Politics is a weird game of telephone. You hear a name, you hear a rumor, and suddenly you’re staring at a search bar wondering if someone actually packed up their office and walked away. If you’ve been looking for the answer to why did jen kiggans resign, you might be surprised to find that the premise itself is based on a massive misunderstanding of the current political calendar.
As of early 2026, Jen Kiggans has not resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives.
Honestly, it’s easy to see how these things get started. We live in an era of constant special elections, sudden departures for "personal reasons," and "breaking news" banners that disappear as fast as they arrive. But for the representative of Virginia’s 2nd District, the reality is a lot more boring—and a lot more active—than a resignation letter. She's actually right in the thick of things in Washington.
The Truth About the Resignation Rumors
So, if she didn't quit, where did the "why did jen kiggans resign" question come from? Usually, these rumors spark from one of two things: a previous transition or a very public policy fight.
Back in late 2022, Jen Kiggans did technically resign from a position—but it was her seat in the Virginia State Senate. She had to. You can't be a state senator and a U.S. Representative at the same time. After she defeated Elaine Luria in a high-stakes 2022 midterm battle, she stepped down from her state-level role to take her seat in the 118th Congress. If you're looking at old headlines, that's likely the "resignation" you're seeing.
📖 Related: Whos Winning The Election Rn Polls: The January 2026 Reality Check
The other factor? She’s a "Purple District" Republican. That means she’s always in the crosshairs.
Representing Coastal Virginia isn't easy. It’s a mix of heavy military presence, rural stretches, and swinging suburbs. Because she occupies one of the most competitive seats in the country, there is a constant drumbeat of opposition messaging. When a politician is under intense pressure from the other side, or when they break from their party on a big vote, the internet often jumps the gun and assumes they’re on their way out.
A Career Built on "Career Hopping"
Kiggans isn't a lifelong politician, which is probably why people find her career path a little confusing. She’s been a lot of things.
- Navy Helicopter Pilot: She spent ten years in the Navy.
- Geriatric Nurse Practitioner: She went back to school after the military to care for the elderly.
- State Senator: Her first real foray into the legislative world.
- Congresswoman: Her current "day job."
She actually joked about her varied resume in a 2023 interview with Roll Call, basically saying that being a lawmaker was just the latest "leap." When someone has a history of changing careers to follow a new mission, people might assume they're ready to jump again. But right now, she’s leaned into some of the most complex policy fights in the House.
👉 See also: Who Has Trump Pardoned So Far: What Really Happened with the 47th President's List
Why She’s Currently in the Headlines
Instead of a resignation, 2025 and early 2026 have been defined by Kiggans "sticking her neck out," as Politico put it. She hasn't been a "troublemaker" in the sense of the Freedom Caucus, but she has definitely annoyed some of her own party leadership.
Recently, she’s been the face of a bipartisan push to extend health care subsidies. Specifically, she's been working with Democrats like Josh Gottheimer on the "CommonGround 2025" framework. This is about those Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that were set to expire. For a Republican, defending parts of the ACA is a massive political risk.
In January 2026, she voted against a "clean" extension of those credits, but she didn't do it because she wanted them gone. She argued that the system needed income caps and fraud protections to be sustainable. It's that kind of nuanced, middle-of-the-road positioning that makes people on both the left and the right speculate about her future.
Current Committee Roles (As of Jan 2026)
She isn't acting like someone who’s quitting. She’s currently holding down some heavy-duty assignments:
✨ Don't miss: Why the 2013 Moore Oklahoma Tornado Changed Everything We Knew About Survival
- House Armed Services Committee: Crucial for her district, which includes Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
- Veterans' Affairs: She chairs the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
- Natural Resources: Focusing on water and wildlife issues that hit home for the Eastern Shore.
The 2026 Election Cycle
If you’re wondering about her "resignation" because you saw a headline about a new candidate, it’s probably because the 2026 midterms are heating up. Kiggans has already signaled she is running for re-election. Her term doesn't end until January 2027, but in the world of American politics, the campaign for the next term starts the day after the last one ends.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has already put her on their "target" list. They’ve been hammering her on everything from abortion rights to her votes on veterans' benefits. This kind of high-intensity campaigning can make it seem like a seat is "vacant" or that a change is imminent, but it’s just the standard, albeit exhausting, cycle of a swing-district representative.
The "George Santos" Connection
One weird footnote that might have confused some folks: Kiggans was the only Republican from Virginia to vote to expel George Santos in late 2023. When a member of Congress is expelled or resigns in disgrace, their name often gets grouped with others in "Who’s Leaving Congress" listicles. Kiggans' name appeared in those stories not because she was leaving, but because she was a key player in making someone else leave.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed
If you want to track whether a member of Congress is actually resigning or just facing a tough re-election, don't rely on social media snippets. They're often designed to mislead.
- Check the House Clerk's Office: They maintain an official list of vacancies. If a seat is actually empty, it will be listed there immediately.
- Follow Local Virginia News: Outlets like The Virginian-Pilot or WAVY-TV cover her daily. They would be the first to know about a real resignation, long before it hits national news.
- Watch the Legislation: Use Congress.gov to see if she is still sponsoring bills. As of mid-January 2026, she just introduced the "Enhancing Skilled Nursing Facilities Act." People who are quitting generally don't spend their time drafting complex healthcare legislation.
The bottom line? Jen Kiggans is still very much in office. The rumors of her resignation are either a case of mistaken identity with her 2022 state senate departure or just the usual static of a very loud political season.