Virginia's 1st Congressional District

Virginia's 1st Congressional District

Incumbent

Robert J. Wittman

Assumed office: January 3, 2007

Virginia's 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Robert J. Wittman (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Virginia representatives represented an average of 786,777 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 730,703 residents.

Elections

• 2030
• 2028
• 2026
• 2024
• 2022
• 2020
• 2018

See also: Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2030

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

See also: Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2028

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

See also: Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 1

The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 1 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Robert J. Wittman (R)
		Elizabeth Beggs (D)
		Salaam Bhatti (D)
		Tim Cywinski (D)
		Lisa Khanna (D)
	Submit photo	Jason Knapp (D)
		Ericka Kopp (D)
	Submit photo	Andrew Lucchetti (D)
		Amanda Pohl (D)
	Submit photo	James Shea (D)
		Sean Sublette (D)
		Shannon Taylor (D)
		Melvin Tull (D)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2024

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 1

Incumbent Robert J. Wittman (R) defeated Leslie Mehta (D) in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robert J. Wittman (R)	56.3	269,657
		Leslie Mehta (D)	43.5	208,445
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2%	804

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 478,906
= 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

Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 1

Leslie Mehta (D) defeated Herb Jones (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 1 on June 18, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Leslie Mehta	66.6	15,253
		Herb Jones	33.4	7,653

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 22,906
= 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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Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for June 18, 2024, was canceled. Incumbent Robert J. Wittman (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 1 without appearing on the ballot.

See also: Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 1

Incumbent Robert J. Wittman (R) defeated Herb Jones (D) and David Bruce Foster (Independent) in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 1 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robert J. Wittman (R)	56.0	191,828
		Herb Jones (D)	43.0	147,229
		David Bruce Foster (Independent)	1.0	3,388
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1%	293

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 342,738
= 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Austin Nichols (Independent)

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for June 21, 2022, was canceled. Herb Jones (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 1 without appearing on the ballot.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jessica Anderson (D)
• Jim Gehlsen (D)
• Stewart Navarre (D)

Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for June 21, 2022, was canceled. Incumbent Robert J. Wittman (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 1 without appearing on the ballot.

See also: Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 1

Incumbent Robert J. Wittman (R) defeated Qasim Rashid (D) in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 1 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robert J. Wittman (R)	58.1	260,614
		Qasim Rashid (D)	41.7	186,923
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1%	641

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 448,178
= 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Shawn Ponterio (Independent)

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 1

Qasim Rashid (D) defeated Vangie Williams (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 1 on June 23, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Qasim Rashid	52.5	21,625
		Vangie Williams	47.5	19,545

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 41,170
= 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Thomas Cox (D)
• John Easley (D)
• Kevin Washington (D)

Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for June 23, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent Robert J. Wittman (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 1 without appearing on the ballot.

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 1

Incumbent Robert J. Wittman (R) defeated Vangie Williams (D) in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 1 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robert J. Wittman (R)	55.2	183,250
		Vangie Williams (D)	44.7	148,464
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1%	387

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 332,1010
= 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

Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 1

Vangie Williams (D) defeated Edwin Santana (D) and John Suddarth (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 1 on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Vangie Williams	40.0	11,008
		Edwin Santana	32.9	9,059
		John Suddarth	27.1	7,471

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 27,538
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Ryan Sawyers (D)

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 1

Incumbent Robert J. Wittman (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 1 on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Robert J. Wittman

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.
= 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.

Previous election results

2016

See also: Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Rob Wittman (R) defeated Matt Rowe (D) and Glenda Gail Parker (independent) in the general election on November 8, 2016. No candidate faced an opponent at the party nominating conventions.

U.S. House, Virginia District 1 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Rob Wittman Incumbent	59.9%	230,213
	Democratic	Matt Rowe	36.6%	140,785
	Independent	Glenda Gail Parker	3.3%	12,866
	N/A	Write-in	0.2%	737
Total Votes				384,601
Source: Virginia Department of Elections

2014

See also: Virginia's 1st Congressional District elections, 2014

The 1st Congressional District of Virginia held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Robert J. Wittman defeated Norm Mosher (D) and Independent Green Party candidate Gail Parker in the general election.

U.S. House, Virginia District 1 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Robert J. Wittman Incumbent	62.9%	131,861
	Democratic	Norm Mosher	34.4%	72,059
	Independent Green	Gail Parker	2.4%	5,097
	Independent	Chris Hailey, write-in	0.3%	604
Total Votes				209,621
Source: Virginia Department of Elections

2012

See also: Virginia's 1st Congressional District elections, 2012

The 1st Congressional District of Virginia held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Robert J. Wittman won re-election in the district.

U.S. House, Virginia District 1 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Adam Cook	41.2%	147,036
	Republican	Robert J. Wittman Incumbent	56.3%	200,845
	Independent	Gail Parker	2.3%	8,308
	Write-In	N/A	0.2%	617
Total Votes				356,806
Source: Virginia State Board of Elections "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010
On November 2, 2010, Robert J. Wittman won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Krystal M. Ball (D) and G. Gail "for Rail" Parker (Green) in the general election.

U.S. House, Virginia District 1 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Robert J. Wittman incumbent	63.9%	135,564
	Democratic	Krystal M. Ball	34.8%	73,824
	Green	G. Gail "for Rail" Parker	1.2%	2,544
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	304
Total Votes				212,236

2008
On November 4, 2008, Robert J. Wittman won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Bill S. Day, Jr. (D) and Nathan D. Larson (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, Virginia District 1 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Robert J. Wittman incumbent	56.6%	203,839
	Democratic	Bill S. Day, Jr.	41.8%	150,432
	Libertarian	Nathan D. Larson	1.5%	5,265
	N/A	Write-in	0.2%	756
Total Votes				360,292

2007
On December 11, 2007, Robert J. Wittman won election to the United States House. He defeated Philip Forgit (D) and Lucky Narain (I) in the special election.

U.S. House, Virginia District 1 Special Election, 2007
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Robert J. Wittman	60.8%	42,772
	Democratic	Philip Forgit	37.3%	26,282
	Independent	Lucky Narain	1.8%	1,253
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	75
Total Votes				70,382

2006
On November 7, 2006, Jo Ann Davis won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Shawn M. O'Donnell (D) and Marvin Pixton III (I) in the general election.

U.S. House, Virginia District 1 General Election, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Jo Ann Davis incumbent	63%	143,889
	Democratic	Shawn M. O'Donnell	35.5%	81,083
	Independent	Marvin Pixton III	1.4%	3,236
	N/A	Write-in	0.1%	326
Total Votes				228,534

2004
On November 2, 2004, Jo Ann Davis won re-election to the United States House. She defeated William A. Lee (I) in the general election.

U.S. House, Virginia District 1 General Election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Jo Ann Davis incumbent	78.5%	225,071
	Independent	William A. Lee	20%	57,434
	N/A	Write-in	1.4%	4,029
Total Votes				286,534

2002
On November 5, 2002, Jo Ann Davis won re-election to the United States House. She ran unopposed in the general election.

U.S. House, Virginia District 1 General Election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Jo Ann Davis incumbent	95.9%	113,168
	N/A	Write-in	4.1%	4,829
Total Votes				117,997

2000
On November 7, 2000, Jo Ann Davis won election to the United States House. She defeated Lawrence A. Davies (D), Sharon A. Wood (I) and Josh Billings (I) in the general election.

U.S. House, Virginia District 1 General Election, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Jo Ann Davis	57.5%	151,344
	Democratic	Lawrence A. Davis	37%	97,399
	Independent	Sharon A. Wood	3.7%	9,652
	Independent	Josh Billings	1.6%	4,082
	N/A	Write-in	0.2%	537
Total Votes				263,014

District map

Redistricting

2020-2021

See also: Redistricting in Virginia after the 2020 census

The Virginia Supreme Court unanimously approved congressional maps for the state on December 28, 2021. The Virginia Redistricting Commission released two statewide congressional map proposals on October 14, 2021, and another on October 15, 2021. After the commission missed its deadline for approving map proposals and the Virginia Supreme Court assumed authority over the process, the two special masters selected by the court released proposals for congressional districts on December 8, 2021.

How does redistricting in Virginia work? On November 3, 2020, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment establishing a commission-driven congressional and state legislative redistricting process. The 16-member commission comprises eight legislators and eight non-legislator members. Leaders of the legislature's two largest political parties select legislators to serve on the commission. The commission's eight citizen members are recommended by legislative leaders and selected by a committee of five retired circuit court judges. The commissioners themselves select one of the eight citizens to serve as chairperson.

District maps are subject to the following consensus requirements:

• Congressional maps: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators and six non-legislators.
• Virginia State Senate: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators (with three state senators) and six non-legislators.
• Virginia House of Delegates: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators (with three state delegates) and six non-legislators.

The commission submits its maps to the General Assembly, which can vote to approve the maps or reject them. The General Assembly cannot amend the maps. If the General Assembly rejects a map, the commission must draft a second map. If the General Assembly rejects that map, the Virginia Supreme Court is tasked with enacting a new map.

2020

2024

2010-2011

This is the 1st Congressional District of Virginia after the 2001 redistricting process.

See also: Redistricting in Virginia after the 2010 census

In 2011, the Virginia State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2026

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+3. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 3 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Virginia's 1st the 202nd most Republican district nationally.

2024

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+6. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 6 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Virginia's 1st the 182nd most Republican district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 52.3%-46.2%.

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+6. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 6 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Virginia's 1st the 180th most Republican district nationally.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 46.2% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 52.3%.

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+8. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 8 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Virginia's 1st Congressional District the 162nd most Republican nationally.

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.93. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.93 points toward that party.

See also

• Redistricting in Virginia
• Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2024
• Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2022
• Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2020
• Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2018

External links

• GovTrack District 1

Footnotes

[show]

Virginia's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Tim Kaine (D)

Mark Warner (D)

Representatives

District 1

Rob Wittman (R)

District 2

Jennifer Kiggans (R)

District 3

Bobby Scott (D)

District 4

Jennifer McClellan (D)

District 5

John McGuire (R)

District 6

Benjamin Lee Cline (R)

District 7

Eugene Vindman (D)

District 8

Donald Sternoff Beyer (D)

District 9

H. Morgan Griffith (R)

District 10

Suhas Subramanyam (D)

District 11

James Walkinshaw (D)

Democratic Party (8)

Republican Party (5)