RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Democratic congressional candidates in Virginia are bringing in reinforcements.  Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Democrats Shannon Taylor (VA-01), Elaine Luria (VA-02) and Tom Perriello (VA-05) in Henrico County on Monday.  Buttigieg told the cr owd that the road to a Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives runs through three competitive districts, 1st, 2nd and 5th, in Virginia.  Buttigieg added that Republicans, including incumbent Virginia Republican Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-01), Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and John McGuire (VA-05), haven’t kept their promises on affordability, and the trio supported healthcare cuts, President Donald Trump’s tariffs, the war in Iran and more. "Rob Wittman, Jen Kiggans and John McGuire voting for Donald Trump's trillion-dollar tax breaks for billionaires and the biggest corporations in the country while kicking 100,000 Virginians off of food stamps,” Buttigieg said. "They voted again and again to back Trump's tariffs that have a typical family paying more than $1,000 more per household. And this Iran war that, on average, has American families paying $2,000 more." In response to the rally, Reilly Richardson, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said, “After unsuccessfully attempting to rig Virginia’s maps and disenfranchise voters across the Commonwealth, Democrats are now resorting to bringing in failed Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to save their skin. Soft on crime Shannon Taylor, corrupt Elaine Luria, and radical Tom Perriello only care about one thing: appeasing their DC party bosses who are propping up their campaigns. Virginians deserve better.”  As for the candidates themselves, Taylor, who is challenging Wittman, said at the event, “I’m gonna fight to protect Medicare, fight to protect Social Security, make healthcare accessible and affordable, repeal the tariffs that are hurting our farmers and end the reckless wars that drive up costs for everybody.” When asked about Taylor’s event with Buttigieg during a media availability following a transportation roundtable with current U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in Chesterfield County last week, Wittman said, “This meeting today is not a political meeting, this isn't a political rally, we’re here to work hard to help families here in Chesterfield County, and that’s what people expect.” Duffy added, “The congressman could have invited me to come to a rally or a political event. He chose not to do that. He said, 'You know what, I want you to come and talk to the leaders of this community…' and I think that's the kind of leadership that the congressman provides the community, is, you know, how do we deliver? As for the race in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, Luria, who is facing Kiggans, said, “We need a leader in Hampton Roads again who is gonna stand up for our military, stand up for our veterans and put a check on this administration.” At the rally with Buttigieg, Calvin Moore, a Kiggans campaign spokesman, said in part that Luria “lives in the wrong congressional district, films her campaign ads in the wrong congressional district, and now holds rallies in the wrong congressional district, too. As former Transportation Secretary, maybe Pete can help her figure out where Virginia’s 2nd District is.”  In the 5th Congressional District, Perriello, who is challenging McGuire, said, “We’re not just in this to win an election, we’re in this to end this war, to end these tariffs, end this corruption, and prevent a generational setback with this Medicaid cliff.”  The McGuire campaign is responding with Communications Director Quinn Hardimon, saying in part, “John McGuire is fighting to lower costs, secure the border, and protect Virginia values. Voters in the 5th District have a clear choice: a Navy SEAL who puts them first, or a Buttigieg Democrat who puts the liberal agenda first." Early voting continues through Oct. 31, with Election Day on Nov. 3. ...read more read less