# Virginia's 3rd congressional district

Virginia's third congressional district is a United States congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia, serving the independent cities of Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton and Portsmouth and part of the independent city of Chesapeake. The district is represented by Democrat Bobby Scott. VA-03 is majority-minority, has a plurality black electorate, and is heavily Democratic.
In 1788, Virginia's 3rd congressional district consisted of all of modern Virginia including and west of the counties of Carroll, Floyd, Roanoke, Botetourt, Augusta and Rockingham. It also included what is today Pendleton County, West Virginia and also about the southern third of West Virginia, which in 1788 was all Greenbrier County. This area that is today about 48 counties and 13 independent cities was in 1788 only nine counties.
In the 1790 census, this area had a population of 66,045. For the 1792 congressional elections, the number of congressional districts in Virginia rose from 10 to 19. The only county that remained in the third district was Pendleton County. Harrison, Randolph, Hardy, Hampshire, Monongalia and Ohio Counties all now in West Virginia, were also in the district. This was all of northern West Virginia except the far eastern panhandle area. The new district's 1790 population was 30,145.
The 1800 census led to another increase in Virginia's congressional districts in 1802. The third district was again moved, this time to what was then Frederick and Shenandoah Counties in Virginia, which besides those counties also included the modern counties of Clarke and Warren and part of Page. The new 3rd district had a population of 38,767 in 1800.
For most of the time from the end of the Civil War to 1993, the 3rd district was a relatively compact district centered on Richmond. The district's current configuration dates to the 1992 election, when the Justice Department ordered Virginia to create a majority-minority district. At that time, portions of the old 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th districts were combined to create a new 3rd district.
The Virginia Legislature's 2012 redistricting was found unconstitutional, in part because of racial gerrymandering, and replaced was with a court-ordered map on January 16, 2016 for the 2016 elections. From 1993 to 2016, the 3rd had covered most of the majority-black precincts in and around Hampton Roads and Richmond. The court-drawn map shifted the area near Richmond to the 4th district.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 67% - 32% |
| 2009 | Governor | Deeds 56% - 44% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 69% - 31% |
| 2013 | Governor | McAuliffe 64% - 30% |
| 2013 | Lt. Governor | Northam 70% - 30% |
| 2013 | Attorney General | Herring 65% - 34% |
| 2014 | Senate | Warner 65% - 32% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 64% - 31% |
| 2017 | Governor | Northam 69% - 30% |
| 2017 | Lt. Governor | Fairfax 67% - 32% |
| 2017 | Attorney General | Herring 68% - 32% |
| 2018 | Senate | Kaine 71% - 27% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 68% - 30% |
| 2020 | Senate | Warner 70% - 30% |
| 2021 | Governor | McAuliffe 63% - 35% |
| 2021 | Lt. Governor | Ayala 64% - 36% |
| 2021 | Attorney General | Herring 64% - 35% |
| 2024 | President | Harris 66% - 32% |
| 2024 | Senate | Kaine 69% - 31% |

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:
Independent cities (5)
    Chesapeake (part; also 2nd), Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth

## List of members representing the district

| Representative | Party | Term | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1789 |||||
| Andrew Moore (Lexington) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1793 | 1st 2nd | Elected in 1789. Re-elected in 1790. Redistricted to the 2nd district. |
| Joseph Neville (Moorefield) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 | 3rd | Elected in 1793. Lost re-election. |
| George Jackson | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797 | 4th | Elected in 1795. Lost re-election. |
| James Machir | Federalist | March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1799 | 5th | Elected in 1797. Retired. |
| George Jackson | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1799 – March 3, 1803 | 6th 7th | Elected in 1799. Re-elected in 1801. Redistricted to the 1st district and retired. |
| John Smith (Winchester) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1815 | 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th | Redistricted from the 1st district and re-elected in 1803. Re-elected in 1805. Re-elected in 1807. Re-elected in 1809. Re-elected in 1811. Re-elected in 1813. Retired. |
| Henry S. Tucker (Winchester) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1819 | 14th 15th | Elected in 1815. Re-elected in 1817. Retired. |
| Jared Williams (Newton) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1823 | 16th 17th | Elected in 1819. Re-elected in 1821. Redistricted to the 17th district. |
| William S. Archer (Elk Hill) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd | Redistricted from the 17th district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Re-elected in 1829. Re-elected in 1831. Re-elected in 1833. Lost re-election. |
| William S. Archer (Elk Hill) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1835 | 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd | Redistricted from the 17th district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Re-elected in 1829. Re-elected in 1831. Re-elected in 1833. Lost re-election. |
| John W. Jones (Petersburg) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837 | 24th 25th 26th 27th | Elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. Re-elected in 1839. Re-elected in 1841. Redistricted to the 6th district. |
| John W. Jones (Petersburg) | Democratic | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843 | 24th 25th 26th 27th | Elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. Re-elected in 1839. Re-elected in 1841. Redistricted to the 6th district. |
| Walter Coles (Robertsons Store) | Democratic | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 | 28th | Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1843. Retired. |
| William M. Tredway (Danville) | Democratic | March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 | 29th | Elected in 1845. Lost re-election. |
| Thomas S. Flournoy (Halifax) | Whig | March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 | 30th | Elected in 1847. Lost re-election. |
| Thomas H. Averett (Halifax) | Democratic | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853 | 31st 32nd | Elected in 1849. Re-elected in 1851. Lost re-election. |
| John S. Caskie (Richmond) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1859 | 33rd 34th 35th | Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1853. Re-elected in 1855. Re-elected in 1857. Lost re-election. |
| Daniel C. DeJarnette Sr. (Bowling Green) | Independent Democratic | March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861 | 36th | Elected in 1859. Resigned. |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1861 – January 27, 1870 | 37th 38th 39th 40th | Civil War and Reconstruction |
| Charles H. Porter (Richmond) | Republican | January 27, 1870 – March 3, 1873 | 41st 42nd | Elected in 1870. Retired. |
| John A. Smith (Richmond) | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | Elected in 1872. Lost re-election. |
| Gilbert C. Walker (Richmond) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879 | 44th 45th | Elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Retired. |
| Joseph E. Johnston (Longwood) | Democratic | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 | 46th | Elected in 1878. Retired. |
| George D. Wise (Richmond) | Democratic | March 4, 1881 – April 11, 1890 | 47th 48th 49th 50th 51st | Elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Election invalidated. |
| Edmund Waddill Jr. (Richmond) | Republican | April 12, 1890 – March 3, 1891 | 51st | Elected in 1890. Retired. |
| George D. Wise (Richmond) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1895 | 52nd 53rd | Elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Retired. |
| Tazewell Ellett (Richmond) | Democratic | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897 | 54th | Elected in 1894. Lost re-election. |
| John Lamb (Richmond) | Democratic | March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1913 | 55th 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd | Elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Lost re-election. |
| Andrew J. Montague (Richmond) | Democratic | March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1933 | 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Redistricted to the at-large seat. |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | 73rd | |
| Andrew J. Montague (Richmond) | Democratic | January 3, 1935 – January 24, 1937 | 74th 75th | Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 24, 1937 – November 2, 1937 | 75th | |
| David E. Satterfield Jr. (Richmond) | Democratic | November 2, 1937 – February 15, 1945 | 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th | Elected to finish Montague's term. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 15, 1945 – March 6, 1945 | 79th | |
| J. Vaughan Gary (Richmond) | Democratic | March 6, 1945 – January 3, 1965 | 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th | Elected to finish Satterfield's term. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Retired. |
| David E. Satterfield III (Richmond) | Democratic | January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1981 | 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th | Elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Retired. |
| Thomas J. Bliley Jr. (Richmond) | Republican | January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1993 | 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd | Elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Redistricted to the 7th district. |
| Robert C. Scott (Newport News) | Democratic | January 3, 1993 – present | 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. |

## Election results

| Year | Democratic | Republican | Independents |
| 1970 | David E. Satterfield, III: 73,104 | J. Harvie Wilkinson, III: 35,229 | Ulrich Troubetskoy: 371 |
| 1972 | David E. Satterfield, III: 102,523 | | |
| 1974 | David E. Satterfield, III: 64,627 | | Alan Robert Ogden: 7,574 |
| 1976 | David E. Satterfield, III: 129,066 | | Alan Robert Ogden: 17,503 |
| 1978 | David E. Satterfield, III: 104,550 | | Alan Robert Ogden: 14,453 |
| 1980 | John A. Mapp: 60,962 | Thomas J. Bliley, Jr.: 96,524 | Howard H. Carwile: 19,549 |
| 1982 | John A. Waldrop, Jr.: 63,946 | Thomas J. Bliley, Jr.: 92,928 | |
| 1984 | | Thomas J. Bliley, Jr.: 169,987 | Roger L. Coffey: 28,556 |
| 1986 | Kenneth E. Powell: 32,961 | Thomas J. Bliley, Jr.: 74,525 | J. Stephen Bodges: 3,675 |
| 1988 | | Thomas J. Bliley, Jr.: 187,354 | |
| 1990 | James A. Starke, Jr.: 36,253 | Thomas J. Bliley, Jr.: 77,125 | Rose L. Simpson: 4,317 |
| 1992 | Robert C. Scott: 132,432 | Daniel Jenkins: 35,780 | |
| 1994 | Robert C. Scott: 108,532 | Thomas E. Ward: 28,080 | |
| 1996 | Robert C. Scott: 118,603 | Elsie Goodwyn Holland: 25,781 | |
| 1998 | Robert C. Scott: 48,129 | | R. S. Barnett: 14,453 |
| 2000 | Robert C. Scott: 137,527 | | |
| 2002 | Robert C. Scott: 87,521 | | |
| 2004 | Robert C. Scott: 159,373 | Winsome E. Sears: 70,194 | |
| 2006 | Robert C. Scott: 133,546 | | |
| 2008 | Robert C. Scott: 239,911 | | |
| 2010 | Robert C. Scott: 114,754 | C. L. Smith, Jr.: 44,553 | John D. Kelly: 1,927 |
| 2012 | Robert C. Scott: 259,199 | Dean J. Longo: 58,931 | |
| 2014 | Robert C. Scott: 139,197 | | |
| 2016 | Robert C. Scott': 208,337 | Martin L. Williams: 103,289 | |
| 2018 | Robert C. Scott: 198,615 | | |
| 2020 | Robert C. Scott: 233,326 | John Collick: 107,299 | |
| 2022 | Robert C. Scott: 139,659 | Terry Namkung: 67,668 | |

## Historical district boundaries

The Virginia Third District started in 1788, covering the counties of Botetourt, Rockbridge, Montgomery, Greenbrier, Washington, Augusta, Russell, Rockingham and Pendleton.