# Virginia's 1st congressional district

Virginia's first congressional district is a United States congressional district in the commonwealth of Virginia.
The district is sometimes referred to as "America's First District" since it includes the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. In the 18th and early 19th century, it comprised northwestern Virginia (that became Frederick County, Virginia as well as the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia after the American Civil War). The district includes major military installations and has been represented by Republican Rob Wittman since 2007.
In 2016, the adjacent 3rd district was ruled unconstitutional. New districts have been drawn.

## Recent district election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 58% - 41% |
| 2009 | Governor | McDonnell 70% - 30% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 60% - 40% |
| 2013 | Governor | Cuccinelli 53% - 36% |
| 2013 | Lt. Governor | Jackson 51% - 48% |
| 2013 | Attorney General | Obenshain 60% - 40% |
| 2014 | Senate | Gillespie 58% - 39% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 54% - 40% |
| 2017 | Governor | Gillespie 55% - 44% |
| 2017 | Lt. Governor | Vogel 57% - 43% |
| 2017 | Attorney General | Donley Adams 57% - 43% |
| 2018 | Senate | Stewart 50% - 48% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 52% - 46% |
| 2020 | Senate | Gade 53% - 47% |
| 2021 | Governor | Youngkin 58% - 41% |
| 2021 | Lt. Governor | Sears 58% - 42% |
| 2021 | Attorney General | Miyares 58% - 42% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 52% - 47% |
| 2024 | Senate | Cao 52% - 48% |

## 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:
Chesterfield County (4)
    Bon Air, Brandermill, Midlothian, Woodlake
Essex County (1)
    Tappahannock
Gloucester County (2)
    Gloucester Courthouse, Gloucester Point
Hanover County (3)
    Ashland, Hanover, Mechanicsville
Henrico County (5)
    Glen Allen (part; also 4th), Innsbrook, Short Pump, Tuckahoe, Wyndham
James City County (0)
    No incorporated or census-recognized communities
King and Queen County (1)
    King and Queen Court House
King William County (3)
    All 3 communities
Lancaster County (5)
    All 5 communities
Mathews County (2)
    Gwynn, Mathews
Middlesex County (3)
    All 3 communities
New Kent County (1)
    New Kent
Northumberland County (1)
    Heathsville
Richmond County (1)
    Warsaw
Westmoreland County (2)
    Colonial Beach, Montross
York County (2)
    Bethel Manor, Yorktown
Independent cities (2)
    Poquoson, Williamsburg

## Historic district boundaries

The Virginia First District started in 1788 covering the counties of Berkeley, Frederick, Hampshire, Hardy, Harrison, Monongalia, Ohio, Randolph and Shenandoah. Of these only Shenandoah and Frederick Counties are in Virginia today; the rest are now part of West Virginia. The modern counties of Clarke, Warren and most of Page as well as the independent city of Winchester were included as part of Frederick and Shenandoah counties in 1788. In West Virginia all the current state north and east of a generalized line running from Wood County to Pocahontas County was in the congressional district. The one exception was that Pendleton County, West Virginia was in Virginia's 3rd congressional district.
In the redistribution which followed the 1850 census (in force 1853–1863), the First District comprised sixteen counties in eastern Virginia. The counties included (amongst others) Accomack, Essex, Gloucester, James City, King and Queen, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Richmond, Warwick and Westmoreland. In an 1862 Union special election three out of the sixteen counties in the Union district supplied returns.
The First District is noted for its strong presence of military institutions, including the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Increasing numbers of military and retired voters have swung the district to the right.

## Recent election results

2000 Virginia's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jo Ann Davis | 151,344 | 57.5 |
| | Democratic | Lawrence A. Davies | 97,399 | 37.0 |
| | Independent | Sharon A. Wood | 9,652 | 3.7 |
| | Independent | Josh Billings | 4,082 | 1.6 |
| | Write-ins | | 537 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 263,014 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2002 Virginia's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jo Ann Davis (Incumbent) | 113,168 | 95.9 |
| | Write-ins | | 4,829 | 4.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 117,997 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2004 Virginia's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jo Ann Davis (Incumbent) | 225,071 | 78.6 |
| | Independent | William A. Lee | 57,434 | 20.0 |
| | Write-ins | | 4,029 | 1.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 286,534 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2006 Virginia's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jo Ann Davis (Incumbent) | 143,889 | 63.0 |
| | Democratic | Shawn M. O'Donnell | 81,083 | 35.5 |
| | Independent | Marvin F. Pixton III | 3,236 | 1.4 |
| | Write-ins | | 326 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 228,534 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2007 Virginia's 1st congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rob Wittman | 42,772 | 60.8 |
| | Democratic | Philip Forgit | 26,282 | 37.3 |
| | Independent | Lucky R. Narain | 1,253 | 1.8 |
| | Write-ins | | 75 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 70,382 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2008 Virginia's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rob Wittman (Incumbent) | 203,839 | 56.6 |
| | Democratic | Bill Day | 150,432 | 41.8 |
| | Libertarian | Nathan Larson | 5,265 | 1.5 |
| | Write-in | | 756 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 360,292 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2010 Virginia's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rob Wittman (Incumbent) | 135,564 | 63.9 |
| | Democratic | Krystal M. Ball | 73,824 | 34.8 |
| | Independent Greens | G. Gail Parker | 2,544 | 1.2 |
| | Write-in | | 304 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 212,236 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2012 Virginia's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rob Wittman (Incumbent) | 200,845 | 56.3 |
| | Democratic | Adam M. Cook | 147,036 | 41.2 |
| | Independent Greens | G. Gail Parker | 8,308 | 2.3 |
| | Write-in | | 617 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 356,806 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2014 Virginia's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rob Wittman (Incumbent) | 131,851 | 62.9 |
| | Democratic | Norm Mosher | 72,054 | 34.4 |
| | Independent Greens | G. Gail Parker | 5,097 | 2.4 |
| | Write-in | | 604 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 209,606 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2016 Virginia's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rob Wittman (Incumbent) | 230,213 | 59.86 |
| | Democratic | Matt Rowe | 140,785 | 36.61 |
| | Independent | Glenda Parker | 12,866 | 3.35 |
| | | Write-in | 737 | 0.19 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 384,601 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2018 Virginia's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rob Wittman (Incumbent) | 183,250 | 55.18 |
| | Democratic | Vangie Williams | 148,464 | 44.70 |
| | | Write-in | 387 | 0.12 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 332,101 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2020 Virginia's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rob Wittman (Incumbent) | 260,706 | 58.2 |
| | Democratic | Qasim Rashid | 186,927 | 41.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 447,633 | 97.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2022 Virginia's 1st congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rob Wittman (Incumbent) | 191,828 | 56.0 |
| | Democratic | Herb Jones | 147,229 | 43.0 |
| | Independent | David Foster | 3,388 | 1.0 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 297 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 342,742 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## List of members representing the district

| Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1789 |||||
| Alexander White (Woodville) | Pro-Administration | March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1793 | 1st 2nd | Elected in 1789. Re-elected in 1790. Lost re-election. |
| Robert Rutherford (Charles Town) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 | 3rd 4th | Elected in 1793. Re-elected in 1795. Lost re-election. |
| Robert Rutherford (Charles Town) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797 | 3rd 4th | Elected in 1793. Re-elected in 1795. Lost re-election. |
| Daniel Morgan (Winchester) | Federalist | March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1799 | 5th | Elected in 1797. Retired. |
| Robert Page (Frederick County) | Federalist | March 4, 1799 – March 3, 1801 | 6th | Elected in 1799. Retired. |
| John Smith (Hackwood) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1803 | 7th | Elected in 1801. Redistricted to the 3rd district. |
| John G. Jackson (Clarksburg) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1803 – September 28, 1810 | 8th 9th 10th 11th | Elected in 1803. Re-elected in 1805. Re-elected in 1807. Re-elected in 1809. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | September 29, 1810 – December 20, 1810 | 11th | |
| William McKinley (Ohio County) | Democratic-Republican | December 21, 1810 – March 3, 1811 | 11th | Elected in to finish Jackson's term. Lost re-election. |
| Thomas Wilson (Morgantown) | Federalist | March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1813 | 12th | Elected in 1811. Lost re-election. |
| John G. Jackson (Clarksburg) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1817 | 13th 14th | Elected in 1813. Re-elected in 1815. Retired. |
| James Pindall (Clarksburg) | Federalist | March 4, 1817 – July 26, 1820 | 15th 16th | Elected in 1817. Re-elected in 1819. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 27, 1820 – October 22, 1820 | 16th | |
| Edward B. Jackson (Clarksburg) | Democratic-Republican | October 23, 1820 – March 3, 1823 | 16th 17th | Elected to finish Pindall's term. Re-elected in 1821. Retired. |
| Thomas Newton Jr. (Norfolk) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th 19th 20th 21st | Redistricted from the 21st district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Election invalidated. |
| Thomas Newton Jr. (Norfolk) | Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 9, 1830 | 18th 19th 20th 21st | Redistricted from the 21st district and re-elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Election invalidated. |
| George Loyall (Norfolk) | Jackson | March 9, 1830 – March 3, 1831 | 21st | Won election contest. Lost re-election. |
| Thomas Newton Jr. (Norfolk) | Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 | 22nd | Elected in 1831. Retired. |
| George Loyall (Norfolk) | Jackson | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837 | 23rd 24th | Elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1835. Retired. |
| Francis Mallory (Hampton) | Whig | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 | 25th | Elected in 1837. Lost re-election. |
| Joel Holleman (Burwell Bay) | Democratic | March 4, 1839 – December 1, 1840 | 26th | Elected in 1839. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 2, 1840 – December 27, 1840 | 26th | |
| Francis Mallory (Hampton) | Whig | December 28, 1840 – March 3, 1843 | 26th 27th | Elected to finish Holleman's term. Re-elected in 1841. Retired. |
| Archibald Atkinson (Smithfield) | Democratic | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849 | 28th 29th 30th | Elected in 1843. Re-elected in 1845. Re-elected in 1847. Retired. |
| John S. Millson (Norfolk) | Democratic | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853 | 31st 32nd | Elected in 1849. Re-elected in 1851. Redistricted to the 2nd district. |
| Thomas H. Bayly (Accomac) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – June 23, 1856 | 33rd 34th | Elected in 1853. Re-elected in 1855. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 24, 1856 – November 30, 1856 | 34th | |
| Muscoe R. H. Garnett (Loretto) | Democratic | December 1, 1856 – March 3, 1861 | 34th 35th 36th | Elected to finish Bayly's term. Re-elected in 1857. Re-elected in 1859. Retired. |
| Vacant | Vacant | March 4, 1861 – October 24, 1861 | 37th | |
| Joseph E. Segar (Elizabeth City) | Unionist | October 24, 1861 – February 11, 1862 | 37th | Elected in 1861. Declared by the House to be not entitled to the seat. |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 11, 1862 – March 16, 1862 | 37th | |
| Joseph E. Segar (Elizabeth City) | Unionist | March 16, 1862 – May 17, 1864 | 37th 38th | Elected to finish his own term. Re-elected in 1863. Declared by the House to be not entitled to the seat. |
| District inactive | District inactive | May 17, 1864 – January 30, 1870 | 38th 39th 40th 41st | Civil War and Reconstruction |
| Richard S. Ayer (Warsaw) | Republican | January 31, 1870 – March 3, 1871 | 41st | Elected to finish the short term. Retired. |
| John Critcher (Oak Grove) | Democratic | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 | 42nd | Elected in 1870. Retired. |
| James B. Sener (Fredericksburg) | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | Elected in 1872. Lost re-election. |
| Beverly B. Douglas (Aylett) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – December 22, 1878 | 44th 45th | Elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878, but died before his term began. |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 23, 1878 – January 22, 1879 | 45th | |
| Richard L. T. Beale (Hague) | Democratic | January 23, 1879 – March 3, 1881 | 45th 46th | Elected to finish Douglas's term. Retired. |
| George T. Garrison (Accomac) | Democratic | March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | 47th | Elected in 1880. Lost re-election. |
| Robert M. Mayo (Hague) | Readjuster | March 4, 1883 – March 20, 1884 | 48th | Elected in 1882. Election invalidated. |
| George T. Garrison (Accomac) | Democratic | March 20, 1884 – March 3, 1885 | 48th | [data missing] Retired. |
| Thomas Croxton (Tappahannock) | Democratic | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887 | 49th | Elected in 1884. Lost re-election. |
| Thomas H. B. Browne (Accomac) | Republican | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891 | 50th 51st | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Lost re-election. |
| William A. Jones (Warsaw) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – April 17, 1918 | 52nd 53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th | Elected in 1890. Re-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. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | April 18, 1918 – July 2, 1918 | 65th | |
| S. Otis Bland (Newport News) | Democratic | July 2, 1918 – March 3, 1933 | 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected to finish Jones's term. Re-elected in 1918. 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 | |
| S. Otis Bland (Newport News) | Democratic | January 3, 1935 – February 16, 1950 | 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st | 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. Re-elected in 1948. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 16, 1950 – May 2, 1950 | 81st | |
| Edward J. Robeson Jr. (Warwick) | Democratic | May 2, 1950 – January 3, 1959 | 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th | Elected to finish Bland's term. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Lost renomination. |
| Thomas N. Downing (Newport News) | Democratic | January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1977 | 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th | 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. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Retired. |
| Paul Trible (Newport News) | Republican | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1983 | 95th 96th 97th | Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Retired to run for U.S. senator. |
| Herbert H. Bateman (Newport News) | Republican | January 3, 1983 – September 11, 2000 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th | 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. Died after announcing his retirement. |
| Vacant | Vacant | September 11, 2000 – January 3, 2001 | 106th | |
| Jo Ann Davis (Gloucester) | Republican | January 3, 2001 – October 6, 2007 | 107th 108th 109th 110th | Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | October 6, 2007 – December 11, 2007 | 110th | |
| Rob Wittman (Montross) | Republican | December 11, 2007 – present | 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected to finish Davis's term. Re-elected in 2008. Re-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. |