Amanda Pohl

Amanda Pohl (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Virginia's 1st Congressional District. She did not appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on August 4, 2026.

Amanda Pohl did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Healthcare access and affordability

Fully-funded public education

Investing in infrastructure, including green energy

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am a mom of two school-aged kids and a former hospital chaplain. Public education and healthcare access are personal to me. Years ago, when Virginia could have expanded Medicaid but opted not to for political reasons, I was called into the hospital to comfort the family of a patient who died because she was uninsured and couldn't afford her blood pressure medicine. She had a stroke because she was unable to afford that medicine. She died because of politics. I know that Virginia can do better and I am ready to work on evidence-based policy solutions to make that happen.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to people with integrity and authenticity who demonstrate kindness and good character. My best friend is the most honest person I know and is the person I ask for leadership advice. My former boss is one of the kindest people I know and is the person I go to when I need help seeing the big picture. My pastor reminds me that we are all flawed, but we are also on journeys. I also see positive role models in politics in people like U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, and Virginia Senator Jennifer McClellan.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I think the most important thing for an elected official to do is listen. Elected officials are there to represent the voices of the people, so how else will they know what the people want if they refuse to listen? It takes courage to stand up for constituents, but it is essential to being an effective leader.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a problem-solver and love policy analysis. I work with people to figure out the real problems instead of working on quick fixes to symptoms that will only cause more problems down the road. I know how to get things done.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities for a state senator in Virginia are to listen to the constituents, work with stakeholders to identify the problem and possible solutions, propose policy changes to effectively solve problems, and evaluate to ensure that the problem has actually been solved. If it hasn't, restart the process until it has.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to make sure my kids grow up in a different Virginia, a better Virginia, than we live in now. I want individuals to be able to start a business without too much fear because they have health insurance. I want every child to go to a quality school and receive a quality education. I want opportunity for all children, no matter their zip code.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember when I was 17 years old and the U.S. sent troops to join NATO in Kosovo. I remember thinking that the genocide needed to stop, but didn't understand the implications beyond that. After that, when I was 19 and in college, 9-11 happened.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was at McDonald's. I worked there for less than a year before starting to work in a grocery store.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. It changed my life and took me out of my own limited worldview.

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

After I had a miscarriage, I built a wooden box and covered it with fabric and put a wooden letter "P" (for Pohl) on it and replaced an old doorbell cover. It's lovely. I think that's my favorite thing in the house because it reminds me that even in my saddest moments, something beautiful can be created and it took me out of my sadness, even for a moment, to just create.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Lizzo's "Like a Girl"

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I was the first in my family to go away to college and to earn a bachelor's degree. My parents didn't realize they should help me move in or even attend the orientation with me. It was a lot of maneuvering and I was behind a lot of the other students because I didn't even know how to ask for help or what I needed. I ended up figuring it out and made some mistakes along the way. It would have made my life easier if I hadn't made those mistakes, but they are lessons.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily. Our legislature is a "citizen legislature" so it's more important that legislators are able to work with the people who elected them and be good representatives.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

In Virginia, our challenge is going to be how do we remain a business-friendly state and keep our AAA bond rating, which is important, while also addressing the significant inequities that exist in many basic necessity areas of life like housing, healthcare, education, transportation, etc.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Non-partisan, fair, and equitable

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

One woman shared with me the cost of her insulin and said how she struggled to pay for that and her mortgage. Another family shared the cost of their health insurance and how they have to pay for it to protect their retirement. One mom shared with me how she stuffed toilet paper roles into her daughter's backpack because the school had run out. Another mom told me how she talks to her kids about the potential for gun violence at their school. People expect their legislators to do something about these issues.