# Virginia House of Delegates

37°32′19″N 77°26′00″W﻿ / ﻿37.53865°N 77.43331°W﻿ / 37.53865; -77.43331
The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two houses of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the House membership by the Delegates. The Speaker is usually a member of the majority party and, as Speaker, becomes the most powerful member of the House. The House shares legislative power with the Senate, the upper house of the General Assembly. The House of Delegates is the modern-day successor to the colonial House of Burgesses, which first met at Jamestown in 1619. It is the first and oldest continuous English-Speaking representative legislative assembly in the Western Hemisphere. The House is divided into Democratic and Republican caucuses. In addition to the Speaker, there is a majority leader, majority whip, majority caucus chair, minority leader, minority whip, minority caucus chair, and the chairs of the several committees of the House.
Only Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates.

## History and location

The House of Burgesses was the first elected legislative body in the New World. Originally having 22 members, the House of Burgesses met from 1619 through 1632 in the choir of the church at Jamestown. From 1632 to 1699 the legislative body met at four different state houses in Jamestown. The first state house convened at the home of Colonial Governor Sir John Harvey from 1632 to 1656. The burgesses convened at the second state house from 1656 until it was destroyed in 1660. Historians have yet to precisely identify its location.
The House of Burgesses had its final meeting in May 1776, and the House of Delegates took its place in October of that year.
The House has met in the Virginia State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson, since 1788. The legislative body met from 1788 to 1904 in what is known as today the Old Hall of the House of Delegates or commonly referred to as the Old House Chamber. The Old House Chamber is part of the original Capitol building structure. It measures 76 feet in width and is filled today with furnishings that resemble what the room would have looked like during its time of use. There are many bronze and marble busts of historic Virginians on display in the Old House Chamber, including: George Mason, George Wythe, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and Meriwether Lewis. From 1904 to 1906, University of Virginia graduate and architect John K. Peeples designed and built compatible classical wings to the west and east side of the Capitol building. The new wings added to provide more space and serve as the legislative chambers in the Virginia General Assembly, the Senate of Virginia resides in the west chamber and the House of Delegates resides in the east chamber. The General Assembly members and staff operate from offices in the General Assembly Building, located in Capitol Square. Prior to 1788 the House of Delegates met in the Colonial Capital of Williamsburg.
In 1999, Republicans took control of the House of Delegates for the first time since Reconstruction (with the exception of a brief 2-year period in which the Readjuster Party was in the majority in the 1880s). The Republican Party held the majority until 2019, when the Democratic Party won a majority of the seats, thus regaining control of the House of Delegates. The majority was sworn in on January 8, 2020, after which Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) was elected as the first female and Jewish Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.
On November 4, 2020, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment that removed the authority to redistrict congressional and state legislative districts from the General Assembly, and gave that power to a newly-established 16-member panel composed of eight lawmakers and eight non-lawmaker citizens. The maps created by this commission are subject to the approval of the General Assembly, but lawmakers cannot change the commission's lines.
On November 7, 2023, the Democrats regained control of the House of Delegates after securing a 51-seat majority.

## Salary and qualifications

The annual salary for delegates is $17,640. Each delegate represents roughly 84,702 people. Candidates for office must be at least 21 years of age at the time of the election, residents of the districts they seek to represent, and qualified to vote for General Assembly legislators. The regular session of the General Assembly is 60 days long during even numbered years and 30 days long during odd numbered years, unless extended by a two-thirds vote of both houses.

## Composition

Article IV, Section 3 of the Constitution of Virginia stipulates that the House of Delegates shall consist of between 90 and 100 members. It does not put any condition on the number of districts and only speaks of "several house districts". While there used to be multi-member districts, since 1982, there have been 100 districts electing one member each.

### Current political composition

| 51 | 49 |
| Democratic | Republican |
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| Affiliation | Democratic | Republican | Total | Vacant |
| Previous legislature (2016–2018) | 34 | 66 | 100 | 0 |
| Previous legislature (2018-2020) | 49 | 51 | 100 | 0 |
| Previous legislature (2020-2022) | 55 | 45 | 100 | 0 |
| Previous legislature (2022-2024) | 48 | 52 | 100 | 0 |
| Begin 2024 | 51 | 49 | 100 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 49.5% | 47.7% | | |

### Historical party control

(The party control table shows the balance of power after each recent general election. The preceding Makeup table includes results of special elections since the last general election.)
| Years | Democrats | Republicans | Independents |
| 1900–1904 | 93 | 7 | 0 |
| 1904–1912 | 86 | 14 | 0 |
| 1912–1914 | 90 | 10 | 0 |
| 1914–1916 | 92 | 8 | 0 |
| 1916–1922 | 88 | 12 | 0 |
| 1922–1924 | 95 | 5 | 0 |
| 1924–1926 | 97 | 3 | 0 |
| 1926–1928 | 95 | 5 | 0 |
| 1928–1930 | 93 | 7 | 0 |
| 1930–1934 | 95 | 5 | 0 |
| 1934–1940 | 93 | 7 | 0 |
| 1940–1944 | 97 | 3 | 0 |
| 1944–1946 | 94 | 6 | 0 |
| 1946–1950 | 93 | 7 | 0 |
| 1950–1960 | 94 | 6 | 0 |
| 1960–1962 | 96 | 4 | 0 |
| 1962–1964 | 94 | 5 | 1 |
| 1964–1966 | 89 | 11 | 0 |
| 1966–1968 | 87 | 12 | 1 |
| 1968–1970 | 86 | 14 | 0 |
| 1970–1972 | 75 | 24 | 1 |
| 1972–1974 | 73 | 24 | 3 |
| 1974–1976 | 65 | 20 | 15 |
| 1976–1978 | 78 | 17 | 5 |
| 1978–1980 | 76 | 21 | 3 |
| 1980–1982 | 74 | 25 | 1 |
| 1982–1984 | 66 | 32 | 2 |
| 1984–1986 | 65 | 34 | 1 |
| 1986–1988 | 65 | 33 | 2 |
| 1988–1990 | 64 | 35 | 1 |
| 1990–1992 | 59 | 40 | 1 |
| 1992–1994 | 58 | 41 | 1 |
| 1994–1996 | 52 | 47 | 1 |
| 1996–1998 | 52 | 47 | 1 |
| 1998–2000 | 50 | 49 | 1 |
| 2000–2002 | 47 | 52 | 1 |
| 2002–2004 | 34 | 64 | 2 |
| 2004–2006 | 37 | 61 | 2 |
| 2006–2008 | 40 | 57 | 3 |
| 2008–2010 | 44 | 54 | 2 |
| 2010–2012 | 39 | 59 | 2 |
| 2012–2014 | 32 | 66 | 2 |
| 2014–2016 | 32 | 67 | 1 |
| 2016–2018 | 34 | 66 | 0 |
| 2018–2020 | 49 | 51 | 0 |
| 2020–2022 | 55 | 45 | 0 |
| 2022–2024 | 48 | 52 | 0 |
| 2024–2026 | 51 | 49 | 0 |

## House leadership

| Speaker | Don Scott |
| Majority Leader | Charniele Herring |
| Majority Caucus Chair | Kathy Tran |
| Minority Leader | Todd Gilbert |
| Minority Caucus Chair | Amanda Batten |
| Minority Whip | Michael Webert |

### Committee chairs and ranking members

The House has 14 standing committees.
| Committee | Chair | Vice Chair |
| Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | Alfonso Lopez | Nadarius Clark |
| Appropriations | Luke Torian | Mark Sickles |
| Communications, Technology and Innovation | Cliff Hayes | Irene Shin |
| Counties, Cities and Towns | Candi King | Elizabeth Bennett-Parker |
| Courts of Justice | Patrick Hope | Marcus Simon |
| Education | Sam Rasoul | Shelly Simonds |
| Finance | Vivian Watts | Rip Sullivan |
| General Laws | David Bulova | Betsy Carr |
| Health and Human Services | Mark Sickles | Kathy Tran |
| Labor and Commerce | Jeion Ward | Charniele Herring |
| Privileges and Elections | Cia Price | Kelly Convirs-Fowler |
| Public Safety | Marcus Simon | Candi King |
| Rules | Don Scott | Dan Helmer |
| Transportation | Karrie Delaney | David Reid |

## Members

The Virginia House of Delegates is reelected every two years, with intervening vacancies filled by special election. The list below contains the House delegates that are currently serving in the 163rd Virginia General Assembly, which convened on January 10, 2024.
| District | Name | Party | Areas represented | Areas represented | First election |
| District | Name | Party | Counties | Cities | First election |
| 1 | Patrick Hope | Dem | Arlington (part) | | 2009 |
| 2 | Adele McClure | Dem | Arlington (part) | | 2023 |
| 3 | Alfonso Lopez | Dem | Arlington (part) | Alexandria (part) | 2011 |
| 4 | Charniele Herring | Dem | Fairfax (part) | Alexandria (part) | 2009 (special) |
| 5 | Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | Dem | | Alexandria (part) | 2021 |
| 6 | Rip Sullivan | Dem | Fairfax (part) | | 2013 |
| 7 | Karen Keys-Gamarra | Dem | Fairfax (part) | | 2023 |
| 8 | Irene Shin | Dem | Fairfax (part) | | 2021 |
| 9 | Karrie Delaney | Dem | Fairfax (part) | | 2017 |
| 10 | Dan Helmer | Dem | Fairfax (part) | | 2019 |
| 11 | David Bulova | Dem | Fairfax (part) | Fairfax (part) | 2005 |
| 12 | Holly Seibold | Dem | Fairfax (part) | | 2023 (special) |
| 13 | Marcus Simon | Dem | Fairfax (part) | Falls Church | 2013 |
| 14 | Vivian Watts | Dem | Fairfax (part) | | 1981 |
| 15 | Laura Cohen | Dem | Fairfax (part) | | 2023 |
| 16 | Paul Krizek | Dem | Fairfax (part) | | 2015 |
| 17 | Mark Sickles | Dem | Fairfax (part) | | 2003 |
| 18 | Kathy Tran | Dem | Fairfax (part) | | 2017 |
| 19 | Rozia Henson | Dem | Fairfax (part), Prince William (part) | | 2023 |
| 20 | Michelle Maldonado | Dem | Prince William (part) | Manassas, Manassas Park | 2021 |
| 21 | Josh Thomas | Dem | Prince William (part) | | 2023 |
| 22 | Ian Lovejoy | Rep | Prince William (part) | | 2023 |
| 23 | Candi King | Dem | Prince William (part), Stafford (part) | | 2021 (special) |
| 24 | Luke Torian | Dem | Prince William (part) | | 2009 |
| 25 | Briana Sewell | Dem | Prince William (part) | | 2021 |
| 26 | Jas Jeet Singh | Dem | Loudoun (part) | | 2025 (special) |
| 27 | Atoosa Reaser | Dem | Loudoun (part) | | 2023 |
| 28 | David Reid | Dem | Loudoun (part) | | 2017 |
| 29 | Marty Martinez | Dem | Loudoun (part) | | 2023 |
| 30 | Geary Higgins | Rep | Loudoun (part), Fauquier (part) | | 2023 |
| 31 | Delores Oates | Rep | Clarke, Frederick (part), Warren (part) | | 2023 |
| 32 | Bill Wiley | Rep | Frederick (part) | Winchester | 2019 |
| 33 | Todd Gilbert | Rep | Page, Rockingham (part), Shenandoah, Warren (part) | | 2005 |
| 34 | Tony Wilt | Rep | Rockingham (part) | Harrisonburg | 2009 |
| 35 | Chris Runion | Rep | Augusta (part), Bath, Highland, Rockingham (part) | | 2019 |
| 36 | Ellen Campbell | Rep | Augusta (part), Rockbridge (part) | Staunton, Waynesboro | 2023 (special) |
| 37 | Terry Austin | Rep | Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Rockbridge (part) | Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington | 2013 |
| 38 | Sam Rasoul | Dem | | Roanoke (part) | 2013 |
| 39 | Will Davis | Rep | Franklin, Roanoke (part) | | 2023 |
| 40 | Joseph McNamara | Rep | Roanoke (part) | Roanoke (part), Salem | 2017 |
| 41 | Chris Obenshain | Rep | Montgomery (part), Roanoke (part) | | 2023 |
| 42 | Jason Ballard | Rep | Giles, Montgomery (part), Pulaski (part) | Radford | 2021 |
| 43 | Will Morefield | Rep | Bland, Buchanan, Dickenson (part), Russell (part), Tazewell | | 2009 |
| 44 | Israel O'Quinn | Rep | Russell (part), Washington | Bristol | 2011 |
| 45 | Terry Kilgore | Rep | Dickenson (part), Lee, Scott, Wise | Norton | 1993 |
| 46 | Jed Arnold | Rep | Grayson, Pulaski (part), Smyth, Wythe | | 2023 (special) |
| 47 | Wren Williams | Rep | Carroll, Floyd, Henry (part), Patrick | Galax | 2021 |
| 48 | Eric Phillips | Rep | Henry (part), Pittsylvania (part) | Martinsville | 2024 (special) |
| 49 | Danny Marshall | Rep | Halifax (part), Pittsylvania (part) | Danville | 2001 |
| 50 | Tommy Wright | Rep | Charlotte, Halifax (part), Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Prince Edward (part) | | 2000 (special) |
| 51 | Eric Zehr | Rep | Bedford (part), Campbell (part), Pittsylvania (part) | | 2023 |
| 52 | Wendell Walker | Rep | Campbell (part) | Lynchburg | 2019 |
| 53 | Tim Griffin | Rep | Amherst, Bedford (part), Nelson (part) | | 2023 |
| 54 | Katrina Callsen | Dem | Albemarle (part) | Charlottesville | 2023 |
| 55 | Amy Laufer | Dem | Albemarle (part), Louisa (part), Nelson (part) | | 2023 |
| 56 | Tom Garrett | Rep | Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland (part), Prince Edward (part) | | 2023 |
| 57 | David Owen | Rep | Goochland (part), Henrico (part) | | 2023 |
| 58 | Rodney Willett | Dem | Henrico (part) | | 2019 |
| 59 | Buddy Fowler | Rep | Hanover (part), Louisa (part) | | 2013 |
| 60 | Scott Wyatt | Rep | Hanover (part), New Kent (part) | | 2019 |
| 61 | Michael Webert | Rep | Culpeper (part), Fauquier (part), Rappahannock | | 2011 |
| 62 | Nick Freitas | Rep | Culpeper (part), Greene, Madison, Orange | | 2015 |
| 63 | Phillip Scott | Rep | Orange (part), Spotsylvania (part) | | 2021 |
| 64 | Paul Milde | Rep | Stafford (part) | | 2023 |
| 65 | Joshua Cole | Dem | Spotsylvania (part), Stafford (part) | Fredericksburg | 2019 |
| 66 | Bobby Orrock | Rep | Caroline (part), Spotsylvania (part) | | 1989 |
| 67 | Hillary Kent | Rep | Caroline (part), King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland | | 2023 |
| 68 | Keith Hodges | Rep | Essex, Gloucester (part), King and Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex | | 2011 |
| 69 | Chad Green | Rep | Gloucester (part), James City (part), York (part) | Newport News (part) | 2023 |
| 70 | Shelly Simonds | Dem | | Newport News (part) | 2019 |
| 71 | Amanda Batten | Rep | James City (part), New Kent (part) | Williamsburg | 2019 |
| 72 | Lee Ware | Rep | Amelia, Chesterfield (part), Nottoway, Powhatan | | 1997 |
| 73 | Mark Earley | Rep | Chesterfield (part) | | 2023 |
| 74 | Mike Cherry | Rep | Chesterfield (part) | Colonial Heights | 2021 |
| 75 | Carrie Coyner | Rep | Chesterfield (part), Prince George (part) | Hopewell | 2019 |
| 76 | Debra Gardner | Dem | Chesterfield (part) | | 2023 |
| 77 | Michael Jones | Dem | Chesterfield (part) | Richmond (part) | 2023 |
| 78 | Betsy Carr | Dem | | Richmond (part) | 2009 |
| 79 | Rae Cousins | Dem | | Richmond (part) | 2023 |
| 80 | Destiny LeVere Bolling | Dem | Henrico (part) | | 2023 |
| 81 | Delores McQuinn | Dem | Charles City, Chesterfield (part), Henrico (part) | | 2009 (special) |
| 82 | Kim Taylor | Rep | Dinwiddie (part), Prince George (part), Surry | Petersburg | 2021 |
| 83 | Otto Wachsmann | Rep | Brunswick, Dinwiddie (part), Greensville, Isle of Wight (part), Southampton, Sussex | Emporia | 2021 |
| 84 | Nadarius Clark | Dem | Isle of Wight (part) | Franklin, Suffolk (part) | 2021 |
| 85 | Cia Price | Dem | | Newport News (part) | 2015 |
| 86 | A.C. Cordoza | Rep | York (part) | Hampton (part), Poquoson | 2021 |
| 87 | Jeion Ward | Dem | | Hampton (part) | 2003 |
| 88 | Don Scott | Dem | | Portsmouth (part) | 2019 |
| 89 | Baxter Ennis | Rep | | Chesapeake (part), Suffolk (part) | 2023 |
| 90 | Jay Leftwich | Rep | | Chesapeake (part) | 2013 |
| 91 | Cliff Hayes | Dem | | Chesapeake (part), Portsmouth (part) | 2016 (special) |
| 92 | Bonita Anthony | Dem | | Chesapeake (part), Norfolk (part) | 2023 |
| 93 | Jackie Glass | Dem | | Norfolk (part) | 2021 |
| 94 | Phil Hernandez | Dem | | Norfolk (part) | 2023 |
| 95 | Alex Askew | Dem | | Norfolk (part), Virginia Beach (part) | 2019 |
| 96 | Kelly Convirs-Fowler | Dem | | Virginia Beach (part) | 2017 |
| 97 | Michael Feggans | Dem | | Virginia Beach (part) | 2023 |
| 98 | Barry Knight | Rep | | Virginia Beach (part) | 2009 (special) |
| 99 | Anne Tata | Rep | | Virginia Beach (part) | 2021 |
| 100 | Robert Bloxom | Rep | Accomack, Northampton | Virginia Beach (part) | 2013 |

## Database of past and present members

Marking the 400th anniversary of the House of Burgesses, the House Clerk's Office announced a new Database of House Members called "DOME" that chronicles the "9,700-plus men and women who served as burgesses or delegates in the Virginia General Assembly over the past four centuries."