# Chris Head (politician)

Christopher T. Head (born January 13, 1963) is an American politician. A Republican, he currently serves in the Senate of Virginia, representing the 3rd district which includes all of Alleghany County, Botetourt County, Craig County, Rockbridge County, Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro, and parts of Augusta County and Roanoke County. He previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2012-2024, representing the 17th district, made up parts of Botetourt and Roanoke counties and the city of Roanoke, in the western part of the state.

## Early life, education, business career

Chris Head grew up in Commerce, Georgia. He received a BMus degree from the University of Georgia in 1985. Shortly after he moved to Virginia, where he was a small business owner. In 2001, Chris and his wife, Besty, co-founded their first franchise of Home Instead Senior Care, an in-home health care service business. They have three children. He is a deacon at his church, Bonsack Baptist, and sings in the choir. He is a member of multiple civic and philanthropic organizations in the Roanoke Valley and in 2009 was awarded the Roanoke Regional Small Business of the Year.

## Political career

When William Fralin retired in 2009 from his 17th House of Delegate seat, Head ran for the Republican nomination. He finished second in a five-way primary to William Cleaveland.
Cleaveland chose not to run for a second term in 2011, and Head was nominated to replace him. Head defeated Democratic candidate Freeda S. Cathcart in the general election, 11,852-6,207.
In the House, Head most recently served as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Health, Welfare, and Institutions, as well as on the House Committee on Commerce and Labor, the House Committee on Privileges and Elections, and the House Committee on Rules. He previously served on the House Committee on Appropriations, House Committee on Finance, and the House Committee on Military, Police, & Public Safety. He also serves on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which reviews regulations of the executive branch. He is also the founder and chairman of the Business Development Caucus in the House of Delegates. He previously served as Co-Chair of the Virginia Small Business Commission.
Following redistricting, Head sought election to the Virginia Senate in 2023. Head secured the Republican nomination uncontested and later defeated Democratic candidate Jade Harris in the general election (65.88% to 33.99%). He currently serves on the Senate Committee on Education & Health, the Senate Committee on General Laws & Technology, and the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation & Social Services.

## Electoral history

| Date | Election | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| Virginia House of Delegates, 17th district ||||||
| Jun 9, 2009 | Republican primary | Bill H. Cleaveland | Bill H. Cleaveland | 893 | 28.04 |
| Jun 9, 2009 | Republican primary | Christopher T. Head | Christopher T. Head | 769 | 24.15 |
| Jun 9, 2009 | Republican primary | Michael A. "Mike" Wray | Michael A. "Mike" Wray | 613 | 19.25 |
| Jun 9, 2009 | Republican primary | Josh C. Johnson | Josh C. Johnson | 549 | 17.24 |
| Jun 9, 2009 | Republican primary | Melvin E. Williams | Melvin E. Williams | 360 | 11.30 |
| Nov 8, 2011 | General | Christopher T. Head | Republican | 11,852 | 65.46 |
| Nov 8, 2011 | General | Freeda L. Cathcart | Democratic | 6,207 | 34.28 |
| Nov 8, 2011 | General | Write-ins | Write-ins | 44 | 0.24 |
| William Cleaveland retired; seat stayed Republican ||||
| Nov 5, 2013 | General | Christopher T. Head Incumbent | Republican | 15,222 | 62 |
| Nov 5, 2013 | General | Freeda L. Cathcart | Democratic | 9,262 | 37.7 |
| Nov 5, 2013 | General | Write-ins | Write-ins | 68 | 0.3 |
| Jun 9, 2015 | Republican Primary | Christopher T. Head Incumbent | Christopher T. Head Incumbent | 1,284 | 57.7 |
| Jun 9, 2015 | Republican Primary | Harry Griego | Harry Griego | 1,152 | 47.3 |
| Nov 3, 2015 | General | Christopher T. Head Incumbent | Republican | 15,091 | 96.5 |
| Nov 3, 2015 | General | All others | All others | 540 | 3.5 |
| Nov 7, 2017 | General | Christopher T. Head Incumbent | Republican | 15,997 | 60.6 |
| Nov 7, 2017 | General | Djuna Osborne | Democratic | 10,378 | 39.3 |
| Nov 7, 2017 | General | All others | All others | 39 | 0.1 |
| Nov 5, 2019 | General | Christopher T. Head Incumbent | Republican | 15,288 | 93.5 |
| Nov 5, 2019 | General | All others | All others | 1,058 | 6.5 |
| Nov 2, 2021 | General | Christopher T. Head Incumbent | Republican | 26,102 | 92.8 |
| Nov 2, 2021 | General | All others | All others | 2,011 | 7.2 |
| Senate of Virginia, 3rd district ||||||
| Nov 7, 2023 | General | Christopher T. Head | Republican | 41,381 | 65.88 |
| Nov 7, 2023 | General | Jade D. Harris | Democratic | 21,353 | 33.99 |
| Nov 7, 2023 | General | All others/Write-In | All others/Write-In | 83 | 0.13 |