# Virginia's 5th congressional district

Virginia's fifth congressional district is a United States congressional district in the commonwealth of Virginia. The 5th district includes the majority of Southside Virginia, though it stretches as far as the Richmond suburbs. Within the district are the cities of Charlottesville, Danville, and Lynchburg.
The district's first representative in Congress was James Madison, who defeated James Monroe in the district's first congressional election. Madison and Monroe would go on to serve as the 4th and 5th Presidents of the United States. The current Congressman is Republican John McGuire.
Historically, the 5th was one of the first districts of Virginia to turn Republican in presidential elections. Southside was one of the fountainheads for the Byrd Organization, and the region's Democrats began splitting their tickets in presidential elections as early as the 1930s. The trend accelerated in the years before the Civil Rights Act of 1965, as large portions of the area's limited and almost entirely white electorate who preferred conservative positions on black civil rights. The district was to be one of two in Virginia which gave a plurality of the vote to segregationist George Wallace in 1968, and has never supported a Democrat for president since Harry S. Truman in 1948.
Despite this, the congressional seat remained in the hands of Democrats who were very conservative even by Virginia standards. This ended in 1999, when Virgil Goode became an independent; he became a Republican in 2002. In 2008, Democrat Tom Perriello defeated Goode with significant Democratic down-ballot coattails from the Obama campaign. Republican Robert Hurt defeated Perriello in 2010, going on to serve three terms. After Hurt left office, the district continued to elect Republicans, including Tom Garrett, Denver Riggleman, who both served one term, and Bob Good, who was re-elected in 2022.
Redistricting after the 2020 census added Lynchburg to the district; most of its suburbs have been in the 5th for decades. It was also pushed as far east as Hanover County on Richmond's northern fringe.

## Demographics

According to the APM Research Lab's Voter Profile Tools (featuring the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey), the district contained about 580,000 potential voters (citizens, age 18+). Of these, 75% are White and 20% are Black. Immigrants make up 3% of the district's potential voters. Median income among households (with one or more potential voter) in the district is about $57,700, while 12% of households live below the poverty line. As for the educational attainment of potential voters in the district, 12% of those 25 and older have not earned a high school degree, while 27% hold a bachelor's or higher degree.

## Area covered

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:
Albemarle County (15)
    All 15 communities
Amelia County (1)
    Amelia Court House
Amherst County (2)
    Amherst, Madison Heights
Appomattox County (3)
    All 3 communities
Bedford County (1)
    Forest
Buckingham County (3)
    All 3 communities
Campbell County (5)
    All 5 communities
Charlotte County (4)
    All 4 communities
Cumberland County (2)
    Cumberland, Farmville (shared with Prince Edward County)
Fluvanna County (4)
    All 4 communities
Goochland County (1)
    Goochland
Halifax County (9)
    All 9 communities
Hanover County (0)
    No incorporated or census-recognized communities
Louisa County (3)
    All 3 communities
Lunenberg County (3)
    All 3 communities
Mecklenburg County (11)
    All 11 communities
Nelson County (7)
    All 7 communities
Nottoway County (4)
    All 4 communities
Powhatan County (1)
    Powhatan
Pittsylvania County (6)
    All 6 communities
Prince Edward County (3)
    All 3 communities
Independent cities (3)
    Charlottesville, Danville, Lynchburg

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 52% - 47% |
| 2009 | Governor | McDonnell 63% - 37% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 55% - 45% |
| 2013 | Governor | Cuccinelli 52% - 40% |
| 2013 | Lt. Governor | Jackson 51% - 48% |
| 2013 | Attorney General | Obenshain 58% - 42% |
| 2014 | Senate | Gillespie 54% - 43% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 53% - 42% |
| 2017 | Governor | Gillespie 54% - 45% |
| 2017 | Lt. Governor | Vogel 57% - 43% |
| 2017 | Attorney General | Donley Adams 56% - 44% |
| 2018 | Senate | Stewart 50% - 48% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 53% - 45% |
| 2020 | Senate | Gade 52% - 48% |
| 2021 | Governor | Youngkin 60% - 39% |
| 2021 | Lt. Governor | Sears 60% - 40% |
| 2021 | Attorney General | Miyares 60% - 40% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 55% - 43% |
| 2024 | Senate | Cao 55% - 45% |

## Recent election results
### 2024

2024 Virginia's 5th congressional district election
Republican John McGuire III, who had ousted Bob Good in the Republican primary, defeated Democrat Gloria Witt in the November general election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage |
| John McGuire III | Republican | 249,564 | 57.26% |
| Gloria Witt | Democratic | 184,229 | 42.27% |
| Write-in | | 2,048 | 0.47% |
| Total votes cast | | 435,839 | 100.0% |

### 2022

2022 Virginia's 5th congressional district election
Incumbent Bob Good defeated Josh Throneburg in the November general election on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage |
| Bob Good | Republican | 177,191 | 57.57% |
| Josh Throneburg | Democratic | 129,996 | 42.24% |
| Write-in | | 603 | 0.20% |
| Total votes cast | | 307,790 | 100.0% |

### 2020

2020 Virginia's 5th congressional district election
Republican Bob Good defeated Dr. Cameron Webb in the November general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage |
| Bob Good | Republican | 210,988 | 52.6% |
| Cameron Webb | Democratic | 190,315 | 47.4% |
| Total votes cast | | 401,303 | 100.0% |

### 2018

2018 Virginia's 5th congressional district election
Took place on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, with Republican Denver Riggleman winning the election. The incumbent, Tom Garrett, did not run for re-election.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage |
| Denver Riggleman | Republican | 165,339 | 53.18 |
| Leslie Cockburn | Democratic | 145,040 | 46.65 |
| All others | Write In | 547 | 0.18 |
| Total votes cast | | 310,926 | 100 |

### 2016

2016 Virginia's 5th congressional district election
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage |
| Tom Garrett | Republican | 207,758 | 58.2% |
| Jane Dittmar | Democratic | 148,339 | 41.6% |
| All others | | 668 | 0.2% |
| Total votes cast | | 356,765 | |

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Term | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1789 |||||
| James Madison (Montpelier) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1793 | 1st 2nd | Elected in 1789. Re-elected in 1790. Redistricted to the 15th district. |
| George Hancock (Fotheringay) | Pro-Administration | March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 | 3rd 4th | Elected in 1793. Re-elected in 1795. Retired. |
| George Hancock (Fotheringay) | Federalist | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797 | 3rd 4th | Elected in 1793. Re-elected in 1795. Retired. |
| John J. Trigg (Liberty) | 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 13th district. |
| Thomas Lewis Jr. (Kanawha County) | Federalist | March 4, 1803 – March 5, 1804 | 8th | Election invalidated. |
| Andrew Moore (Lexington) | Democratic-Republican | March 5, 1804 – August 11, 1804 | 8th | Elected in 1804. Resigned when appointed U.S. senator. |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 12, 1804 – December 3, 1804 | 8th | |
| Alexander Wilson | Democratic-Republican | December 4, 1804 – March 3, 1809 | 8th 9th 10th | Elected to finish Moore's term. Re-elected in 1805. Re-elected in 1807. Lost re-election. |
| James Breckinridge (Fincastle) | Federalist | March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1817 | 11th 12th 13th 14th | Elected in 1809. Re-elected in 1811. Re-elected in 1813. Re-elected in 1815. Retired. |
| John Floyd (Newbern) | 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 20th district. |
| John Randolph (Charlotte) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th 19th | Redistricted from the 16th district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1825. Resigned when appointed U.S. senator. |
| John Randolph (Charlotte) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – December 26, 1825 | 19th | Redistricted from the 16th district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1825. Resigned when appointed U.S. senator. |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 27, 1825 – January 20, 1826 | 19th | |
| George W. Crump (Cumberland) | Jacksonian | January 21, 1826 – March 3, 1827 | 19th | Elected to finish Randolph's term. Retired. |
| John Randolph (Charlotte) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1829 | 20th | Elected in 1827. Retired. |
| Thomas Bouldin (Charlotte) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1833 | 21st 22nd | Elected in 1829. Re-elected in 1831. [data missing] Lost re-election. |
| John Randolph (Charlotte) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1833 – May 24, 1833 | 23rd | Elected in 1833. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 25, 1833 – August 25, 1833 | 23rd | |
| Thomas Bouldin (Charlotte) | Jacksonian | August 26, 1833 – February 11, 1834 | 23rd | Elected to finish Randolph's term. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 12, 1834 – March 14, 1834 | 23rd | |
| James Bouldin (Charlotte) | Jacksonian | March 15, 1834 – March 3, 1837 | 23rd 24th 25th | Elected to finish his brother's term. Re-elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. Retired. |
| James Bouldin (Charlotte) | Democratic | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 | 23rd 24th 25th | Elected to finish his brother's term. Re-elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. Retired. |
| John Hill (Buckingham) | Whig | March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841 | 26th | Elected in 1839. Lost re-election. |
| Edmund W. Hubard (Curdsville) | Democratic | March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | 27th | Elected in 1841. Redistricted to the 4th district. |
| Thomas W. Gilmer (Charlottesville) | Democratic | March 4, 1843 – February 18, 1844 | 28th | Elected in 1843. Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Navy |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 19, 1844 – May 9, 1844 | 28th | |
| William L. Goggin (Liberty) | Whig | May 10, 1844 – March 3, 1845 | 28th | Elected to finish Gilmer's term. Lost re-election. |
| Shelton Leake (Charlottesville) | Democratic | March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 | 29th | Elected in 1845. Lost re-election. |
| William L. Goggin (Liberty) | Whig | March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 | 30th | Elected in 1847. Lost re-election. |
| Paulus Powell (Amherst) | Democratic | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853 | 31st 32nd | Elected in 1849. Re-elected in 1851. Redistricted to the 6th district. |
| Thomas S. Bocock (Appomattox) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1861 | 33rd 34th 35th 36th | Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1853. Re-elected in 1855. Re-elected in 1857. Re-elected in 1859. Resigned. |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1861 – January 26, 1870 | 37th 38th 39th 40th 41st | Civil War and Reconstruction |
| Robert Ridgway (Cool Well) | Conservative | January 27, 1870 – October 16, 1870 | 41st | Elected in 1870. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | October 17, 1870 – November 7, 1870 | 41st | |
| Richard T. W. Duke Sr. (Charlottesville) | Conservative | November 8, 1870 – March 3, 1871 | 41st 42nd | Elected to finish Ridgway's term. Re-elected in 1870. Lost re-election. |
| Richard T. W. Duke Sr. (Charlottesville) | Democratic | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 | 41st 42nd | Elected to finish Ridgway's term. Re-elected in 1870. Lost re-election. |
| Alexander Davis (Independence) | Democratic | March 4, 1873 – March 5, 1874 | 43rd | Election invalidated. |
| Christopher Y. Thomas (Martinsville) | Republican | March 5, 1874 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | Elected in 1874. Lost re-election. |
| George C. Cabell (Danville) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1887 | 44th 45th 46th 47th 48th 49th | Elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Lost re-election. |
| John R. Brown (Martinsville) | Republican | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889 | 50th | Elected in 1886. Lost re-election. |
| Posey G. Lester (Floyd) | Democratic | March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1893 | 51st 52nd | Elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Retired. |
| Claude A. Swanson (Chatham) | Democratic | March 4, 1893 – January 30, 1906 | 53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th 58th 59th | Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Elected Governor of Virginia. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 31, 1906 – November 5, 1906 | 59th | |
| Edward W. Saunders (Rocky Mount) | Democratic | November 6, 1906 – February 29, 1920 | 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th | Elected to finish Swanson's term. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Resigned to become Virginia Supreme Court justice. |
| Vacant | Vacant | March 1, 1920 – May 31, 1920 | 66th | |
| Rorer A. James (Danville) | Democratic | June 1, 1920 – August 6, 1921 | 66th 67th | Elected to finish Saunders's term. Re-elected in 1920. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 7, 1921 – November 7, 1921 | 67th | |
| J. Murray Hooker (Stuart) | Democratic | November 8, 1921 – March 3, 1925 | 67th 68th | Elected to finish James's term. Re-elected in 1922. Retired. |
| Joseph Whitehead (Chatham) | Democratic | March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1931 | 69th 70th 71st | Elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Lost re-election. |
| Thomas G. Burch (Martinsville) | Democratic | March 4, 1931 – March 3, 1933 | 72nd | Elected in 1930. Redistricted to the at-large seat. |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | 73rd | |
| Thomas G. Burch (Martinsville) | Democratic | January 3, 1935 – May 31, 1946 | 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th | Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Resigned when appointed U.S. senator. |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 31, 1946 – November 5, 1946 | 79th | |
| Thomas B. Stanley (Stanleytown) | Democratic | November 5, 1946 – February 3, 1953 | 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd | Elected to finish Burch's term. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Resigned to run for Governor of Virginia. |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 3, 1953 – April 14, 1953 | 83rd | |
| William M. Tuck (South Boston) | Democratic | April 14, 1953 – January 3, 1969 | 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th | Elected to finish Stanley's term. 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. Retired. |
| Dan Daniel (Danville) | Democratic | January 3, 1969 – January 23, 1988 | 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th | 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. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 23, 1988 – June 14, 1988 | 100th | |
| Lewis F. Payne Jr. (Nellysford) | Democratic | June 14, 1988 – January 3, 1997 | 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th | Elected to finish Daniel's term. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Retired. |
| Virgil H. Goode Jr. (Rocky Mount) | Democratic | January 3, 1997 – January 27, 2000 | 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th | Elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Lost re-election. |
| Virgil H. Goode Jr. (Rocky Mount) | Independent | January 27, 2000 – August 1, 2002 | 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th | Elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Lost re-election. |
| Virgil H. Goode Jr. (Rocky Mount) | Republican | August 1, 2002 – January 3, 2009 | 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th | Elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Lost re-election. |
| Tom Perriello (Charlottesville) | Democratic | January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 | 111th | Elected in 2008. Lost re-election. |
| Robert Hurt (Chatham) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017 | 112th 113th 114th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Retired. |
| Tom Garrett (Ruckersville) | Republican | January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019 | 115th | Elected in 2016. Retired. |
| Denver Riggleman (Afton) | Republican | January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021 | 116th | Elected in 2018. Lost renomination. |
| Bob Good (Evington) | Republican | January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 | 117th 118th | Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Lost renomination. |
| John McGuire (Goochland) | Republican | January 3, 2025 – present | 119th | Elected in 2024. |

## Historical district boundaries

The Virginia Fifth District was originally created in 1788, including the counties of Albemarle, Amherst, Fluvanna, Goochland, Louisa, Spotsylvania, Orange, and Culpepper.