# Virginia's 9th congressional district

Virginia's ninth congressional district is a United States congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia, covering much of the southwestern part of the state. The 9th is Virginia's second-largest district in area, covering 9,113.87 square miles (slightly larger than the whole state of New Jersey). It has been represented by Republican Morgan Griffith since 2011. He took office after defeating 14-term incumbent Democrat Rick Boucher. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+23, it is the most Republican district in Virginia.
The Ninth was the most competitive Virginia congressional district in the early 20th century, when the state was part of the Solid South. For twenty years (1903-1923), it was the only congressional district in Virginia — and one of the few in the entire former Confederacy — to be represented by a Republican. The district alternated between Democratic and Republican representation over the rest of the century. Some of the election results were so close — and questionable — that the district became known as "The Fighting Ninth."
Since the 1990s, the district has increasingly trended Republican in federal and state races, and it has taken over from the Shenandoah Valley-based Sixth as the most Republican district in the state. It last supported a Democrat for president in 1996, and has supported a Democrat in only two statewide contests since then.
The 9th is the only district in Virginia that cast more votes for Hillary Clinton than Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary. Clinton won more than 60% of the vote, despite local Congressman Rick Boucher endorsing Obama. Republican presidential candidate John McCain received 59% of the vote in the 9th district in the 2008 General Election, however, his best performance in any of Virginia's eleven congressional districts. Voters in the 9th district supported McCain over Obama in the general election, despite reelecting Democratic Congressman Rick Boucher. In the 2010 midterm elections, in which Democrats lost their majority in Congress, Virginia State Delegate Morgan Griffith unseated Congressman Boucher by aligning Boucher with President Barack Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, both unpopular figures in the district at the time. Boucher's support for the American Clean Energy and Security Act, or Cap and Trade was unpopular in the district. Since then, the district has not supported a Democrat in a statewide or federal election.
As of 2017, the 9th district had the highest poverty rate of any Virginia congressional district, at 18.7 percent.
The 9th district also includes Franklin County.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 59% - 39% |
| 2009 | Governor | McDonnell 67% - 32% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 65% - 35% |
| 2013 | Governor | Cuccinelli 61% - 31% |
| 2013 | Lt. Governor | Jackson 61% - 39% |
| 2013 | Attorney General | Obenshain 67% - 32% |
| 2014 | Senate | Gillespie 60% - 37% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 68% - 27% |
| 2017 | Governor | Gillespie 68% - 31% |
| 2017 | Lt. Governor | Vogel 70% - 30% |
| 2017 | Attorney General | Donley Adams 69% - 31% |
| 2018 | Senate | Stewart 64% - 34% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 70% - 28% |
| 2020 | Senate | Gade 66% - 34% |
| 2021 | Governor | Youngkin 75% - 25% |
| 2021 | Lt. Governor | Sears 74% - 26% |
| 2021 | Attorney General | Miyares 74% - 26% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 71% - 27% |
| 2024 | Senate | Cao 67% - 33% |

## 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:
Bedford County (5)
    Bedford, Big Island, Moneta, Montvale, Stewartsville
Bland County (4)
    All 4 communities
Buchanan County (4)
    All 4 communities
Carroll County (5)
    All 5 communities
Craig County (1)
    New Castle
Dickenson County (4)
    All 4 communities
Floyd County (1)
    Floyd
Franklin County (8)
    All 8 communities
Giles County (7)
    All 7 communities
Grayson County (6)
    All 6 communities
Henry County (11)
    All 11 communities
Lee County (7)
    All 7 communities
Montgomery County (10)
    All 10 communities
Patrick County (3)
    All 3 communities
Pulaski County (10)
    All 10 communities
Roanoke County (2)
    Cave Spring, Lafayette
Russell County (7)
    All 7 communities
Scott County (7)
    All 7 communities
Smyth County (9)
    All 9 communities
Tazewell County (16)
    All 16 communities
Washington County (7)
    All 7 communities
Wise County (14)
    All 14 communities
Wythe County (6)
    All 6 communities
Independent cities (5)
    Bristol, Galax, Martinsville, Norton, Radford

## List of members representing the district

| Representative | Party | Term | Cong- ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1789 |||||
| Theodorick Bland (Prince George County) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1789 – June 1, 1790 | 1st | Elected in 1789. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 2, 1790 – December 6, 1790 | 1st | |
| William B. Giles (Amelia Courthouse) | Anti-Administration | December 7, 1790 – March 3, 1795 | 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th | Elected in July 1790 to finish Bland's term and seated December 7, 1790. Re-elected later in 1790. Re-elected in 1793. Re-elected in 1795. Re-elected in 1797. Resigned. |
| William B. Giles (Amelia Courthouse) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1795 – October 2, 1798 | 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th | Elected in July 1790 to finish Bland's term and seated December 7, 1790. Re-elected later in 1790. Re-elected in 1793. Re-elected in 1795. Re-elected in 1797. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | October 3, 1798 – December 2, 1798 | 5th | |
| Joseph Eggleston (Egglestetton) | Democratic-Republican | December 3, 1798 – March 3, 1801 | 5th 6th | Elected to finish Giles's term. Re-elected in 1799. [data missing] |
| William B. Giles (Amelia Courthouse) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1803 | 7th | Elected in 1801. Redistricted to the 16th district and retired. |
| Philip R. Thompson (Fairfax) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1807 | 8th 9th | Redistricted from the 18th district and re-elected in 1803. Re-elected in 1805. Re-elected in 1807. Re-elected in 1809. Retired. |
| John Love (Alexandria) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1811 | 10th 11th | Elected in 1807. Re-elected in 1809. Moved to the 7th district and lost re-election there. |
| Aylett Hawes (Woodville) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1813 | 12th | Elected in 1811. Redistricted to the 10th district. |
| John P. Hungerford (Leedstown) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1817 | 13th 14th | Elected in 1813. Re-elected in 1815. Lost re-election. |
| William L. Ball (Nuttsville) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1823 | 15th 16th 17th | Elected in 1817. Re-elected in 1819. Re-elected in 1821. Redistricted to the 13th district. |
| Andrew Stevenson (Richmond) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd | Redistricted from the 23rd district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Re-elected in 1829. Re-elected in 1831. Redistricted to the 11th congressional district |
| Andrew Stevenson (Richmond) | Jackson | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1833 | 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd | Redistricted from the 23rd district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Re-elected in 1829. Re-elected in 1831. Redistricted to the 11th congressional district |
| William P. Taylor (Fredericksburg) | Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | 23rd | Elected in 1833. Lost re-election. |
| John Roane (Rumford Academy) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837 | 24th | Elected in 1835. Retired. |
| Robert M. T. Hunter (Lloyds) | Whig | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843 | 25th 26th 27th | Elected in 1837. Re-elected in 1839. Re-elected in 1841. Lost re-election. |
| Samuel Chilton (Warrenton) | Whig | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 | 28th | Elected in 1843. Retired. |
| John S. Pendleton (Culpeper) | Whig | March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1849 | 29th 30th | Elected in 1845. Re-elected in 1847. Lost re-election. |
| Jeremiah Morton (Raccoon Ford) | Whig | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 | 31st | Elected in 1849. Lost re-election. |
| James F. Strother (Rappahannock) | Whig | March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 | 32nd | Elected in 1851. Lost re-election. |
| John Letcher (Lexington) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1859 | 33rd 34th 35th | Elected in 1853. Re-elected in 1855. Re-elected in 1857. Retired to run for Governor of Virginia. |
| John T. Harris (Harrisonburg) | Independent Democratic | March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861 | 36th | Elected in 1859. Retired. |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1861 – June 19, 1863 | 37th 38th | Civil War |
| District moved to West Virginia June 20, 1863 |||||
| District re-established March 4, 1873 |||||
| Rees T. Bowen (Maiden Spring) | Democratic | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | Elected in 1872. Retired. |
| William Terry (Wytheville) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | 44th | Elected in 1874. Lost re-election. |
| Auburn L. Pridemore (Jonesville) | Democratic | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879 | 45th | Elected in 1876. Lost re-election. |
| James B. Richmond (Estillville) | Democratic | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 | 46th | Elected in 1878. Lost re-election. |
| Abram Fulkerson (Bristol) | Democratic | March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | 47th | Elected in 1880. Retired. |
| Henry Bowen (Tazewell) | Readjuster | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 | 48th | Elected in 1882. Lost re-election. |
| Connally F. Trigg (Abingdon) | Democratic | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887 | 49th | Elected in 1884. Lost re-election. |
| Henry Bowen (Tazewell) | Republican | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889 | 50th | Elected in 1886. Lost re-election. |
| John A. Buchanan (Abingdon) | Democratic | March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1893 | 51st 52nd | Elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Retired. |
| James W. Marshall (New Castle) | Democratic | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 | 53rd | Elected in 1892. Lost re-election. |
| James A. Walker (Wytheville) | Republican | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899 | 54th 55th | Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Lost re-election. |
| William F. Rhea (Bristol) | Democratic | March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1903 | 56th 57th | Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Lost re-election. |
| Campbell Slemp (Big Stone Gap) | Republican | March 4, 1903 – October 13, 1907 | 58th 59th 60th | Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | October 14, 1907 – December 16, 1907 | 60th | |
| C. Bascom Slemp (Big Stone Gap) | Republican | December 17, 1907 – March 3, 1923 | 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th | Elected to finish Slemp's term. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Retired. |
| George C. Peery (Tazewell) | Democratic | March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1929 | 68th 69th 70th | Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Retired. |
| Joseph C. Shaffer (Wytheville) | Republican | March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1931 | 71st | Elected in 1928. Lost re-election. |
| John W. Flannagan Jr. (Bristol) | Democratic | March 4, 1931 – March 3, 1933 | 72nd | Elected in 1930. Redistricted to at-large seat. |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | 73rd | |
| John W. Flannagan Jr. (Bristol) | Democratic | January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1949 | 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th | Redistricted from at-large seat and re-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. Retired. |
| Thomas B. Fugate (Ewing) | Democratic | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953 | 81st 82nd | Elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Retired. |
| William C. Wampler (Bristol) | Republican | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 | 83rd | Elected in 1952. Lost re-election. |
| W. Pat Jennings (Marion) | Democratic | January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1967 | 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th | Elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Lost re-election. |
| William C. Wampler (Bristol) | Republican | January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1983 | 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th | 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. Re-elected in 1980. Lost re-election. |
| Frederick C. Boucher (Abingdon) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2011 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th | 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. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Lost re-election. |
| Morgan Griffith (Salem) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – present | 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | 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. |

## Recent election results
### 2000

2000 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rick Boucher | 137,488 | 69.80 |
| | Republican | Michael Osborne | 59,335 | 30.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 196,855 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2002

2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rick Boucher (inc.) | 100,075 | 65.76 |
| | Republican | Jay Katzen (write-in) | 52,076 | 34.22 |
| | Write-ins | | 32 | 0.02 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 152,183 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rick Boucher (inc.) | 150,039 | 59.32 |
| | Republican | Kevin R. Triplett | 98,499 | 38.94 |
| | Independent | Seth A. Davis | 4,341 | 1.72 |
| | Write-ins | | 68 | 0.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 252,947 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2006

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rick Boucher (incumbent) | 129,705 | 67.76 |
| | Republican | Bill Carrico | 61,574 | 32.17 |
| | Write-ins | | 136 | 0.07 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 191,415 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2008

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rick Boucher (incumbent) | 207,306 | 97.07 |
| | Write-ins | | 6,264 | 2.93 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 213,570 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2010

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Morgan Griffith | 95,726 | 51.21 |
| | Democratic | Rick Boucher (incumbent) | 86,743 | 46.41 |
| | Independent | Jeremiah Heaton | 4,282 | 2.29 |
| | Write-in | | 166 | 0.09 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 186,917 | 100 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 2012

2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Morgan Griffith (inc.) | 184,882 | 61.29 |
| | Democratic | Anthony Flaccavento | 116,400 | 38.59 |
| | Write-in | | 376 | 0.12 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 301,658 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Morgan Griffith (incumbent) | 117,465 | 72.1 |
| | Independent | William Carr | 39,412 | 24.2 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 5,940 | 3.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 162,817 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Morgan Griffith (incumbent) | 212,838 | 68.6 |
| | Democratic | Derek Kitts | 87,877 | 28.3 |
| | Independent | Janice Boyd | 9,050 | 2.9 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 549 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 310,314 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Morgan Griffith (incumbent) | 160,933 | 65.2 |
| | Democratic | Anthony Flaccavento | 85,833 | 34.7 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 214 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 246,980 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Morgan Griffith (incumbent) | 271,851 | 94.0 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 17,423 | 6.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 289,274 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Morgan Griffith (incumbent) | 182,207 | 73.2 |
| | Democratic | Taysha DeVaughan | 66,027 | 26.5 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 558 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 248,792 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Historical district boundaries

The Virginia Ninth District started in 1788 covering the counties of Brunswick, Sussex, Greensville, Prince George, Dinwiddie, Mecklenburg, Lunenburg, Ameila, Cumberland and Powhatan.