Two political figures with local ties are gearing up for a potential face off in the 2017 race for Virginia’s governor.

Congressman Rob Wittman (R-Montross), who represents Gloucester and Mathews counties in U.S. House of Representatives, and Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam of Norfolk, a Democrat who represented Mathews in the Senate of Virginia from 2008 to 2014, have both announced that they will be seeking their respective parties’ nominations for the state’s top executive position.

Wittman, who just recently announced his intention to run, has represented the First Congressional District in Congress since December 2007. He was first elected to finish the term of the late Jo Ann Davis, who died in October of that year.

“The gubernatorial strategy will resemble the work Congressman Wittman has done in Congress for eight years,” said Garrison Coward, Wittman’s political director. “We plan to do the same things we’ll be doing for reelection; it...