Who is Bert Mizusawa and what is Mizusawa running on in the 2026 Virginia Senate race?

Bert Mizusawa is the Republican candidate for Virginia U.S. Senate. Retired U.S. Army major general and former Pentagon official; won the Aug 4, 2026 GOP primary with 51.5%. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Incumbent Mark Warner (D) seeking a fourth term.
• Rating: Solid D (Cook, Sabato Safe D, Inside Elections).
• Polling: Warner 51, Mizusawa 33 (June 12 to 16, 2026, per Wikipedia).

Why Mizusawa’s race looks the way it does

• Democrats have won every Virginia Senate race since 2002 and Trump has never carried the state.
• Massive money gap: Warner raised about $25.2M vs Mizusawa’s ~$376K as of July 15, 2026.
• Warner leads every public poll by 18+ points.
• Warner is a two-time statewide winner and former governor; Mizusawa is a first-time statewide nominee who won a three-way primary with 51.5%.

What Mizusawa is running on

• National security. Campaigns on military readiness and foreign policy, drawing on his military career.
• Energy and spending. Emphasizes energy policy and cutting government spending.
• Trump. Backs an ‘America First’ agenda and working with President Trump, though he kept Trump out of his primary messaging.
• Separation of powers. Says Congress must fulfil its constitutional duties and each branch should stay within its limits, whichever party holds the White House.

In Mizusawa’s own words

“Congress has a responsibility to fulfill its constitutional duties regardless of which party controls the White House.”

The other candidates

• Mark Warner (D)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.