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Virginia's 5th Congressional District election, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 15
- Early voting: N/A
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
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| Virginia's 5th Congressional District |
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| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: March 29, 2018 |
| Primary: June 12, 2018 (Republican primary), May 5, 2018 (Democratic convention) General: November 6, 2018 Pre-election incumbent: Thomas Garrett (Republican) |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Virginia |
| Race ratings |
Inside Elections: Likely Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018 |
| See also |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th Virginia elections, 2018 U.S. Congress elections, 2018 U.S. Senate elections, 2018 U.S. House elections, 2018 |
Businessman Denver Riggleman (R) defeated journalist Leslie Cockburn (D) and write-in candidate John Hargis in the November 6 general election for Virginia's 5th Congressional District seat.
All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. The Democratic Party gained a net total of 40 seats, winning control of the chamber. This race was identified as a 2018 battleground that might have affected partisan control of the U.S. House in the 116th Congress. Heading into the election, the Republican Party was in the majority holding 235 seats to Democrats' 193 seats, with seven vacant seats. Democrats needed to win 23 GOP-held seats in 2018 to win control of the House. From 1918 to 2016, the president’s party lost an average of 29 seats in midterm elections.
Heading into the election the incumbent was Tom Garrett (R), who was first elected in 2016 by a margin of 16 percentage points. Garrett announced on May 28, 2018, that he would not seek re-election in 2018.[1] The district had not elected a Democratic representative since 2008.
For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the Republican primary, click here.
Candidates and election results
General election
Denver Lee Riggleman III defeated Leslie Cockburn in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 5 on November 6, 2018.
General election
General election for U.S. House Virginia District 5
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Denver Lee Riggleman III (R) | 53.2 | 165,339 |
 | Leslie Cockburn (D) | 46.6 | 145,040 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 547 | ||
| Total votes: 310,926 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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- Note: John Hargis ran as a write-in candidate in the general election.
Democratic nominating convention
The 5th Congressional District Democratic Committee held a nominating convention on May 5, 2018. Leslie Cockburn received a majority of the votes to secure the Democratic nomination.[2]
Republican nominating convention
The 5th Congressional District Republican Committee held a nominating convention on June 2, 2018. Denver Riggleman was chosen by the party to compete in the general election.[3]
Candidate profiles
Party: Democratic
Incumbent: No
Political office: None
Biography: Leslie Cockburn earned a B.A. from Yale University in 1974, and earned a Masters from the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies in 1976. In 1976, Cockburn began a career in journalism at NBC News. Her experience also includes covering foreign affairs, producing and directing for CBS News' 60 Minutes, and writing and directing documentary films. In 1998, she became a professor of journalism at Princeton University. Cockburn authored several published books and won Emmy, Women Film Critics Circle, and Columbia Dupont awards, among others, for her work in film.[4]
- Cockburn said she was inspired to run for Congress by the presidency of Donald Trump (R). "I had spent most of my 35 years as a journalist holding politicians accountable..." she wrote, "But now the Trump administration was busy shredding the institutions that permitted dissent. And once the damage was done, it would be hard to repair."[5]
- Cockburn differentiated herself from Riggleman in debates by saying that she would support H.R.5087, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2018, and attempt to ban weapons in the hands of people without firearms training and people with mental illness.[6]
- Cockburn said that she would support H.R. 676, The Expanded and Improved Medicare For All Act, and would work to "preserve the best of the Affordable Care Act."[7]
Party: Republican
Incumbent: No
Political office: None
Biography: Denver Riggleman served in the United States Air Force from 1992 to 1996. Riggleman earned a B.A. in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia in 1998, and in 2000, earned a Masters Certificate in Program Management from Villanova University. In 2007 he co-founded Analyst Warehouse LLC and acted as CEO of the company until 2015. At the time of the 2018 election, Riggleman was a co-owner and co-operator of Silverback Distillery, a business he founded with his wife, Christine, in 2014.[8][9]
- Riggleman cited hurdles his family faced opening the Silverback Distillery when explaining why he chose to run for office. He said that after his years of service in the Air Force, "the government attacked me and my family... I'm running because I had lobbyists and cronies trying to control what we were doing in the 5th district when we built our distillery."
- Riggleman said he would offer a businessman's take on property rights and vigorous support for H.R.1689, the Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2017, which would limit the power of eminent domain for the federal government, state governments, and political subdivisions.[10]
- Riggleman made a distinction between his approach to firearm regulations and Cockburn's, and said, "I’m not going to change anything with the Second Amendment. My job up here is to actually enforce the constitutional rules that we have in place right now."[6]
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
If you are aware of polls conducted in this race, please email us.
Campaign finance
The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie Cockburn | Democratic Party | $3,538,322 | $3,530,910 | $7,411 | As of December 31, 2018 |
| Denver Lee Riggleman III | Republican Party | $1,951,976 | $1,941,099 | $10,877 | As of December 31, 2018 |
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Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2018. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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Satellite spending
Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[11][12][13]
This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.
- Club for Growth made a $350,000 cable and broadcast network ad buy against Cockburn in October 2018.[14]
- The House Freedom Fund spent $78,000 in support of Riggleman through September 2018.[15]
- NextGen Climate Action spent $41,800 on digital advertising in support of Cockburn through September 2018.[15]
- The Republican Jewish Coalition spent $300,000 on a negative ad campaign against Cockburn in October 2018.[16]
- In September 2018, Supporting Electing American Leaders (SEAL) PAC spent $51,000 to support Riggleman's campaign.[17]
Race ratings
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[18]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[19][20][21]
| Race ratings: Virginia's 5th Congressional District election, 2018 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| October 30, 2018 | October 23, 2018 | October 16, 2018 | October 9, 2018 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Likely Republican | Likely Republican | Likely Republican | Likely Republican | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Toss-up | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season. | |||||||||
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+6, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 6 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Virginia's 5th Congressional District the 179th most Republican nationally.[22]
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 0.95. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.95 points toward that party.[23]
Noteworthy endorsements
This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.
| General election endorsements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Endorsement | Cockburn
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Riggleman
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| Political figures | ||
| Former U.S. Sen. John Warner (R-Va.)[24] | ✔ | |
| President Donald Trump (R) | ✔ | |
Click the links below to see endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites.
Campaign advertisements
This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.
Leslie Cockburn
Support
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Oppose
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Denver Riggleman
Support
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Oppose
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Debates and forums
September 28
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September 5
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Noteworthy events
GOP mailers accusing Cockburn of anti-Semitism
Several media outlets reported on a mailer sent by the Republican Party of Virginia to thousands of 5th district residents drawing comparisons between Cockburn's book, Dangerous Liason, and anti-Semitic chants during 2017 demonstrations in Charlottesville.[25] Cockburn's campaign issued a press release quoting seven clergy members objecting to the use of images from Charlotteville on the mailer and endorsing Cockburn.[26]
Riggleman's Bigfoot social media posts
On July 29, 2018, Cockburn tweeted two censored images of Bigfoot originally posted by Riggleman on his Instagram account. She captioned the first image, "My opponent Denver Riggleman, running mate of Corey Stewart, was caught on camera campaigning with a white supremacist. Now he has been exposed as a devotee of Bigfoot erotica. This is not what we need on Capitol Hill."[27]
Riggleman responded the following day that the image was mock cover art for a satirical book about Bigfoot and part of a longstanding joke he had with friends about Bigfoot theories.[28][29]
Campaign themes
Leslie Cockburn
Cockburn’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
HEALTHCARE In Virginia’s 5th district, the proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act will devastate Virginia families. In one clinic alone in Nelson County, The Blue Ridge Medical Center, 20% of families are on Medicaid. 2000 people could lose their healthcare including 1600 children. Medicaid loss means that special needs programs in the district schools may be shut down. Older Virginians in nursing homes could lose their care. Nearly two thirds of all nursing home residents' care is financed by Medicaid. Jobs in the healthcare industry will be slashed. Transportation for Medicaid patients will disappear, a profound loss for people in rural districts without buses, trains or taxis. The Congressional Budget Office reported that the bill Republicans put forward would strip 23 million families of Medicaid. Leslie wants to guard the rights of Virginians and preserve the best of the Affordable Care Act, ensuring that people with pre-existing conditions get care and that those low- income families who can now afford coverage will continue to receive that coverage. Right now, Virginians aged 50-64 can be charged no more than 3 times what a 21 year old would pay. The House bill that our congressman voted for would have allowed insurers to charge the oldest among us 5 times more, a change that the AARP Public Policy Institute says would increase monthly premiums for a Silver Plan by 22%. She will work to ensure that any government subsidy for opiates abuse clinics does not go to fly-by-night private providers who profit from addiction without real treatment, as has recently been exposed in Florida. She thinks it is wrong that Congress gets the “Gold Plan” for its own members while legislating deep cuts for others. She supports “single payer” healthcare, which means Medicare for all. Leslie will add her name to the Expanded and Improved Medicare For All Act (HR 676). She will fight to reduce the extortionate cost of drugs changed by Big Pharma, in some cases a thousand times what it costs to buy the same drug in Canada. She will fight the fraud and waste in the medical industry where a hip part costing a few hundred dollars can be tens of thousands of dollars on a hospital bill. She wants to address the opioid epidemic that is ravaging the 5th District by making the opioid pushers feel the pain. Big Pharma must be held accountable. Several states are suing opioid producers that have profited from the destruction of families and communities. Every day over 90 Americans die from opioid overdoses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that the cost to the country of opioid addiction is 78.5 billion dollars a year. Not only must the drug companies be challenged in the courts and in Congress, insurance companies must be forced to stop the practice of making opioid prescription costs lower than non-addictive pain killers. Treatment in rural counties must be generously funded. THE ENVIRONMENT Rural Virginia is vulnerable to the schemes of large, out-of-state corporations that despoil the land without a stake in the consequences. Fracked-gas pipelines crisscross the district and two more are on the drawing board. High-pressure gas pipelines are a ticking time bomb for the communities they pass through. Explosions and poisonous leaks that foul the waters are all too common. Several counties are in pitched battles at the moment over new pipelines. A report from the Southern Environmental Law Center concludes that the pipelines are completely unnecessary for Virginia’s energy needs. Leslie will ensure that on the federal level, FERC will abide by the law and address the serious concerns of The Fish and Wildlife Service about the pipelines’ effect on over a thousand waterways, forests and scenic mountains that will be scarred with mountain-top removal. She met recently with the two generations of farmers who own the sustainable family farm, Four Corners, in Franklin County. Their highly successful operation has been adding jobs in Franklin and is a much-loved part of the community. The Mountain Valley pipeline, owned by corporations from Florida and Pennsylvania, will tear up their back field. If the pipeline is built, Four Corners Farm will close its doors. The temporary jobs of pipe fitters and excavators cannot replace the sustainable employment of a growing farm and its related businesses. Leslie has traveled the route of the Atlantic Coast pipeline through Nelson County. Profitable new businesses that provide hundreds of jobs will be adversely affected. Cideries, breweries, a ski resort and several wedding venues will have a high-pressure pipeline in their backyard. The pipeline is also slated to go through an area that was washed away in severe flooding last century. Such an event could cause catastrophic damage. In Buckingham County, the historic freedman community of Union Hill is facing the nightmare of a pipeline compressor station that could ravage their neighborhood. Even the Monacan Indian Nation is facing the invasion of one of its most sacred sites by pipeline crews. Land conservation must be supported in Congress. Leslie will back scenic easements to preserve family farms. She will support low taxes for farm use. She will fight to restore streams protection, so that coal ash and the five heavy metals it contains cannot poison out water. Those heavy metals can cause spontaneous abortion and severe developmental problems in children. She will vote to restore the power of the Environmental Protection Agency, under siege by Trump and his allies, to ensure clean air and water for future generations of Virginians. Leslie will support efforts by the League of Conservation Voters to protect our land and the farmers whose livelihoods hang in the balance. The United States is now the only nation on earth not committed to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Yet the US government's own assessment of climate change, the recent Climate Science Special Report, is a forceful indictment of the perils of inaction. According to the report, all US government agencies involved in the assessment have "very high confidence" that the world's oceans are absorbing more than a quarter of the CO2 emissions every year from human activity which is making the oceans more acidic. Scientists are reasonably confident that "the rate of acidification is unparalleled in at least the past 66 million years." The US government report says the current rate of sea level rise "is greater than any preceding century in at least 2800 years." The culprit is "human caused climate change" which has been a major contributor to sea level rise since 1900. Scientists expect sea levels this century to rise as much as eight feet. The consensus is that the world's ice is melting. "The mean thickness of the arctic sea ice during winter between 1980-2008 has decreased between 4.3 and 7.5 feet." We must resume our place at the table as a leader of the Paris Agreement. Otherwise, we are endangering the earth. I support the US Climate Alliance, made up of 14 states including Virginia. This Alliance pledges to advance the objectives of the Paris Agreement with or without the White House. EDUCATION The Trump Department of Education under Betsy Devos wants to spend $250 million dollars on school vouchers. Two new studies cited by Time magazine in June say voucher programs do not improve student performance on standardized tests. Leslie supports strong public education and will fight any initiative that strips funding from public schools. She does not support diverting funds for vouchers. In some Charlottesville charter schools, the teacher turnover is 1.4 years and there is little oversight. Too many 5th district schools are so strapped for funds that they have closed programs for gifted students. They are nervous about losing Medicaid for special needs children. (A cut to Medicaid would mean massive costs to local government.) Their teachers are so underpaid that one educator in Charlottesville recently cited a case of a colleague who had to quit to work as a baby sitter because it was more lucrative. Leslie has met with teachers in Bedford County and Franklin who are barely getting by. Teacher pay must be addressed if schools are to improve. Also, the tyranny of testing since the Bush years is killing innovation in the classroom. These policies should be reviewed at the Congressional level. Otherwise, great programs like the Gereau Center for Applied Technology and Career Exploration in Rocky Mount, where students are exposed to fields like aviation, forensics, architecture and engineering will wither and die. Leslie supports strong pre-K programs and wants to expand pre-K education. Every $1 spent on pre-K saves $7-8 dollars in future intervention. She is a strong supporter of free community college for all Virginians. She will work hard to change the rules on student loans that are turning students, parents and grandparents, into debt slaves. Leslie will fight to reverse the bankruptcy laws inserted into legislation by bank lobbyists, forcing people, in many cases, to takes these debts to the grave. She will fight to reduce interest rates for all student loans. WOMEN Leslie believes it is time for women to be treated as full citizens. They deserve equal pay. It is disturbing that women still receive 20% less pay than men, 80 cents on the dollar. Women of color receive even less. This kind of discrimination is illegal. John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law in 1963. But it must be strengthened and given teeth. Too many women are heads of households and breadwinners. We must not defund the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and must allow the EEOC to collect pay information through the Employer Information Report. Otherwise, we operate in the dark. Leslie supports the Paycheck Fairness Act. Gender wage discrimination has a severe impact on older women. According to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, 22 million older women receive Social Security benefits but receive, on average, $300 a month less than men. Leslie wants to help change that and supports the Eleanor's Hope initiative to promote women's retirement security. She also wants to equalize Social Security rules for disabled widows. Women’s reproductive rights are under threat from the Trump administration and its allies in Congress. The irrational attacks on Planned Parenthood mean cruel and unusual punishment for millions of poor women. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that denying Planned Parenthood federal funding for one year will result in thousands of unwanted pregnancies. It will increase Medicaid spending by 21 million. Under the Affordable Care Act, contraception was provided to poor women for next to nothing. Because of this, as of 2014, abortions declined to a record low. For the first time since 1975, the abortion rate in the US fell to under a million. Publicly funded family planning visits saved state and federal governments over 13 billion dollars a year. Let’s respect a woman’s right to choose. Leslie wants to end Trump’s global gag rule. The rule denies US foreign aid to NGOs that provide sexual and reproductive health services, such as contraception and HIV testing, to women abroad. This is barbaric and should be reversed. The proposed bills to demolish the Affordable Care Act have casually slashed maternity and newborn coverage, now regarded as essential care. This affects at least 9 million women. Whatever the final bill is, Leslie, a mother of three, will work to restore this coverage. THE ECONOMY The 5th district needs jobs. The flight of tobacco and textiles has left a blighted economy in some areas, particularly Southside. However, Leslie believes, from her many interviews in the region, that the obvious solution is new energy. The skills required to install and maintain solar and geothermal energy are already present in every county. If you can dig a well, repair a metal roof, mend a board fence and bushhog a field, you can easily learn to work with solar panels and geothermal pipes. Training is already available in Franklin County at the CEEB center in Rocky Mount. This program needs to be refocused for adults, enhanced and extended to every county. Leslie will work to secure federal funding for this program. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, there are now 4 million new energy jobs in the United States. Solar jobs are growing at a rate 12 times faster than the rest of the US economy. Virginia deserves some of those jobs. The other clear path to jobs creation is the model of Nelson County. The natural expansion of the tourist and leisure industry from one resort to a myriad of businesses can be duplicated elsewhere. Also, farmers can grow crops to meet the needs of local business. Breweries want local hops and malting barley, very profitable crops. In order to bolster farming in the district, Leslie wants to make sure the massive cuts to the Farm Bill proposed by President Trump, upwards of 250 billion dollars, do not go through. The Trump plan slashes 29 billion for crop insurance. We need to increase crop insurance, not cut it. She will look closely at the farm bill with local farmers to see where it can be better tailored to the needs of the district. 5th District farmers want more funding for conservation. Leslie also wants to make better compost available to farmers so they do not have to rely on industrial waste. There are three missing pieces for a sound economy in the 5th district. One is the shameful minimum wage, a dollar fifty less than West Virginia. Two is transportation. In the Southside counties, there is woefully little access to public buses. In Bedford County, there is no train stop. For a thriving economy, Leslie believes, the district needs better transport. Three is broadband. Without broadband, rural Virginians are shut out of the modern economy. The broadband issue has a long and checkered history. What we need to secure is federal funding that has flowed to other states. Virginia needs to be next in line. Virginia also needs to lure companies like Microsoft, that want to be part of a rural broadband renaissance. Microsoft’s data center is already in the district and the company is thus a natural partner for the 5th. CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM Virginia schools refer more students to law enforcement in the “school-to-prison-pipeline” than any other state. Although not all of those students go to court, the trend of turning to police rather than just a visit to the principal’s office is a disturbing trend. According to a recent report by Virginia Tech, African-American students make up 23 percent of the student population in Virginia and 49 percent of the referrals to juvenile court. Many states, from Texas to New York, have adopted criminal justice reforms that reduce unnecessary incarceration and keep families and communities safe and intact. Virginia and the federal government lag far behind. Leslie will work with legislators to promote smart, safe reforms at the federal level such as rewarding states that stop jailing people too poor to pay bail and limiting the government’s ability to take property away without a conviction through asset forfeiture reform. She will also investigate solutions to support healthy options for opioid addiction, preventing children from entering the criminal justice system maze and ensuring that people are not unfairly prosecuted. It is wrong for poverty and race to play such a significant role in determining who gets a conviction. Leslie wants to help America invest in the future –in good schools, clean water and air and an economy that works for everyone-not in spending billions to incarcerate. FOREIGN POLICY BREAKING NEWS! Leslie was endorsed by JStreetPAC, which organizes and mobilizes pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans who want Israel to be secure, democratic and the national home of the Jewish people. Working in American politics and the Jewish community, J Street advocates for policies that advance shared US and Israeli interests as well as Jewish and democratic values, leading to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For more information about J Street and JStreePAC visit https://jstreet.org.
Virginia’s 5th District The 5th District of Virginia stretches from Fauquier County in the north to Danville and the North Carolina border in the south. It covers 10,000 square miles, an area larger than New Jersey. There are 21 rural counties in the 5th, with the City of Charlottesville at its heart. The Cook Political Report has labeled it a “lean Republican” district, and Swing Left calls it a swing district. The Republican incumbent, Congressman Tom Garrett, has announced he will not run for reelection. The replacement candidate, Denver Riggleman, a whiskey distiller handpicked in June by the local Republican party, has vowed to join the Freedom Caucus. Charlottesville was the scene of the white supremacist rally last August that traumatized the city and, in particular, the Jewish community. Neo-Nazis, the KKK, and others gathered by torchlight on the campus of the University of Virginia and chanted “Jews will not replace us." The following day, the congregation of a local synagogue was alarmed to find armed men outside shouting “sieg heil." The events demonstrated the danger of a resurgence of anti-Semitism in the age of Trump. (Congressman Garrett had been photographed in his office with the organizer of the rally, Jason Kessler.) The fact that hate groups on the right felt emboldened by the Administration to demonstrate openly, some of them heavily armed, underscores the need to support the Jewish community and to respect that community’s profound attachment to Israel. The U.S.-Israeli Relationship Israel was founded as a refuge for Jews who were the victims of genocide during the Holocaust, as well as Jews facing persecution in other countries. The special relationship between the United States and Israel goes far beyond the deep emotional ties shared by the two countries. It dates back to the vision of Reuven Shiloah, Ben-Gurion’s brilliant Chief Advisor on Intelligence and the first Director of the Mossad. It was Shiloah who, in 1951, made the key recommendation that Israel should build a strategic military alliance with the U.S. He forged the first connections to American intelligence, a bond that has weathered foreign policy shifts over the years and remains steadfast today. The intelligence agencies and military establishments of both countries are profoundly intertwined. As a member of Congress, I will respect that relationship and do everything in my power to encourage its most productive and creative use to promote peace in the region and a two-state solution. Israeli Security The United States Congress is committed to supporting Israel’s security both militarily and financially. As a member of Congress, I will stand by that commitment. From the early days of helping Israel to build its now highly-advanced weapons systems, to the years of supplying the Israeli Air Force with state-of-the-art fighters and our current efforts to combat terrorism, the U.S. has been there, overtly and covertly, for Israel. At the same time, Israel has also been staunchly committed to the U.S., offering its services in the Middle East and around the world. Security, of course, cannot be maintained with guns alone. During the First Gulf War, I stood on a balcony in Tel Aviv (not in a sealed room) watching the Scud missiles raining down on the city while Patriot battery commanders did their utmost to intercept them. In a Middle East gorged with sophisticated weapons, we must encourage diplomacy. As a member of Congress, I will do what I can to help facilitate a dialogue with Israel and its neighbors. I believe there are untapped resources to further peace. In other intractable conflicts, economic incentives have offered the means to reimagine relationships. In the meantime, U.S. funding for the Palestinian Authority is essential for building the foundation that can lead to negotiations. The Two State Solution I believe the U.S has a critical role to play in encouraging Israel and the Palestinians to cease hostilities and find a two-state solution. As a member of Congress, I would support American engagement in such negotiations and vote for American financial support to guarantee secure borders and a workable agreement for peace. I would urge the implementation of a settlement freeze, as the expansion of settlements is the single greatest threat to the two-state solution. Checkpoints and settler-only roads have eroded Palestinian confidence that negotiations are even possible. A majority of Israelis oppose settlement expansion. Countless Israeli leaders have come to the conclusion that a two-state solution is the only way forward to guarantee the security of Israel, the future of the state and peace with its neighbors. A peace deal would have very positive repercussions for all American relationships in the Middle East and would significantly restore the leadership role of the U.S. abroad. Iran The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which the Trump Administration has now abandoned, will have my full support in Congress if there is an opportunity to restore it. It unquestionably enhanced the security of both Israel and the United States. In exchange for the dramatic reduction of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, the agreement lifted some of the heavy sanctions imposed on Iran. The Iranians fully complied with their obligations and reduced their stock of enriched uranium to 300 kilograms, less than a third of what is needed to build a nuclear weapon. They reduced the number of centrifuges and put their plutonium production reactor out of service. International inspections of their facilities have been both highly intrusive and broad. The International Atomic Energy Agency certified several times that Iran had fulfilled its obligations. Carmi Gillon, former head of Israel’s General Security Service, the Shin Bet, wrote in Foreign Policy last July that “the threat of an Iranian nuclear weapon is more remote than it has been in decades. Thanks to the agreement, Iran’s nuclear program has been defanged and all its pathways to a bomb blocked.” He praised the JCPOA for having removed the need to plan for potential military operations that “might have triggered a major escalation and cost many lives.” Gillon added that the major world powers “came together to ensure-without a single shot being fired-that Iran dismantled key nuclear infrastructure and submitted itself to thorough monitoring and inspection.” Once in Congress, I will encourage all members to restore this successful multilateral agreement. Foreign Aid Foreign aid to Israel is a pillar of U.S. foreign policy. I support both U.S. foreign aid to Israel and U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority. I also believe in open discussion of areas of disagreement such as settlement expansion in violation of existing agreements. I do not support U.S. foreign aid being used for settlement expansion. Our aid should be used to support a strong, democratic Israel with shared values: freedom of expression, respect for human rights, gender rights and rule of law. Israeli institutions that promote democratic values should be supported generously by Congress. As a member of Congress I would urge our continued support of the United Nations as our funding guarantees influence and the airing of American views that could otherwise be ignored or dismissed. Trump’s threat to withdraw U.S. aid from countries as punishment for their stand against the recent move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem diminishes U.S. influence rather than enhancing it. Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital without a two-state solution is divisive and, as generations of statesmen have understood, will lead to violence. The U.S. must also restore funding to the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza must be addressed urgently. The U.S. should play a role in easing the blockade and rebuilding the economy of Gaza with its nearly 2 million inhabitants. |
” |
| —Leslie Cockburn’s campaign website (2018)[31] | ||
Denver Riggleman
Riggleman’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Denver Riggleman is a native Virginian, veteran, conservative, and proven businessman who brings business knowledge and experience to Washington. Denver is a family man first, not a politician, and is dedicated to supporting legislation that helps the average American. With a commitment to cutting federal regulations, making the Republican tax cuts permanent and safeguarding American interests overseas, Denver will bring common sense back to Washington. Denver believes that government intrusion, bureaucratic mismanagement and crippling over-regulation are the biggest threats to achieving the American Dream. In Congress, Denver will be a steadfast conservative who will focus on a pro-business agenda, while working tirelessly for a federal government that is more efficient, less intrusive, and accountable to its citizens. Read more about the issues below: Taxes A Businessman’s take on Taxes As a 5th District business owner, Denver felt the positive impact of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” and used these savings to create additional services and manufacturing jobs in the district. Many provisions of tax reform go into full effect for the first time in 2019, but some cuts have already helped his family expand its business into different markets. As great as these cuts have been for job growth, Denver knows there is more work to do. Tax cuts for individuals must remain permanent so that families can keep their hard-earned wages. Denver will fight to make sure tax cuts remain permanent so that all 5th District businesses have the security and stability to grow. When elected, Denver will vote for permanent tax cuts and continue to fight for tax reform.
Government Regulation, Transparency & Accountability A Businessman’s take on Government Regulation, Transparency & Accountability Denver has decades of experience in the private sector and understands what it takes to start and maintain a successful business in Virginia. As the former CEO of a federal contracting company and the Co-Founder of a robust family business here in Nelson County (Silverback Distillery), Denver fought against weaponized regulations crafted by lobbyists and government bureaucrats. These regulations threaten entrepreneurs, agricultural interests, and district employees and create insurmountable fixed costs for many businesses. When Denver built his manufacturing facility, he encountered numerous unnecessary local, state, and federal regulations. The fight against these hurdles put in place by government and corporate bullies compelled Denver to run for public office. He knows that the best economy is one that allows businesses to grow and thrive with little or no government interference. By cutting federal regulations, Denver will fight corporate and government interests that try to pick winners and losers. Denver will the cut red tape limiting 5th District industry. He will ensure that the 5th District thrives through access to free markets, fair competition, and labor. When the President said he was going to “Drain The Swamp,” Denver knew exactly what he was referring to. For too long, lobbyists have worked behind closed doors to craft new regulations and new laws that favor large corporate donors at the expense of free market competition, limited government, and your independence. In return, these lobbyists receive billions, the politicians receive donations and special treatment, and the Government continues to grow at your expense. Denver will bring transparency to the halls of Congress and limit the size and scope of the system along the way. By design, our Government should work for us. Denver supports auditing every federal department, including the Department of Defense, so that we can get to the bottom of just how our money is being spent.
Property Rights A Businessman’s take on Property Rights Denver will protect your private property rights and offers vigorous support for the “Private Property Rights Protection Act”. He will fight to end the use of Eminent Domain for private use and should seizure of property occur, the property owner must receive fair compensation. Denver’s own battle against property condemnation gives him a unique perspective on Eminent Domain abuse in the 5th District. He believes we can support a growing, independent infrastructure while ensuring property rights remain our priority, not an inconvenient luxury. Denver is a critical infrastructure expert in the Department of Defense and believes infrastructure can be effectively managed without private corporate interests manipulating the government’s power of eminent domain against property owners.
The Deficit A Businessman’s take on the Deficit Like most Americans, Denver and his wife Christine must keep a balanced checkbook every month. Shouldn’t the same standard apply to the federal government? Denver hates the wasteful over-spending that corrupts Washington D.C. The responsibility to live within our means has been long forgotten by politicians. Denver vows to cut redundant programs, eliminate wasteful spending, end corporate subsidies and implement aggressive financial audits. He knows fraud, waste, and abuse exist in every federal department and that both political parties are at fault. The 2018 omnibus bill is a prime example of over-spending and detrimental deal making. Not only did it contradict every fiscal conservative principle that Republicans should stand for, it put the long-term benefits of tax reform at risk by increasing the deficit. Denver pledges to install cuts and sensible reform across the board and believes that no department or agency can be free from scrutiny.
National Defense A Veteran’s take on National Defense Denver is a decorated Air Force Intelligence Officer and Chief Executive Officer of one former company and a current defense contracting company. He understands the needs of the American Military and the existential threats that face America daily. The world is a dangerous place. Denver’s experience with kinetic and non-kinetic mission planning, limited warfare and non-traditional threat analysis uniquely position him to be an United States Congressman. His current experience with the Office of the Secretary of Defense managing electronic warfare and cyber programs allows him to understand and operationalize policy related to not only strategic geopolitical objectives but also to understand the practical application of systems related to phased and unconventional warfare.
Defending Israel A Veteran’s take on Israel In 1996, Denver was deployed to Tel Aviv for a Presidential support mission. Due to his experience during this time, Denver understands the importance of the close relationship between the sovereign state of Israel and the United States. Israel is America’s premier ally in the Middle East. Since its creation in 1948, the Jewish state has been a symbol of stability in the region. For this reason, it is essential that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge to provide stability and safety in the region. It is vital that the United States continues to play a pivotal role in maintaining this edge by providing weapons of war, technological teaming and information sharing to assist Israel in keeping its citizens safe. With Denver’s Intelligence experience, he understands that Iran continues to be one of the largest perpetrators of state-sponsored terrorism, not only in the Middle East but around the world. The influence they have built is far-reaching; from the funding of Hamas and Hezbollah to providing armaments to the brutal Assad regime in Syria. Denver applauds President Trump’s recent decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem and the administration’s support of Israel.
Immigration A Veteran and Businessman’s take on Immigration A. Ending Visa Overstays & Reforming Our Visa System In A Roaring Economy Visa overstays account for an overwhelming amount of the growing illegal immigrant population. Reforming our visa system so that responsible, legal, and monitored labor can meet growing demands in emerging technologies, manufacturing, and agricultural economy are a priority. Denver supports a mandatory E-Verify system that requires employers to confirm the visa or citizenship status of their employees. Republican policies have created a robust job market with more new jobs than Americans to fill them. The increase of agricultural jobs here in the 5th District will need more migrant workers. Advances in our technology and manufacturing sectors will demand more workers beyond what is available in the current job market. To fill these vacancies, many companies are looking for foreign workers. Denver supports a mandatory E-Verify program, migrant visa reform, and the introduction of the H2C visa program so businesses can meet their new labor demands while eliminating the incentive for illegal immigration. B. Secure the Border With An “All of the Above” Strategy A nation is only as sovereign as its borders are secure. With all the resources that we have dedicated to military conflict overseas, it is time for the United States to reduce that spending and increase security where it matters most—our own points of entry. Denver believes that one fix is to reallocate funds cut from a wasteful Pentagon budget to our Southern Border and U.S. ports. Our failure to secure the border incentivizes a humanitarian crisis of mass illegal immigration and has led to human trafficking, kidnapping, drug trafficking and threats to the homeland. It is well past time to build physical and technological barriers, including a wall where it is conducive. Denver’s extensive experience with attended and unattended sensors (land-based and airborne) and decades of analytical experience in disciplines related to interagency identification capabilities and data aggregation allows him to understand how cooperative strategies can bolster border defense and can assist with expediting immigrant identification. Denver fully embraces an “all-of-the-above” strategy to securing our border.
Education A Businessman’s take on Education But for the preservation of civil liberties, Denver believes the Federal Government has little to no reason to be in your child’s education. He is committed to returning resources and oversight back to parents, localities, and states. He thinks it is asinine that we have forced a “one-size fits all” model of testing on our public-school system. Rather than continuing to determine a child’s education simply by which zip code they live in, Denver believes the Federal Government should give states, localities, and parents the flexibility they need to allow for innovative methods of funding and school placement. Unlike our current system, Denver’s vision for education would allow everyone to have options, not just those who can afford them. As a veteran and businessman, Denver realizes that not every high school or college degree is created equally. Some students leave school with little to no practical training in a myriad of skills, yet they’re convinced that a four-year college degree is the only path for a strong career. Denver has seen first-hand how a new world of writing code and working in cyber security can result in immediate job placement and high wages. Other skills such as advanced manufacturing, HVAC, welding, plumbing, masonry, and electrical work have similar and constant demand. Denver is focused on reforming the way our federal government restricts the market’s influence on curriculum and accreditation. He wants to alleviate limitations on our vocational schools, community colleges, the Jobs Corps, and regional training programs so local businesses can have a part to play in how we develop an in-demand workforce. Finally, Denver is a proud graduate from the University of Virginia and believes the 5th District has some of the best institutions of higher education in the Nation. Nevertheless, he knows higher education has become a shell of what it once was, and it has become the source of more problems than ever before. Whether it is our nation’s overwhelming $1.5 trillion in student debt or the threats against speech and diversity of thought, Higher Ed has institutional flaws that put our future and economy at risk. Denver is committed to addressing these issues, along with the rising costs of college and the burdens of already-encumbered debt.
Healthcare A Businessman’s take on Healthcare The Affordable Care Act is an inherently flawed system meant to address the very real problem of access and cost of healthcare in the United States. Unfortunately, government intervention has led to perverse results, not the least of which are skyrocketing costs of premiums and deductibles for families. The 5th District is home to the costliest health insurance in the nation. Denver pledges to change the way we view the system so that we can return to the market we desperately need. A. Repeal the ACA, Reform Health Savings Accounts, Provide Flexibility For Medicaid When politicians passed Obamacare, they focused on “coverage” but failed to realize that means nothing when even the cheapest of deductibles are too expensive for families to afford. Denver wants a system where we can save our own untaxed earnings for health-related costs rather than a system that creates dependence on the last remaining insurance company or Government. A stronger market for health savings accounts can eliminate the high-premium/high-deductible world we have today. As a businessman, Denver thinks our system isn’t flexible enough. He will work to expand the amount of savings you can dedicate to your healthcare, the care of your family members, and the care of those with preexisting conditions. He knows market forces can fix our financing and healthcare needs much more efficiently than the Federal Government. A consumer-driven model that encourages personal savings and allows for deductible transfers to those with preexisting conditions can keep our costs in check, allow for innovation, and eliminate burdensome and costly regulation along the way. When it comes to Medicaid, Denver knows that those without the means to pay for preventative medicine, costly procedures, or expensive pharmaceuticals are oftentimes at risk of becoming increasingly ill. Lack of access will result in higher costs on the system. Denver believes consumer-driven models can provide access to care for patients while encouraging them to be better stewards of funds spent on their needs. He will fight to reform our Medicaid system so States have the flexibility to enact these models and implement other conditions if they so choose. He believes even the smallest amount of “skin in the game” can influence everyone to be more prudent when making healthcare decisions and can reduce the fiscal strain on our system along the way. Ultimately, the Government is not equipped, transparent, or competent enough to manage something as important as your healthcare. We cannot continue down a road where your health increasingly rests in a politician’s hands; there’s too much at stake. B. Eliminate Healthcare Deserts – Residency Expansion Most Americans don’t realize that the Federal Government effectively limits the number of students that become doctors every year, primarily because of its funding of medical residencies through Medicare. Denver thinks the current limitations are ridiculous, especially when portions of the 5th District lack the number of physicians we need. Not only does it reduce our supply of doctors, it drives up the demand and costs in areas that need them most. Denver believes we must eliminate the cap on medical residencies and prioritize the allocation of funds to “doctor deserts”—those areas that need them the most. By eliminating the cap and allowing entities such as hospitals, universities, physician-owned practices, and insurance companies to fund residencies in the areas with less demand, our healthcare system can start to return to the free market we desperately need. [30] |
” |
| —Denver Riggleman’s campaign website (2018)[32] | ||
Social media
Twitter accounts
Tweets by Leslie Cockburn Tweets by Denver Riggleman
Facebook accounts
Click the icons below to visit the candidates' Facebook pages.
Leslie Cockburn 
Denver Riggleman
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Five of 133 Virginia counties—3.8 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Buckingham County, Virginia | 11.28% | 2.43% | 0.87% | ||||
| Caroline County, Virginia | 5.02% | 8.24% | 11.97% | ||||
| Essex County, Virginia | 2.14% | 7.30% | 10.35% | ||||
| Nelson County, Virginia | 5.59% | 2.72% | 9.15% | ||||
| Westmoreland County, Virginia | 7.14% | 6.95% | 10.24% | ||||
Note: Although it is highlighted in the map above, the city of Chesapeake is not considered a county and not included in our calculations as such.
In the 2016 presidential election, Virginia was a battleground state. Hillary Clinton (D) won Virginia with 49.7 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 44.4 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Virginia voted Democratic 56.67 percent of the time and Republican 43.33 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Virginia voted Democratic three times (2008, 2012, and 2016) and Republican two times (2000 and 2004).
District history
2016
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Tom Garrett (R) defeated Jane Dittmar (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Garrett defeated Jim McKelvey, Michael Del Rosso, and Joe Whited at the Republican convention on May 14, 2016.[33][34]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Tom Garrett |
58.2% | 207,758 | |
| Democratic | Jane Dittmar | 41.6% | 148,339 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.2% | 659 | |
| Total Votes | 356,756 | |||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections | ||||
2014
Incumbent Robert Hurt won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. He defeated Lawrence Gaughan (D), Libertarian Paul Jones and Green Party candidate Kenneth Hildebrandt in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert Hurt Incumbent |
60.9% | 124,735 | |
| Democratic | Lawrence Gaughan | 35.9% | 73,482 | |
| Libertarian | Paul Jones | 2.1% | 4,298 | |
| Green | Kenneth Hildebrandt | 1.1% | 2,209 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.1% | 221 | |
| Total Votes | 204,945 | |||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections | ||||
State overview
Partisan control
This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Virginia heading into the 2018 elections.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2016 elections, Democrats held both U.S. Senate seats in Virginia.
- Republicans held seven of 11 U.S. House seats in Virginia.
State executives
- As of May 2018, Democrats held four of 12 state executive positions and the remaining positions were officially nonpartisan.
- The governor of Virginia was Democrat Ralph Northam. The state held elections for governor and lieutenant governor in 2021.
State legislature
- Republicans controlled both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly. They had a 50-49 majority in the state House and a 21-19 majority in the state Senate.
Trifecta status
- Virginia was under divided government, meaning that the two parties shared control of the state government. Ralph Northam (D) served as governor, while Republicans controlled the state legislature.
2018 elections
- See also: Virginia elections, 2018
Virginia held elections for the following positions in 2018:
- One U.S. Senate seat
- 11 U.S. House seats
- One state House seat
- Municipal elections in Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach
Demographics
| Demographic data for Virginia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 8,367,587 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 39,490 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 69% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 19.2% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 6% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 3.2% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 8.6% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 88.3% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 36.3% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $65,015 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 13% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Virginia. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
As of July 2016, Virginia's three largest cities were Virginia Beach (pop. est. 450,435), Norfolk (pop. est. 244,703), and Chesapeake (pop. est. 240,397).[35][36]
State election history
This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Virginia from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Virginia State Board of Elections.
Historical elections
Presidential elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Virginia every year from 2000 to 2016.
| Election results (President of the United States), Virginia 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton |
49.7% | Donald Trump |
44.4% | 5.3% |
| 2012 | Barack Obama |
51.1% | Mitt Romney |
47.2% | 3.9% |
| 2008 | Barack Obama |
52.6% | John McCain |
46.3% | 6.3% |
| 2004 | George W. Bush |
53.7% | John Kerry |
45.5% | 8.2% |
| 2000 | George W. Bush |
52.5% | Al Gore |
44.4% | 12.0% |
U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Virginia from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.
| Election results (U.S. Senator), Virginia 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2014 | Mark Warner |
49.1% | Ed Gillespie |
48.3% | 0.8% |
| 2012 | Tim Kaine |
52.8% | George Allen |
46.9% | 5.9% |
| 2008 | Mark Warner |
65.0% | Jim Gilmore |
33.7% | 31.3% |
| 2006 | Jim Webb (Virginia) |
49.6% | George Allen |
49.2% | 0.4% |
| 2002 | John Warner |
82.6% |  Nancy B. Spannaus (Independent) |
9.7% | 72.9% |
| 2000 | George Allen |
52.3% | Chuck Robb |
47.7% | 4.6% |
Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Virginia.
| Election results (Governor), Virginia 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2017 | Ralph Northam |
53.9% | Ed Gillespie |
45.0% | 8.9% |
| 2013 | Terry McAuliffe |
47.8% | Ken Cuccinelli |
45.2% | 2.6% |
| 2009 | Bob McDonnell |
58.6% | Creigh Deeds |
41.3% | 17.3% |
| 2005 | Tim Kaine |
51.7% | Jerry Kilgore |
46.0% | 5.7% |
| 2001 | Mark Warner |
52.2% | Mark Earley |
47.0% | 5.2% |
Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Virginia in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.
| Congressional delegation, Virginia 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Republicans | Republicans (%) | Democrats | Democrats (%) | Balance of power |
| 2016 | 7 |
63.6% | 4 |
36.4% | R+3 |
| 2014 | 8 |
72.7% | 3 |
27.3% | R+5 |
| 2012 | 8 |
72.7% | 3 |
27.3% | R+5 |
| 2010 | 8 |
72.7% | 3 |
27.3% | R+5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
45.4% | 6 |
54.5% | D+1 |
| 2006 | 8 |
72.7% | 3 |
27.3% | R+5 |
| 2004 | 8 |
72.7% | 3 |
27.3% | R+5 |
| 2002 | 8 |
72.7% | 3 |
27.3% | R+5 |
| 2000 | 7 |
50.0% | 3 |
50.0% | R+4 |
Trifectas, 1992-2017
A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.
Virginia Party Control: 1992-2025
Four years of Democratic trifectas • Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | S | S | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | S | S | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | D | D |
See also
- Virginia's 5th Congressional District election (May 5, 2018 Democratic primary)
- Virginia's 5th Congressional District election (June 12, 2018 Republican primary)
- United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2018
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2018
Footnotes
- ↑ POLITICO, "Garrett to quit Congress amid servant scandal, alcoholism," May 28, 2018
- ↑ The Roanoke Times, "Cockburn receives 5th District Democratic nomination," May 5, 2018
- ↑ The Washington Post, "GOP picks Denver Riggleman to replace Rep. Tom Garrett as nominee in Virginia’s 5th District," June 2, 2018
- ↑ Smithsonian Conservation Commons, "Leslie Cockburn," accessed October 1, 2018
- ↑ Vanity Fair, "'THANK YOU, MR. TRUMP': HOW THE PRESIDENT DROVE ME TO RUN FOR CONGRESS," April 10, 2018
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Cavalier Daily, "Cockburn, Riggleman tangle over education issues, healthcare in debate at U.Va." October 1, 2018
- ↑ Leslie Cockburn for Congress, "Priorities," accessed October 1, 2018
- ↑ VoteSmart, "Denver Riggleman," accessed October 1, 2018
- ↑ Silverback Distillery, "Our Troop," accessed October 1, 2018
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs nameddenverissues - ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
- ↑ Club for Growth, "Club for Growth Action Unveils New Ad in VA-05 Race," October 30, 2018
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 ProPublica, "Virginia’s 5th District House Race - 2018 cycle," accessed October 1, 2018]
- ↑ Twitter, "Ben Kamisar," October 14, 2018
- ↑ ProPublica, "Seal PAC Supporting Electing American Leaders PAC Independent Expenditures - 2018 cycle," accessed October 1, 2018
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ Fauquier Times, "Former Sen. John Warner, longtime dean of Virginia's GOP, says he supports Cockburn," October 31, 2018
- ↑ Washington Post, "GOP tries to tie Charlottesville protest images to Democrat in Va. congressional race," August 27, 2018
- ↑ Leslie Cockburn for Congress, "Press Releases," August 26, 2018
- ↑ Twitter, "Leslie Cockburn," July 29, 2018
- ↑ CBS News, "'Bigfoot erotica' becoming issue in pivotal congressional race," July 30, 2018
- ↑ YouTube, "#BigFoot EXCLUSIVE: GOP candidate Denver Riggleman addresses ‘scandal,'" July 30, 2018
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Leslie Cockburn for Congress, “Priorities,” accessed October 1, 2018
- ↑ Denver Riggleman for Congress, “Issues,” accessed October 1, 2018
- ↑ Richmond Times-Dispatch, "Garrett wins GOP nomination in 5th Congressional District," May 14, 2016
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "List of Candidates," accessed September 8, 2016
- ↑ Virginia Demographics, "Virginia Cities by Population," accessed September 3, 2018
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Quickfacts Virginia," accessed September 3, 2018
