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Now that John McGuire has won a seat in Congress, his current position as a State Senator for District 10 needs to be filled. You can add Luther Cifers to the list of Republicans competing to fill the vacancy. The Prince Edward County resident and YakAttack owner announced that he plans to enter the State Senate race. 

“I’m not a politician, but I believe our government functions best when working citizens participate.” Cifers  said. “I’m both humbled and excited for the opportunity to enter this race, and do so with a sincere desire  to represent the interests of the citizens of the 10th District, and to advocate on their behalf. The gravity of this role and the sacred trust that I’m asking voters for are not lost on me, and I intend to earn this seat and fulfill its duties boldly and faithfully.” 

This race will be similar to the one that took place earlier this year after former State Senator Frank Ruff retired. A special election was held and Tammy Mulchi was chosen to fill his seat. Once the Congressional race has been certified in a couple weeks, then Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin will call for and set a date for the special election. 

Looking at the competition

We’ve already seen several others beyond Luther Cifers announce. One of those is former State Senator Amanda Chase, who back in July announced she was moving to Appomattox in order to run in this district. 

From 2010 to 2015, she owned a political consulting firm, working with Republicans such as Eric Cantor, Randy Forbes and Susan Stimpson on their respective campaigns. 

She ran for the State Senate District 11 seat in 2015, winning the race. She was re-elected to be District 11’s state senator in 2019, receiving 54.5% of the vote. In 2021, she ran to be the Republican nominee for governor, losing at the party’s state convention. She was eliminated in the fifth round of voting, ending third with 25.2% of the vote. Also in 2021, Chase was formally censured by the Virginia State Senate for her comments relating to and in support of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. After redistricting, Chase tried to switch seats and run for the District 12 State Senate seat in 2023, but she lost.

Jean Gannon is another Republican candidate running in District 10. The owner of Gannon Appraisals, she describes herself as a “wife, mother, Christian, conservative, and longtime energetic—and successful—champion of Republican principles, candidates, and organizations. I have recruited successful candidates for local office, and twice I have helped guide legislation to passage in the State Senate.” 

Luther Cifers and his background 

Born in 1974 in a farm community in Amelia County, Cifers was homeschooled from the third grade on. He grew up working on the farms of his family and neighbors, then later in his father’s business. Cifers added that his parents instilled in him the conservative values of hard work, self reliance, and serving others. He started his manufacturing career with an entry level job working for an  automotive supplier in Farmville back in 1993, where he quickly rose through the ranks, developing strong  skills in design, engineering, and leadership. 

In 2009, Cifers started YakAttack, an industry leader in kayak fishing accessories, in a friend’s  basement with an investment of less than $2,000. Under Cifers’ leadership, YakAttack grew rapidly into what is now an industry heavyweight, creating an ecosystem of opportunity within which many of its 60+ employees have turned their entry level  positions into meaningful and financially stable careers over the years. 

A serial entrepreneur with a knack for solving problems, Cifers also owned and operated Bonafide  Kayaks, an industry leader of premium fishing kayaks, MITUSA Manufacturing, a developer of tactical  products, and a number of other small businesses, creating more than 100 jobs in the process. Today,  he is working to create affordable housing solutions by bringing innovation and efficiency to the home  building process, with a goal of reducing the cost of single-family home construction by 30%.

“My businesses share a common theme: disruptive innovation that serves people’s needs,” Cifers said. “I’ve been asked many times what it takes to consistently develop unique, industry-leading solutions. I think people expect a complex answer, but it’s actually quite simple. I listen to those I serve, and I don’t overthink it. I think a lot of companies step right over the practical solutions, and they lose their way in the  process.” 

Why run? 

As for why he’s running, Luther Cifers said he saw a need. 

“In recent years, I’ve noticed parallels in our government. Instead of representing citizens, our politicians  too often overthink things, creating unnecessary complexity and widening the gap year after year between common sense and policy, distancing themselves from those they are supposed to represent,” Cifers said. “As a Virginia State Senator, I will advocate for simple, practical solutions that address the issues facing the citizens of the 10th District, with a focus on improving home affordability, less government intrusion, preservation of liberty, and fiscal responsibility. In an era of unsustainable, spiraling debt, I will use my  business experience to better serve our taxpayers by stewarding their money more wisely, with an ultimate goal of creating a positive impact with less spending.” 

“As a Christian, a father, a grandfather, and someone who understands the wisdom of the principles that  shaped our country’s founding, I care deeply about our country and am very concerned about where it’s  headed. I feel convicted that the time is now for regular citizens, not just career politicians, to help  steward our Republic. For those reasons, I’m asking my fellow citizens of the 10th District to VOTE to  allow me to represent them in the Virginia Senate.” 

Debate coming up 

Candidates competing for the 10th District seat will have a chance to introduce themselves to the public later this month. 

The Cumberland County Republican Committee has announced plans to hold a debate on Friday, Nov. 22. That’ll be held at 7 p.m. at Spruceberry Farm Event Center in Cumberland. 

The debate is open to the public, with doors opening for general admission at 6:45pm. The Republican Committee says a $5 donation is requested but not required. A cocktail social and dinner with the candidates (for a fee) will be from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Information on the moderators, format and additional details will be provided at a later date.