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Lee Ware
2024 - Present
2026
1
Lee Ware (Republican Party) is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 72. He assumed office on January 10, 2024. His current term ends on January 14, 2026.
Ware (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 72. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source] The Republican primary for this office on June 17, 2025, was canceled.
Biography
Ware earned his B.A. from Wheaton College in 1974 and his M.A. from Harvard College.
Prior to joining the House, Ware served as chair for Board of Supervisors of Powhatan County from 1988 to 1996 and chair of the Powhatan County Social Services Board from 1992 to 1996. He served on the Virginia State Board of Education from 1995 to 1997.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Ware was assigned to the following committees:
2020-2021
Ware was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee
- House Finance Committee
- Labor and Commerce Committee
- House Transportation Committee
2019-2020
Ware was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee
- Labor and Commerce Committee
- House Finance Committee, Chair
- House Rules Committee
2016 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2016 legislative session, Ware served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2016 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Commerce and Labor |
| • Finance, Chair |
| • Rules |
2015 legislative session
In the 2015 legislative session, Ware served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Commerce and Labor |
| • Finance, Chair |
| • Rules |
2014 legislative session
In the 2014 legislative session, Ware served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2014 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Commerce and Labor |
| • Finance, Chair |
| • Rules |
2012-2013
In the 2012-2013 legislative session, Ware served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2012 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Commerce and Labor, Vice-Chair |
| • Finance |
| • Rules |
2010-2011
In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Ware served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2010 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, Vice-Chair |
| • Rules |
| • Finance |
| • Commerce and Labor |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2025
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2025
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 72
Incumbent Lee Ware, Randolph Critzer, and Kristin Farry are running in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 72 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Lee Ware (R) | |
 | Randolph Critzer (D) | |
| Kristin Farry (Forward Party) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 72
Randolph Critzer defeated Bilal Raychouni in the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 72 on June 17, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Randolph Critzer | 60.6 | 2,818 |
 | Bilal Raychouni | 39.4 | 1,833 | |
| Total votes: 4,651 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Lee Ware advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 72.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
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2023
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2023
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 72
Incumbent Lee Ware defeated Bilal Raychouni in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 72 on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lee Ware (R) | 68.1 | 22,684 |
| Bilal Raychouni (D) | 31.8 | 10,585 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 64 | ||
| Total votes: 33,333 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Bilal Raychouni advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 72.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Lee Ware advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 72.
Endorsements
Ware received the following endorsements.
2021
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2021
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 65
Incumbent Lee Ware defeated Caitlin Coakley in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 65 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lee Ware (R) | 66.0 | 33,621 |
| Caitlin Coakley (D) | 33.8 | 17,235 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 75 | ||
| Total votes: 50,931 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Caitlin Coakley advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 65.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Lee Ware advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 65.
Campaign finance
2019
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2019
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 65
Incumbent Lee Ware defeated Mike Asip in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 65 on November 5, 2019.
| Total votes: 38,050 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2017
General election
Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2017. All 100 house seats were up for election. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 13, 2017. The filing deadline for primary election candidates was March 30, 2017. The filing deadline for non-party candidates and candidates nominated by methods other than a primary was June 13, 2017.[2] Incumbent Lee Ware (R) defeated Francis Stevens (D) in the Virginia House of Delegates District 65 general election.[3]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 65 General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Lee Ware Incumbent |
64.12% | 22,394 | |
| Democratic | Francis Stevens | 35.88% | 12,530 | |
| Total Votes | 34,924 | |||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections | ||||
Democratic primary election
Francis Stevens ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 65 Democratic primary.[4]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 65 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Francis Stevens | ||
Republican primary election
Incumbent Lee Ware ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 65 Republican primary.[5]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 65 Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Lee Ware Incumbent | ||
2015
Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2015. A primary election was held on June 9, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 26, 2015.[6] Incumbent Lee Ware was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[7][8]
2013
Ware won re-election in the 2013 election for Virginia House of Delegates District 65. Ware ran unopposed in the June 11th Republican Primary. He defeated William E. Quarles (D) in the general election on November 5, 2013.[9]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 65 General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Lee Ware Incumbent |
67.6% | 19,839 | |
| Democratic | William E. Quarles | 32.1% | 9,431 | |
| Other | Write-in | 0.3% | 76 | |
| Total Votes | 29,346 | |||
2011
On November 8, 2011, Ware won re-election to District 65 of the Virginia House of Delegates. He was uncontested in the August 23 primary and ran unopposed in the November 8 general election.[10]
2009
In 2009, Ware was re-elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.[11]
| Virginia House of Delegates General Election, District 65 (2009) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Lee Ware (R)
|
21,187 | |||
| Gary Reinhardt (I) | 8,682 | |||
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2023
Lee Ware did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2021
Lee Ware did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
2019
Lee Ware did not complete Ballotpedia's 2019 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
As of August 2017, Ware’s website highlighted the following campaign themes:[12]
| “ |
Improving Education As the father of four children, each of whom was graduated from our public schools, Delegate Lee Ware understands the vital importance of parent-and-teacher cooperation in the creation and maintenance of outstanding schools. His wife, Kathy, as a PTO leader, complemented this devotion for many years. Like you, Lee Ware is a taxpayer. Like you, he understands that voters rightly expect state government to maximize the efficiency of the public purse—including in administering taxpayer dollars for education. This is why he champions strict fiscal discipline in state spending generally, and this is why he works to funnelDelegate Lee Ware on Education taxpayer dollars to the classroom. Lee Ware has helped engineer a 123% increase in state funds for Chesterfield Schools during his decade as our Delegate. For Powhatan Schools the increase has been 175%. Attracting and retaining the best-qualified teachers, and ensuring that our children are given every opportunity to experience—and to excel—in the adventure of learning, are among his legislative priorities. Named Virginia’s ‘Outstanding Teacher on the Constitution’ in an annual ceremony by the John Marshall Foundation, and the first public school teacher appointed to the State Board of Education, Lee Ware brings the unique experience of the classroom to the Capitol for his constituents. To him, education is both a personal career and a public commitment.
Good Growth and Transportation Virginia's transportation issues are a growth issue and Delegate Lee Ware believes we need a state-wide transportation reform plan that addresses both road construction as well as development and growth. Delegate Ware also supports additional rail improvements that help take cars off our roads and enable families to spend more time with one another - not stuck in traffic. As both a county supervisor and now as a legislator, Delegate Ware has worked for comprehensive planning that balances commercial development and residential expansion. He crafted the legislation that enhanced Virginia's conservation easements, leading to the preservation of 220,000 acres—and also of numerous family farms. His bill of the 2009 Session to create "green roof" incentives for environmentally-friendly building was passed into law. And another of his 2009 bills—to enable counties to better preserve Virginia's 3,000 miles of "scenic byways" —was passed by the House of Delegates. As vice chairman of the House committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources, Delegate Ware is a leader on every issue of importance to Virginia’s largest industry, to restoring the Bay, and to the wise use—and also the faithful renewal—of the resources of nature that make Virginia both bountiful and beautiful. His advocacy of wise land use and urban design contributes both to our prosperity and to the attractiveness of the communities in which we live. Taxes and Spending It seems that everyday there is a story about how government spending is increasing and taxpayers are shelling out more money. Delegate Ware supports keeping the rate of growth of governmental taxing and spending in balance with economic conditions in the private sector. Like you, Lee expects government to use fiscal restraint when spending our hard-earned tax dollars, and he believes that providing tax incentives to businesses - not more governmental spending - is the key to spurring economic recovery. |
” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Virginia scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 10 to March 9. Special sessions occurred May 13, 2024; June 18 to July 1; and July 18, 2024.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 11 to February 25.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 12 to March 12.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 13 to February 8.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 12. A special session was held from August 18 to November 9.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 9 through February 24.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 10 through March 10. Special sessions were held from April 11 to May 30 and from August 30 to October 30.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 11 through February 25.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 13 through March 11.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 14 to February 28, 2015.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 8 through March 10.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 9 to February 25.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Virginia General Assembly was in regular session from January 11 to March 10.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ware and his wife, Kathleen, have four children.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 28, 2014
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Candidacy Requirements for the November 7, 2017 General Election," accessed March 21, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 November General Unofficial Results," accessed November 7, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 June Democratic Primary," accessed July 6, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 June Republican Primary," accessed July 6, 2017
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, "2015 Primary election results," accessed September 1, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, "2015 General election candidates," accessed September 1, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, “Official Results - 2013 General Election," accessed December 2, 2013
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "November 2011 General Election Official Results," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Virginia House of Delegates 2009 General Election Results," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Lee Ware, "On the Issues," accessed August 23,2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Schuyler VanValkenburg (D) |
Virginia House of Delegates District 72 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Virginia House of Delegates District 65 1998-2024 |
Succeeded by Joshua Cole (D) |
