government, and your independence. In return, these lobbyists receive billions, the politicians receive donations and special treatment, and the Government continues to grow at your expense. Denver will bring transparency to the halls of Congress and limit the size and scope of the system along the way. By design, our Government should work for us. Denver supports auditing every federal department, including the Department of Defense, so that we can get to the bottom of just how our money is being spent. Property Rights A Businessman’s take on Property Rights Denver will protect your private property rights and offers vigorous support for the “Private Property Rights Protection Act”. He will fight to end the use of Eminent Domain for private use and should seizure of property occur, the property owner must receive fair compensation. Denver’s own battle against property condemnation gives him a unique perspective on Eminent Domain abuse in the 5th District. He believes we can support a growing, independent infrastructure while ensuring property rights remain our priority, not an inconvenient luxury. Denver is a critical infrastructure expert in the Department of Defense and believes infrastructure can be effectively managed without private corporate interests manipulating the government’s power of eminent domain against property owners. The Deficit A Businessman’s take on the Deficit Like most Americans, Denver and his wife Christine must keep a balanced checkbook every month. Shouldn’t the same standard apply to the federal government? Denver hates the wasteful over-spending that corrupts Washington D.C. The responsibility to live within our means has been long forgotten by politicians. Denver vows to cut redundant programs, eliminate wasteful spending, end corporate subsidies and implement aggressive financial audits. He knows fraud, waste, and abuse exist in every federal department and that both political parties are at fault. The 2018 omnibus bill is a prime example of over-spending and detrimental deal making. Not only did it contradict every fiscal conservative principle that Republicans should stand for, it put the long-term benefits of tax reform at risk by increasing the deficit. Denver pledges to install cuts and sensible reform across the board and believes that no department or agency can be free from scrutiny. National Defense A Veteran’s take on National Defense Denver is a decorated Air Force Intelligence Officer and Chief Executive Officer of one former company and a current defense contracting company. He understands the needs of the American Military and the existential threats that face America daily. The world is a dangerous place. Denver’s experience with kinetic and non-kinetic mission planning, limited warfare and non-traditional threat analysis uniquely position him to be an United States Congressman. His current experience with the Office of the Secretary of Defense managing electronic warfare and cyber programs allows him to understand and operationalize policy related to not only strategic geopolitical objectives but also to understand the practical application of systems related to phased and unconventional warfare. Defending Israel A Veteran’s take on Israel In 1996, Denver was deployed to Tel Aviv for a Presidential support mission. Due to his experience during this time, Denver understands the importance of the close relationship between the sovereign state of Israel and the United States. Israel is America’s premier ally in the Middle East. Since its creation in 1948, the Jewish state has been a symbol of stability in the region. For this reason, it is essential that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge to provide stability and safety in the region. It is vital that the United States continues to play a pivotal role in maintaining this edge by providing weapons of war, technological teaming and information sharing to assist Israel in keeping its citizens safe. With Denver’s Intelligence experience, he understands that Iran continues to be one of the largest perpetrators of state-sponsored terrorism, not only in the Middle East but around the world. The influence they have built is far-reaching; from the funding of Hamas and Hezbollah to providing armaments to the brutal Assad regime in Syria. Denver applauds President Trump’s recent decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem and the administration’s support of Israel. Immigration A Veteran and Businessman’s take on Immigration A. Ending Visa Overstays & Reforming Our Visa System In A Roaring Economy Visa overstays account for an overwhelming amount of the growing illegal immigrant population. Reforming our visa system so that responsible, legal, and monitored labor can meet growing demands in emerging technologies, manufacturing, and agricultural economy are a priority. Denver supports a mandatory E-Verify system that requires employers to confirm the visa or citizenship status of their employees. Republican policies have created a robust job market with more new jobs than Americans to fill them. The increase of agricultural jobs here in the 5th District will need more migrant workers. Advances in our technology and manufacturing sectors will demand more workers beyond what is available in the current job market. To fill these vacancies, many companies are looking for foreign workers. Denver supports a mandatory E-Verify program, migrant visa reform, and the introduction of the H2C visa program so businesses can meet their new labor demands while eliminating the incentive for illegal immigration. B. Secure the Border With An “All of the Above” Strategy A nation is only as sovereign as its borders are secure. With all the resources that we have dedicated to military conflict overseas, it is time for the United States to reduce that spending and increase security where it matters most—our own points of entry. Denver believes that one fix is to reallocate funds cut from a wasteful Pentagon budget to our Southern Border and U.S. ports. Our failure to secure the border incentivizes a humanitarian crisis of mass illegal immigration and has led to human trafficking, kidnapping, drug trafficking and threats to the homeland. It is well past time to build physical and technological barriers, including a wall where it is conducive. Denver’s extensive experience with attended and unattended sensors (land-based and airborne) and decades of analytical experience in disciplines related to interagency identification capabilities and data aggregation allows him to understand how cooperative strategies can bolster border defense and can assist with expediting immigrant identification. Denver fully embraces an “all-of-the-above” strategy to securing our border. Education A Businessman’s take on Education But for the preservation of civil liberties, Denver believes the Federal Government has little to no reason to be in your child’s education. He is committed to returning resources and oversight back to parents, localities, and states. He thinks it is asinine that we have forced a “one-size fits all” model of testing on our public-school system. Rather than continuing to determine a child’s education simply by which zip code they live in, Denver believes the Federal Government should give states, localities, and parents the flexibility they need to allow for innovative methods of funding and school placement. Unlike our current system, Denver’s vision for education would allow everyone to have options, not just those who can afford them. As a veteran and businessman, Denver realizes that not every high school or college degree is created equally. Some students leave school with little to no practical training in a myriad of skills, yet they’re convinced that a four-year college degree is the only path for a strong career. Denver has seen first-hand how a new world of writing code and working in cyber security can result in immediate job placement and high wages. Other skills such as advanced manufacturing, HVAC, welding, plumbing, masonry, and electrical work have similar and constant demand. Denver is focused on reforming the way our federal government restricts the market’s influence on curriculum and accreditation. He wants to alleviate limitations on our vocational schools, community colleges, the Jobs Corps, and regional training programs so local businesses can have a part to play in how we develop an in-demand workforce. Finally, Denver is a proud graduate from the University of Virginia and believes the 5th District has some of the best institutions of higher education in the Nation. Nevertheless, he knows higher education has become a shell of what it once was, and it has become the source of more problems than ever before. Whether it is our nation’s overwhelming $1.5 trillion in student debt or the threats against speech and diversity of thought, Higher Ed has institutional flaws that put our future and economy at risk. Denver is committed to addressing these issues, along with the rising costs of college and the burdens of already-encumbered debt. Healthcare A Businessman’s take on Healthcare The Affordable Care Act is an inherently flawed system meant to address the very real problem of access and cost of healthcare in the United States. Unfortunately, government intervention has led to perverse results, not the least of which are skyrocketing costs of premiums and deductibles for families. The 5th District is home to the costliest health insurance in the nation. Denver pledges to change the way we view the system so that we can return to the market we desperately need. A. Repeal the ACA, Reform Health Savings Accounts, Provide Flexibility For Medicaid When politicians passed Obamacare, they focused on “coverage” but failed to realize that means nothing when even the cheapest of deductibles are too expensive for families to afford. Denver wants a system where we can save our own untaxed earnings for health-related costs rather than a system that creates dependence on the last remaining insurance company or Government. A stronger market for health savings accounts can eliminate the high-premium/high-deductible world we have today. As a businessman, Denver thinks our system isn’t flexible enough. He will work to expand the amount of savings you can dedicate to your healthcare, the care of your family members, and the care of those with preexisting conditions. He knows market forces can fix our financing and healthcare needs much more efficiently than the Federal Government. A consumer-driven model that encourages personal savings and allows for deductible transfers to those with preexisting conditions can keep our costs in check, allow for innovation, and eliminate burdensome and costly regulation along the way. When it comes to Medicaid, Denver knows that those without the means to pay for preventative medicine, costly procedures, or expensive pharmaceuticals are oftentimes at risk of becoming increasingly ill. Lack of access will result in higher costs on the system. Denver believes consumer-driven models can provide access to care for patients while encouraging them to be better stewards of funds spent on their needs. He will fight to reform our Medicaid system so States have the flexibility to enact these models and implement other conditions if they so choose. He believes even the smallest amount of “skin in the game” can influence everyone to be more prudent when making healthcare decisions and can reduce the fiscal strain on our system along the way. Ultimately, the Government is not equipped, transparent, or competent enough to manage something as important as your healthcare. We cannot continue down a road where your health increasingly rests in a politician’s hands; there’s too much at stake. B. Eliminate Healthcare Deserts – Residency Expansion Most Americans don’t realize that the Federal Government effectively limits the number of students that become doctors every year, primarily because of its funding of medical residencies through Medicare. Denver thinks the current limitations are ridiculous, especially when portions of the 5th District lack the number of physicians we need. Not only does it reduce our supply of doctors, it drives up the demand and costs in areas that need them most. Denver believes we must eliminate the cap on medical residencies and prioritize the allocation of funds to “doctor deserts”—those areas that need them the most. By eliminating the cap and allowing entities such as hospitals, universities, physician-owned practices, and insurance companies to fund residencies in the areas with less demand, our healthcare system can start to return to the free market we desperately need.	”
—Denver Riggleman’s campaign website (2018)

Campaign advertisements

The following is an example of an ad from Riggleman's 2018 election campaign.

"Intro" - Riggleman campaign ad, released September 18, 2018

See also

2020 Elections

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Thomas Garrett (R)	U.S. House of Representatives - Virginia, District 5 2019-2021	Succeeded by Bob Good (R)

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Virginia's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Tim Kaine (D)

Mark Warner (D)

Representatives

District 1

Rob Wittman (R)

District 2

Jennifer Kiggans (R)

District 3

Bobby Scott (D)

District 4

Jennifer McClellan (D)

District 5

John McGuire (R)

District 6

Benjamin Lee Cline (R)

District 7

Eugene Vindman (D)

District 8

Donald Sternoff Beyer (D)

District 9

H. Morgan Griffith (R)

District 10

Suhas Subramanyam (D)

District 11

Gerald Edward Connolly (D)

Democratic Party (8)

Republican Party (5)