SUFFOLK — Three of the four candidates vying to be the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 2nd District seat in Congress spoke at an event in Suffolk Tuesday night. The Suffolk Democratic Committee billed the event as an opportunity to meet the candidates, and Nila Devanath, Bill Fleming and Patrick Mosolf answered questions from the audience about their positions on immigration enforcement, stock trading for members of Congress and Supreme Court reform, among other issues.

Devanath, a lawyer and doctor, positioned herself as the progressive candidate. Mosolf emphasized his experience working on good governance internationally through organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations. And Fleming is running on a platform of mending what he characterizes as rampant corruption throughout the federal government.

Former U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria, who held the seat from 2019 to 2023 and is widely considered to be the frontrunner in the primary, was absent from the event. Republican Jen Kiggans defeated Luria in the 2022 midterm elections, and the winner of the primary will face off against Kiggans in November. Luria also sat out a forum hosted by the Coastal Virginia Democrats last month. Her campaign cited prior scheduling commitments in both cases. All four candidates have yet to appear together on the campaign trail.

In a statement, Zach Emanuel, a spokesperson for Luria’s campaign, laid out her priorities.

“As a 20-year Navy veteran, former small business owner, and two-term member of Congress, Elaine is laser-focused on addressing the affordability crisis, ending corruption in Washington, and sending Jen Kiggans home,” Emanuel said.

Here’s what the candidates had to say:

Immigration

Devanath, Fleming and Mosolf were in broad agreement that Immigration and Customs Enforcement as it currently operates should be abolished. Devanath said she attended a protest outside Sentara BelleHarbour Outpatient Medical Center in Suffolk on Sunday in response to a video depicting ICE agents repeatedly punching Victor Perez Martin while taking him into custody.

“That man was assaulted in my neighborhood,” Devanath said. “It was so disturbing to see that video of three men holding him down and then a fourth basically kicking him the back. What was the reason for that?”

Devanath, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Bangladesh, called for an easier path to citizenship for immigrants and for the abolition of ICE.

Fleming said that the agency had been set up incorrectly and that its standards have not been sufficient. Mosolf also caused for the agency’s dissolution, but said he would be in favor a reformed enforcement agency if that was the will of the people.

Stock trading

Luria now favors a ban on trading by members of Congress, according to the Washington Post, citing corruption from the White House and the need for Congress to set an example. The other three candidates said Tuesday night they would also be in favor of a ban. Devanath and Mosolf said they would support a ban on trading stock for the immediate family of members of Congress as well. Fleming said he would turn over his investments to his son.

Supreme Court reform

In response to an audience question, all three said they would support introducing term limits for justices. Fleming said he would support a code of ethics and regular audits for the court.

“If somebody is taking bribes or doing things that are unethical,” they should be kicked out, he said.

Mosolf said the U.S. might benefit from drawing from the example of other countries that use a nonpartisan body to nominate people to the Supreme Court.

Devanath said term limits and audits were a good start, but that she would also support increasing the number of seats on the court.

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