“I’m James Bergida—a lifelong Virginian, a Shenandoah-Valley-raised doer, a family guy from a family of overcomers, a man of faith, an educator who passionately holds that now is the time to invest in the Valley and Commonwealth’s future. I believe that Virginia and our Shenandoah Valley can continue to be the land of opportunity, a place where our people don’t just get by, but thrive. That’s why I’m running to represent our community in the Virginia Senate.”
Virginia has always been home. The Shenandoah River, Blue Ridge, and Massanutten run through my childhood memories. Early on, I learned that Virginia and its Shenandoah Valley are a land of opportunity.
A job opportunity brought my mom and dad, Theresa and Mike, to Virginia. Of their children, I was the first to be born here.
When I was ten, opportunity drew my family to the northern Shenandoah Valley—the opportunity to purchase our first and forever home, space for my parents to raise seven kids in a vibrant community.
Education holds a central place for my family. In the northern Shenandoah Valley, we have active communities around our public schools, private schools, and homeschool groups. I grew up in our thriving homeschool community.
Ever since I was fourteen, I wanted to become a college educator. As I pursued that goal, I found how education —in its many forms— can mold us and our next generation. It is the great conduit of opportunity.
Graduating from high school at seventeen, I stayed local for college. I attended Shenandoah University in Winchester and Christendom College in Front Royal.
Later I would complete a master’s and doctorate at the University of Oxford.
The call of home drew me constantly back to my roots, to the Shenandoah Valley. While I am still a researcher (remotely) at Oxford, I now also teach at Christendom College in its Political Science and Economics Department. My students are future teachers, businesspeople, lawyers, journalists, coaches, and parents.
Education holds a central place for my family. In the northern Shenandoah Valley, we have active communities around our public schools, private schools, and homeschool groups. I grew up in our thriving homeschool community.
Ever since I was fourteen, I wanted to become a college educator. As I pursued that goal, I found how education —in its many forms— can mold us and our next generation. It is the great conduit of opportunity.
Graduating from high school at seventeen, I stayed local for college. I attended Shenandoah University in Winchester and Christendom College in Front Royal.
Later I would complete a master’s and doctorate at the University of Oxford.
The call of home drew me constantly back to my roots, to the Shenandoah Valley. While I am still a researcher (remotely) at Oxford, I now also teach at Christendom College in its Political Science and Economics Department. My students are future teachers, businesspeople, lawyers, journalists, coaches, and parents.
I worked for a couple of years on a family farm in Clarke County. I have seen challenges faced by our farm families as well as the opportunities that can allow them to thrive.
Football is my family’s sport. “Coach” is my favorite title. I’ve coached both tackle and flag football. Some of my players have gone on to college football careers; some shifted to rugby and became national champions.
From an internship at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to my recent appointment to the Warren County Finance/Audit Committee, I have a track record of service to our country and local community.
Our valley boasts lively communities—communities centered around our churches, schools, and civic and social groups. Community is a major reason we’re proud to call this majestic place home.
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Front Royal has been the hub of my faith journey since childhood. I still attend St. John’s, as well as Sacred Heart of Jesus in Winchester.
I come from a family of small-business entrepreneurs. Growing up, I folded brochures and helped install signs for my dad’s young real-estate business. In high school, I helped remodel homes.
Upon graduating college, I put off grad school and worked in the family businesses as they faced the Great Recession. I got my real-estate license and helped run my mother’s bakery.
My parents passed their entrepreneurial spirit on to their kids. One of my brothers has gone on to build a growing small tech business, a sister has started a coaching business, and I used to head up finance and operations for a start-up non-profit.
Beginning in my days as a College Republican, I have volunteered for numerous candidates, helped form two Young Republican chapters, and led teams knocking thousands of doors and making tens of thousands of calls to elect our candidates. Under my chairmanship, our local Young Republicans (ages 18–40) chapter has over doubled in membership and now boasts several public officials and candidates among its members and alumni.
