Shenandoah Valley Native Pete Barlow Announces Run for Congress
AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. — Pete Barlow, a tenth-generation Shenandoah Valley native, has announced his candidacy for Virginia’s 6th Congressional District, where he will challenge Republican incumbent Ben Cline.
Barlow formally launched his campaign on August 20, 2025 at Valley Pike Market in Weyers Cave, with the debut of People Talk to Pete: The Truck Tour.
The tour will take him across communities in the district, where he plans to hear directly from residents about how federal policies affect local families and businesses. Accounts from these conversations will be shared at peopletalk2pete.org.
Barlow previously worked in emergency management with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before stepping down in July.
“The worst disasters facing folks here aren't natural. They've been caused by Congress — and Ben Cline helped them do it,” Barlow said in a written statement.
He cited the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” legislation supported by Cline and signed into law by President Donald Trump.
“It cut rural health care, hurt farmers and small businesses, raised prices, and gave tax breaks to billionaires," Barlow said. "That's not what folks voted for in 2024 — and they're right to be angry. Ben Cline and Donald Trump betrayed them."
Barlow was raised in the Brethren and Mennonite communities and has held several public service roles. After the September 11 attacks, he joined the U.S. Peace Corps. He later worked in environmental protection and emergency response.
"Public service isn't just a career — it's a responsibility and a patriotic duty,” Barlow said. “Whether I was leading emergency response efforts at FEMA or working to protect endangered species and the lands they depend on, I saw how federal decisions ripple through rural communities. I'm running to make sure those communities — their people, their land, and their future — finally have a voice in Washington.”
Barlow, who holds advanced degrees in environmental biology and nursing, lives in Weyers Cave with his wife, Hannah, a public health nurse.
"This isn't just where I live. It's who I am," Barlow said. "The place we call home deserves a representative who understands the land, the people, and the promise of rural America."
According to his campaign, Barlow is seeking to build a coalition that includes working families, farmers, business owners, outdoorsmen, and others who feel overlooked by political leaders.
His supporters, the campaign said, range from moderate Republicans and Independents to Libertarians and Democrats.
"It's time again for Congress to invest in the real economy folks depend on and protect the natural resources we share," Barlow said. "That's what I stand for."
To learn more, visit www.pete-barlow.com.