# Virginia's 4th congressional district

Virginia's fourth congressional district is a United States congressional district in the state of Virginia, taking in most of the area between Richmond and the North Carolina state line. It covers all or part of the counties of Brunswick, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Henrico, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex, and all or part of the independent cities of Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond. The district is currently represented by Democrat Jennifer McClellan, who was elected to the seat after she defeated Republican Leon Benjamin in the February 21, 2023, special election, caused by the death of incumbent Donald McEachin (D) on November 28, 2022.
In 2016, the adjacent 3rd district was found unconstitutional, leading court-ordered redistricting which transformed the 4th District from a Republican-leaning district to a safely Democratic seat for the 2016 elections.

## Recent election results
### 2000s

2000 Virginia's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Norman Sisisky (incumbent) | 189,787 | 98.9 |
| | Write-ins | | 2,108 | 1.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 191,895 | 100.00 |
2001 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randy Forbes | 70,917 | 52.0 |
| | Democratic | Louise Lucas | 65,190 | 47.8 |
| | Write-ins | | 208 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 136,315 | 100.00 |
2002 Virginia's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randy Forbes (incumbent) | 108,733 | 97.9 |
| | Write-ins | | 2,308 | 2.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 111,041 | 100.00 |
2004 Virginia's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randy Forbes (incumbent) | 182,131 | 64.5 |
| | Democratic | Jonathan R. Menefee | 100,162 | 35.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 283,027 | 100.00 |
2006 Virginia's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randy Forbes (incumbent) | 150,967 | 76.12 |
| | Green | Albert P. Burckard | 46,487 | 23.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 198,340 | 100.00 |
2008 Virginia's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randy Forbes (incumbent) | 199,075 | 59.5 |
| | Democratic | Andrea Miller | 135,041 | 23.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 334,521 | 100.00 |

### 2010s

2010 Virginia's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randy Forbes (incumbent) | 123,659 | 62.3 |
| | Democratic | Wynne LeGrow | 74,298 | 37.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 198,389 | 100.00 |
2012 Virginia's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randy Forbes (incumbent) | 199,292 | 56.9 |
| | Democratic | Ella Ward | 150,190 | 42.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 350,046 | 100.00 |
2014 Virginia's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Randy Forbes (incumbent) | 120,684 | 60.2 |
| Democratic | Elliott Fausz | 75,270 | 37.5 |
| Libertarian | Bo Brown | 4,427 | 2.2 |
2016 Virginia's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Donald McEachin | 200,136 | 57.7 |
| | Republican | Mike Wade | 145,731 | 42.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 346,656 | 100.00 |
2018 Virginia's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Donald McEachin (incumbent) | 187,642 | 62.6 |
| | Republican | Ryan McAdams | 107,706 | 35.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 299,854 | 100.00 |

### 2020s

2020 Virginia's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Donald McEachin (incumbent) | 240,510 | 61.6 |
| | Republican | Leon Benjamin | 149,481 | 38.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 389,991 | 100.00 |
2022 Virginia's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Donald McEachin (incumbent) | 159,044 | 65.0 |
| | Republican | Leon Benjamin | 85,503 | 35.0 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 431 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 245,046 | 100.00 |
2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jennifer McClellan | 82,040 | 74.4 |
| | Republican | Leon Benjamin | 28,083 | 25.5 |
| | Write-In | Write In | 129 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 110,252 | 100.00 |

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 65% - 34% |
| 2009 | Governor | Deeds 53% - 47% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 66% - 34% |
| 2013 | Governor | McAuliffe 60% - 31% |
| 2013 | Lt. Governor | Northam 69% - 30% |
| 2013 | Attorney General | Herring 64% - 36% |
| 2014 | Senate | Warner 63% - 35% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 63% - 32% |
| 2017 | Governor | Northam 66% - 33% |
| 2017 | Lt. Governor | Fairfax 66% - 34% |
| 2017 | Attorney General | Herring 66% - 34% |
| 2018 | Senate | Kaine 69% - 29% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 67% - 31% |
| 2020 | Senate | Warner 69% - 31% |
| 2021 | Governor | McAuliffe 61% - 37% |
| 2021 | Lt. Governor | Ayala 62% - 37% |
| 2021 | Attorney General | Herring 63% - 37% |
| 2024 | President | Harris 65% - 33% |
| 2024 | Senate | Kaine 68% - 32% |

## 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:
Brunswick County (6)
    All 6 communities
Charles City County (1)
    Charles City
Chesterfield County (7)
    Bellwood, Bensley, Chester, Enon, Ettrick, Matoaca, Meadowbrook
Dinwiddie County (2)
    Dinwiddie, McKenney
Greensville County (1)
    Jarratt (shared with Sussex County)
Henrico County (9)
    Chamberlayne, Dumbarton, East Highland Park, Glen Allen (part; also 1st), Highland Springs, Lakeside, Laurel, Montrose, Sandston
Prince George County (4)
    All 4 communities
Southampton County (4)
    Boykins, Branchville, Capron, Newsoms
Surry County (4)
    All 4 communities
Sussex County (5)
    All 5 communities
Independent cities (5)
    Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, Petersburg, Richmond

## List of members representing the district

| Representative | Party | Term | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1789 |||||
| Richard B. Lee (Chantilly) | Pro-Administration | March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1793 | 1st 2nd | Elected in 1789. Re-elected in 1790. Redistricted to the 17th district. |
| Francis Preston (Abingdon) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 | 3rd 4th | Elected in 1793. Results were challenged but upheld. Re-elected in 1795. Retired. |
| Francis Preston (Abingdon) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797 | 3rd 4th | Elected in 1793. Results were challenged but upheld. Re-elected in 1795. Retired. |
| Abram Trigg (Montgomery County) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1803 | 5th 6th 7th | Elected in 1797. Re-elected in 1799. Re-elected in 1801. Redistricted to the 6th district. |
| David Holmes (Winchester) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1809 | 8th 9th 10th | Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1803. Re-elected in 1805. Re-elected in 1807. Retired. |
| Jacob Swoope (Staunton) | Federalist | March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1811 | 11th | Elected in 1809. Retired. |
| William McCoy (Franklin) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1823 | 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th | Elected in 1811. Re-elected in 1813. Re-elected in 1815. Re-elected in 1817. Re-elected in 1819. Re-elected in 1821. Redistricted to the 19th district. |
| Mark Alexander (Lombardy Grove) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd | Redistricted from the 18th district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Re-elected in 1829. Re-elected in 1831. Retired. |
| Mark Alexander (Lombardy Grove) | Jackson | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1833 | 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd | Redistricted from the 18th district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Re-elected in 1829. Re-elected in 1831. Retired. |
| James Gholson (Percivals) | Anti-Jackson | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | 23rd | Elected in 1833. Lost re-election. |
| George Dromgoole (Cholsonville) | Jackson | March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837 | 24th 25th 26th | Elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. Re-elected in 1839. Retired. |
| George Dromgoole (Cholsonville) | Democratic | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1841 | 24th 25th 26th | Elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. Re-elected in 1839. Retired. |
| William Goode (Boydton) | Democratic | March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | 27th | Elected in 1841. Retired. |
| Edmund W. Hubard (Curdsville) | Democratic | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847 | 28th 29th | Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1843. Re-elected in 1845. Retired. |
| Thomas S. Bocock (Appomattox) | Democratic | March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1853 | 30th 31st 32nd | Elected in 1847. Re-elected in 1849. Re-elected in 1851. Redistricted to the 5th district. |
| William Goode (Boydton) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – July 3, 1859 | 33rd 34th 35th 36th | Elected in 1853. Re-elected in 1855. Re-elected in 1857. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 3, 1859 – December 6, 1859 | 36th | |
| Roger Pryor (Petersburg) | Democratic | December 7, 1859 – March 3, 1861 | 36th | Elected to finish Goode's term. Re-elected in 1859. Resigned. |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1861 – January 25, 1870 | 36th 37th 38th 39th 40th 41st | Civil War and Reconstruction |
| George Booker (Martinsville) | Conservative | January 26, 1870 – March 3, 1871 | 41st | Elected in 1870. Lost re-election. |
| William H. H. Stowell (Burkeville) | Republican | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1877 | 42nd 43rd 44th | Elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. Retired. |
| Joseph Jorgensen (Petersburg) | Republican | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883 | 45th 46th 47th | Elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Retired. |
| Benjamin Hooper (Farmville) | Readjuster | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 | 48th | Elected in 1882. Lost re-election. |
| James Brady (Petersburg) | Republican | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887 | 49th | Elected in 1884. Retired. |
| William E. Gaines (Burkeville) | Republican | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889 | 50th | Elected in 1886. Retired. |
| Edward Venable (Petersburg) | Democratic | March 4, 1889 – September 23, 1890 | 51st | Election invalidated. |
| John Langston (Petersburg) | Republican | September 23, 1890 – March 3, 1891 | 51st | Elected in 1890. Lost re-election. |
| James F. Epes (Blackstone) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1895 | 52nd 53rd | Elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Retired. |
| William McKenney (Petersburg) | Democratic | March 4, 1895 – May 2, 1896 | 54th | Election invalidated |
| Robert Thorp (Boydton) | Republican | May 2, 1896 – March 3, 1897 | 54th | Elected in 1896. Lost re-election. |
| Sydney Epes (Blackstone) | Democratic | March 4, 1897 – March 23, 1898 | 55th | Election invalidated. |
| Robert Thorp (Boydton) | Republican | March 23, 1898 – March 3, 1899 | 55th | Elected in 1898. Lost re-election. |
| Sydney Epes (Blackstone) | Democratic | March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1900 | 56th | Elected in 1898. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | March 4, 1900 – April 18, 1900 | 56th | |
| Francis Lassiter (Petersburg) | Democratic | April 19, 1900 – March 3, 1903 | 56th 57th | Elected to finish Epes's term. Re-elected in 1900. Lost re-election. |
| Robert G. Southall (Amelia) | Democratic | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1907 | 58th 59th | Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Lost re-election. |
| Francis Lassiter (Petersburg) | Democratic | March 4, 1907 – October 31, 1909 | 60th 61st | Elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | November 1, 1909 – March 7, 1910 | 61st | |
| Robert Turnbull (Lawrenceville) | Democratic | March 8, 1910 – March 3, 1913 | 61st 62nd | Elected to finish Lassiter's term. Re-elected in 1910. Lost re-election. |
| Walter Watson (Jennings Ordinary) | Democratic | March 4, 1913 – December 24, 1919 | 63rd 64th 65th 66th | Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 25, 1919 – April 26, 1920 | 66th | |
| Patrick Drewry (Petersburg) | Democratic | April 27, 1920 – March 3, 1933 | 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected to finish Watson's term. 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 | |
| Patrick Drewry (Petersburg) | Democratic | January 3, 1935 – December 21, 1947 | 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th | Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 21, 1947 – February 17, 1948 | 80th | |
| Watkins Abbitt (Appomattox) | Democratic | February 17, 1948 – January 3, 1973 | 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd | Elected to finish Drewry's term. 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. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Retired. |
| Robert Daniel (Prince George) | Republican | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1983 | 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th | Elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Lost re-election. |
| Norman Sisisky (Petersburg) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – March 29, 2001 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th | Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | March 29, 2001 – June 19, 2001 | 107th | |
| Randy Forbes (Chesapeake) | Republican | June 19, 2001 – January 3, 2017 | 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th | Elected to finish Sisisky's term. 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. Redistricted to the 2nd district and lost renomination. |
| Donald McEachin (Richmond) | Democratic | January 3, 2017 – November 28, 2022 | 115th 116th 117th | Elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022, but died before next term began. |
| Vacant | Vacant | November 28, 2022 – March 7, 2023 | 117th 118th | |
| Jennifer McClellan (Richmond) | Democratic | March 7, 2023 – present | 118th 119th | Elected to finish McEachin's term. Re-elected in 2024. |

## Historical district boundaries

The Virginia Fourth District started in 1788 covering the counties of Prince William, Stafford, Loudoun, Fairfax, King George and Fauquier.