# Virginia's 2nd congressional district

Virginia's second congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It currently encompasses all of the counties of Accomack, Northampton, and Isle of Wight; all of the independent cities of Virginia Beach, Suffolk, and Franklin; part of the independent city of Chesapeake; and part of Southampton County. However, its boundaries have changed greatly over the centuries; it initially encompassed what became West Virginia after the American Civil War. It is considered among the nation's most competitive congressional districts.
The district has a significant military presence. The Hampton Roads area is considered to be a military town.
Republican Scott Rigell defeated Democrat Glenn Nye in the November 2, 2010, election, and took his seat January 3, 2011, serving until 2017, when he was succeeded by Scott Taylor. In the November 6, 2018, election, Democrat Elaine Luria defeated Republican Scott Taylor. In 2022, Luria was defeated by Republican Jen Kiggans.
The responsibility of drawing maps for congressional and state legislative districts passed from the Virginia Redistricting Commission (VRC) to the Supreme Court of Virginia in November 2021. The Supreme Court completed redistricting in December 2021, which was used for the 2022 elections.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 51% - 48% |
| 2009 | Governor | McDonnell 63% - 37% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 52% - 48% |
| 2013 | Governor | Cuccinelli 48% - 45% |
| 2013 | Lt. Governor | Northam 54% - 46% |
| 2013 | Attorney General | Obenshain 54% - 46% |
| 2014 | Senate | Gillespie 52% - 46% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 50% - 44% |
| 2017 | Governor | Northam 50% - 48% |
| 2017 | Lt. Governor | Vogel 52% - 48% |
| 2017 | Attorney General | Donley Adams 51% - 49% |
| 2018 | Senate | Kaine 53% - 45% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 50% - 48% |
| 2020 | Senate | Warner 52% - 48% |
| 2021 | Governor | Youngkin 55% - 44% |
| 2021 | Lt. Governor | Sears 56% - 44% |
| 2021 | Attorney General | Miyares 55% - 45% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 49.3% - 49.1% |
| 2024 | Senate | Kaine 51% - 49% |

## 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:
Accomack County (48)
    All 48 communities
Franklin County (4)
    Courtland, Ivor, Sedley, Southampton Meadows
Isle of Wight County (7)
    All 7 communities
Northampton County (8)
    All 8 communities
Independent cities (4)
    Chesapeake (part; also 3rd), Franklin, Suffolk, Virginia Beach

## List of members representing the district

| Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1789 |||||
| John Brown (Charlottesville) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1789 – June 1, 1792 | 1st 2nd | Elected in 1789. Re-elected in 1790. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 2, 1792 – March 3, 1793 | 2nd | |
| Andrew Moore (Lexington) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 | 3rd 4th | Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1793. Re-elected in 1795. Retired. |
| Andrew Moore (Lexington) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797 | 3rd 4th | Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1793. Re-elected in 1795. Retired. |
| David Holmes (Harrisonburg) | 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 4th district. |
| James Stephenson (Martinsburg) | Federalist | March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805 | 8th | Elected in 1803. Lost re-election. |
| John Morrow | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1809 | 9th 10th | Elected in 1805. Re-elected in 1807. Lost re-election. |
| James Stephenson (Martinsburg) | Federalist | March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1811 | 11th | Elected in 1809. Lost re-election. |
| John Baker (Shepherdstown) | Federalist | March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1813 | 12th | Elected in 1811. Retired. |
| Francis White (Romney) | Federalist | March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1815 | 13th | Elected in 1813. Lost re-election. |
| Magnus Tate (Martinsburg) | Federalist | March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1817 | 14th | Elected in 1815. Retired. |
| Edward Colston (Martinsburg) | Federalist | March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1819 | 15th | Elected in 1817. Lost re-election. |
| Thomas Van Swearingen (Shepherdstown) | Federalist | March 4, 1819 – August 19, 1822 | 16th 17th | Elected in 1819. Re-elected in 1821. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 19, 1822 – October 28, 1822 | 17th | |
| James Stephenson (Martinsburg) | Federalist | October 28, 1822 – March 3, 1823 | 17th | Elected to finish Van Swearingen's term and seated December 2, 1822. Redistricted to the 16th district. |
| Arthur Smith (Smithfield) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th | Redistricted from the 20th district and Re-elected in 1823. Retired. |
| James Trezvant (Jerusalem) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1831 | 19th 20th 21st | Elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Re-elected in 1829. [data missing] |
| John Y. Mason (Hicksford) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1831 – January 11, 1837 | 22nd 23rd 24th | Elected in 1831. Re-elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1835. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 12, 1837 – March 3, 1837 | 24th | |
| Francis E. Rives (Littleton) | Democratic | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1841 | 25th 26th | Elected in 1837. Re-elected in 1839. Retired. |
| George B. Cary (Bethlehem) | Democratic | March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | 27th | Elected in 1841. Retired. |
| George Dromgoole (Summit) | Democratic | March 4, 1843 – April 27, 1847 | 28th 29th 30th | Elected in 1843. Re-elected in 1845. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | April 27, 1847 – August 5, 1847 | 30th | |
| Richard K. Meade (Petersburg) | Democratic | August 5, 1847 – March 3, 1853 | 30th 31st 32nd | Elected to finish Dromgoole's term. Re-elected in 1847. Re-elected in 1849. Re-elected in 1851. Lost renomination. |
| John Millson (Norfolk) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1861 | 33rd 34th 35th 36th | Elected in 1853. Re-elected in 1855. Re-elected in 1857. Re-elected in 1859. Retired. |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1861 – January 26, 1870 | 37th 38th 39th 40th | Civil War and Reconstruction |
| James H. Platt Jr. (Norfolk) | Republican | January 27, 1870 – March 3, 1875 | 41st 42nd 43rd | Elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. Lost re-election. |
| John Goode Jr. (Norfolk) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1881 | 44th 45th 46th | Elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Lost re-election. |
| John F. Dezendorf (Norfolk) | Republican | March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | 47th | Elected in 1880. Retired. |
| Harry Libbey (Old Point Comfort) | Readjuster | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 | 48th 49th | Elected in 1882. [data missing] |
| Harry Libbey (Old Point Comfort) | Republican | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887 | 48th 49th | Elected in 1884. Lost re-election. |
| George E. Bowden (Norfolk) | Republican | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891 | 50th 51st | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Lost re-election. |
| John W. Lawson (Isle of Wight) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | Elected in 1890. Retired. |
| David Gardiner Tyler (Sturgeon Point) | Democratic | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1897 | 53rd 54th | Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Lost re-election. |
| William A. Young (Norfolk) | Democratic | March 4, 1897 – April 26, 1898 | 55th | Election invalidated. |
| Richard A. Wise (Williamsburg) | Republican | April 26, 1898 – March 3, 1899 | 55th | Elected in 1898. Lost re-election. |
| William A. Young (Norfolk) | Democratic | March 4, 1899 – March 12, 1900 | 56th | Election invalidated |
| Richard A. Wise (Williamsburg) | Republican | March 12, 1900 – December 21, 1900 | 56th | Elected in 1900. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 21, 1900 – March 3, 1901 | 56th | |
| Harry L. Maynard (Portsmouth) | Democratic | March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1911 | 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st | Elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Lost re-election. |
| Edward E. Holland (Suffolk) | Democratic | March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1921 | 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th | Elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Retired. |
| Joseph T. Deal (Norfolk) | Democratic | March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1929 | 67th 68th 69th 70th | Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Lost re-election. |
| Menalcus Lankford (Norfolk) | Republican | March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1933 | 71st 72nd | Elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Lost re-election. |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | 73rd | |
| Colgate Darden (Norfolk) | Democratic | January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1937 | 74th | Elected in 1934. Lost renomination. |
| Norman R. Hamilton (Portsmouth) | Democratic | January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939 | 75th | Elected in 1936. Lost renomination. |
| Colgate Darden (Norfolk) | Democratic | January 3, 1939 – March 1, 1941 | 76th 77th | Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Resigned to run for Governor of Virginia. |
| Vacant | Vacant | March 1, 1941 – April 8, 1941 | 77th | |
| Winder R. Harris (Norfolk) | Democratic | April 8, 1941 – September 15, 1944 | 77th 78th | Elected to finish Darden's term. Re-elected in 1942. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | September 15, 1944 – November 7, 1944 | 78th | |
| Ralph H. Daughton (Norfolk) | Democratic | November 7, 1944 – January 3, 1947 | 78th 79th | Elected to finish Harris' term. Simultaneously elected to a full term in 1944. Lost renomination. |
| Porter Hardy Jr. (Portsmouth) | Democratic | January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1969 | 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th | 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. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Retired. |
| G. William Whitehurst (Norfolk) | Republican | January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1987 | 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th | 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. Retired. |
| Owen B. Pickett (Virginia Beach) | Democratic | January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2001 | 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th | 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. Retired. |
| Ed Schrock (Virginia Beach) | Republican | January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2005 | 107th 108th | Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Retired. |
| Thelma Drake (Norfolk) | Republican | January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009 | 109th 110th | Elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Lost re-election. |
| Glenn Nye (Norfolk) | Democratic | January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 | 111th | Elected in 2008. Lost re-election. |
| Scott Rigell (Virginia Beach) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017 | 112th 113th 114th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Retired. |
| Scott Taylor (Virginia Beach) | Republican | January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019 | 115th | Elected in 2016. Lost re-election. |
| Elaine Luria (Norfolk) | Democratic | January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | 116th 117th | Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Lost re-election. |
| Jen Kiggans (Virginia Beach) | Republican | January 3, 2023 – present | 118th 119th | Elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. |

## Election results
### 1980s

Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1980 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | G. William Whitehurst (Incumbent) | 97,319 | 89.84% |
| | Independent | Kenneth P. Morrison | 11,003 | 10.16% |
| | Write-in | | 6 | 0.01% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 108,328 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | G. William Whitehurst (Incumbent) | 78,108 | 99.88% |
| | Write-in | | 97 | 0.12% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 78,205 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1984 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | G. William Whitehurst (Incumbent) | 136,632 | 99.81% |
| | Write-in | | 256 | 0.19% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 136,888 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Owen B. Pickett | 54,491 | 49.46% |
| | Republican | A. Joe Canada Jr. | 46,137 | 41.88% |
| | Independent | Stephen P. Shao | 9,492 | 8.62% |
| | Write-in | | 49 | 0.04% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 110,169 | 100% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1988 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Owen B. Pickett (Incumbent) | 106,666 | 60.53% |
| | Republican | Jerry R. Curry | 62,564 | 35.51% |
| | Independent | Stephen P. Shao | 4,255 | 2.41% |
| | Independent | Robert A. Smith | 2,691 | 1.53% |
| | Write-in | | 32 | 0.02% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 176,208 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1990s

Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1990 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Owen B. Pickett (Incumbent) | 55,179 | 74.95% |
| | Independent | Harry G. Broskie | 15,915 | 21.62% |
| | Write-in | | 2,524 | 3.43% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 73,618 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1992 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Owen B. Pickett (Incumbent) | 99,253 | 56.03% |
| | Republican | J. L. Chapman IV | 77,797 | 43.92% |
| | Write-in | | 83 | 0.05% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 177,133 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1994 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Owen B. Pickett (Incumbent) | 81,372 | 59.05% |
| | Republican | J. L. Chapman IV | 56,375 | 40.91% |
| | Write-in | | 55 | 0.04% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 137,802 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Owen B. Pickett (Incumbent) | 106,215 | 64.77% |
| | Republican | John F. Tate | 57,586 | 35.11% |
| | Write-in | | 195 | 0.12% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 163,996 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Owen B. Pickett (Incumbent) | 67,975 | 94.29% |
| | Write-in | | 4,116 | 5.71% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 72,091 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2000s

Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Edward L. Schrock | 97,856 | 51.96% |
| | Democratic | Jody M. Wagner | 90,328 | 47.96% |
| | Write-in | | 145 | 0.08% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 188,329 | 100% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Edward L. Schrock (Incumbent) | 103,807 | 83.15% |
| | Green | D. C. Amarasinghe | 20,589 | 16.49% |
| | Write-in | | 450 | 0.36% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 124,846 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Thelma D. Drake | 132,946 | 55.08% |
| | Democratic | David B. Ashe | 108,180 | 44.82% |
| | Write-in | | 254 | 0.11% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 241,380 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Thelma D. Drake (Incumbent) | 88,777 | 51.27% |
| | Democratic | Phil Kellam | 83,901 | 48.45% |
| | Write-in | | 481 | 0.28% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 173,159 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Glenn Nye | 141,857 | 52.40% |
| | Republican | Thelma D. Drake (Incumbent) | 128,486 | 47.46% |
| | Write-in | | 368 | 0.14% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 270,711 | 100% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2010s

Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | E. Scott Rigell | 88,340 | 53.12% |
| | Democratic | Glenn Nye (Incumbent) | 70,591 | 42.45% |
| | Independent | Kenny E. Golden | 7,194 | 4.33% |
| | Write-in | | 164 | 0.10% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 166,289 | 100% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | E. Scott Rigell (Incumbent) | 166,231 | 53.76% |
| | Democratic | Paul O. Hirschbiel, Jr. | 142,548 | 46.10% |
| | Write-in | | 443 | 0.14% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 309,222 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | E. Scott Rigell (Incumbent) | 101,558 | 58.68% |
| | Democratic | Suzanne Patrick | 71,178 | 41.13% |
| | Write-in | | 324 | 0.19% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 173,060 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Scott Taylor | 190,475 | 61.33% |
| | Democratic | Shaun D. Brown | 119,440 | 38.46% |
| | | Write-in | 652 | 0.21% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 310,567 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Elaine Luria | 139,571 | 51.05% |
| | Republican | Scott Taylor (Incumbent) | 133,458 | 48.81% |
| | | Write-in | 371 | 0.14% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 273,400 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2020s

Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Elaine Luria (Incumbent) | 185,733 | 51.55% |
| | Republican | Scott Taylor | 165,031 | 45.81% |
| | Independent | David Foster | 9,170 | 2.55% |
| | | Write-in | 343 | 0.10% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 360,277 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jen Kiggans | 153,328 | 51.6% |
| | Democratic | Elaine Luria (Incumbent) | 143,219 | 48.2% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 449 | 0.2% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 296,996 | 100% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jen Kiggans (Incumbent) | 207,368 | 50.7% |
| | Democratic | Missy Cotter Smasal | 191,666 | 46.9% |
| | Independent | Robert Reid | 9,197 | 2.3% |
| | Write-ins | | 471 | 0.1% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 408,702 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Historical district boundaries

The Virginia Second District started in 1788 covering the counties of Mercer, Jefferson, Fayette, Bourbon, Lincoln, Nelson and Madison.