Virginia's 1st congressional district

Virginia's 1st congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since 2023
Representative
Distribution
  • 69.54% urban[1]
  • 30.46% rural
Population (2024)823,798[2]
Median household
income		$100,817[3]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+3[4]
Virginia's 1st congressional district from January 3, 2023

Virginia's first congressional district is a United States congressional district in the commonwealth of Virginia. It streches from the Richmond suburbs towards the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. The district encompasses the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. It has been represented by Republican Rob Wittman since 2007.

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.[5][6]

Recent district election results from statewide races

Year Office Results[7]
2008 President McCain 58% - 41%
Senate Warner 57% - 42%
2009 Governor McDonnell 70% - 30%
Lt. Governor Bolling 67% - 33%
Attorney General Cuccinelli 69% - 31%
2012 President Romney 59% - 39%
Senate Allen 57% - 42%
2013 Governor Cuccinelli 53% - 36%
Lt. Governor Jackson 51% - 48%
Attorney General Obenshain 60% - 40%
2014 Senate Gillespie 58% - 39%
2016 President Trump 54% - 40%
2017 Governor Gillespie 55% - 44%
Lt. Governor Vogel 57% - 43%
Attorney General Donley Adams 57% - 43%
2018 Senate Stewart 50% - 48%
2020 President Trump 52% - 46%
Senate Gade 53% - 47%
2021 Governor Youngkin 58% - 41%
Lt. Governor Earle-Sears 58% - 42%
Attorney General Miyares 58% - 42%
2024 President Trump 52% - 47%
Senate Cao 52% - 48%
2025 Governor Spanberger 51% - 49%
Lt. Governor Reid 51% - 49%
Attorney General Miyares 54% - 46%

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:[8]

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, Kilmarnock (shared with Lancaster County)

Richmond County (1)

Warsaw

Westmoreland County (2)

Colonial Beach, Montross

York County (2)

Bethel Manor, Yorktown

Independent cities (2)

Poquoson, Williamsburg

Historic district boundaries

2003–2013
2013–2017
2017–2023

The Virginia First District started in 1788 covering the counties of Berkeley, Frederick, Hampshire, Hardy, Harrison, Monongalia, Ohio, Randolph and Shenandoah.[9][10] 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.[11]

Recent election results

2000 Virginia's 1st congressional district election
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 263,014 100.00
Republican hold
2002 Virginia's 1st congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jo Ann Davis (Incumbent) 113,168 95.9
Write-ins 4,829 4.1
Total votes 117,997 100.00
Republican hold
2004 Virginia's 1st congressional district election
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 286,534 100.00
Republican hold
2006 Virginia's 1st congressional district election
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 228,534 100.00
Republican hold
2007 Virginia's 1st congressional district special election[12]
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 70,382 100.00
Republican hold
2008 Virginia's 1st congressional district election[13]
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 360,292 100
Republican hold
2010 Virginia's 1st congressional district election[14]
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 212,236 100
Republican hold
2012 Virginia's 1st congressional district election[15]
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 356,806 100
Republican hold
2014 Virginia's 1st congressional district election[16]
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 209,606 100
Republican hold
2016 Virginia's 1st congressional district election[17]
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 384,601 100.00
Republican hold
2018 Virginia's 1st congressional district election[18]
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 332,101 100.00
Republican hold
2020 Virginia's 1st congressional district election[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rob Wittman (Incumbent) 260,706 58.2
Democratic Qasim Rashid 186,927 41.8
Total votes 447,633 97.00
Republican hold
2022 Virginia's 1st congressional district election
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 297 0.1
Total votes 342,742 100.00
Republican hold
2024 Virginia's 1st congressional district election[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rob Wittman (incumbent) 269,657 56.3
Democratic Leslie Mehta 208,445 43.5
Write-in 804 0.2
Total votes 478,906 100.0
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.
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1797

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 September 29, 1810 –
December 20, 1810 		11th
William McKinley
(Ohio County) 		Democratic-Republican December 21, 1810 –
March 3, 1811 		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 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.
Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –
March 9, 1830
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 December 2, 1840 –
December 27, 1840
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 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 March 4, 1861 –
October 24, 1861 		37th

Joseph E. Segar
(Elizabeth City) 		Unionist October 24, 1861 –
February 11, 1862 		Elected in 1861.
Declared by the House to be not entitled to the seat.[21]
Vacant February 11, 1862 –
March 16, 1862

Joseph E. Segar
(Elizabeth City) 		Unionist March 16, 1862 –
May 17, 1864 		37th
38th 		Elected to finish his own term.[21]
Re-elected in 1863.
Declared by the House to be not entitled to the seat.[21]
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 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 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 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 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.
Announced retirement, then died.
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 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)". www.census.gov. US Census Bureau Geography. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  2. ^ "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  3. ^ "My Congressional District".
  4. ^ "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)". Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  5. ^ "Virginia Politics: Court orders redistricting". Daily Press. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  6. ^ Pathé, Simone (January 7, 2016). "Judges Select New Virginia Congressional Map". Rollcall.com. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  7. ^ "DRA 2020". davesredistricting.org. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  8. ^ "Virginia - Congressional District 1 - Representative Robert J. Wittman" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 23, 2025.
  9. ^ Parsons, Stanley B., William W. Beach and Dan Hermann. United States Congressional Districts, 1788–1841 (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1978) p. 7
  10. ^ Statute of 20 November 1788
  11. ^ "Virginia 1st District". National Journal Almanac. National Journal Group Inc. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  12. ^ "December 11, 2007 Special Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  13. ^ "STATISTICS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF November 4, 2008" (PDF). Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  14. ^ Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010" (PDF). p. 37.
  15. ^ "November 6, 2012 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  16. ^ "Election Results | Virginia Department of Elections". Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  17. ^ "2016 November General". Results.elections.virginia.gov. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  18. ^ "2018 November General". Results.elections.virginia.gov. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  19. ^ "Virginia Election Results: First Congressional District". New York Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  20. ^ "November 5, 2024 General and Special Elections". Virginia Department of Elections.
  21. ^ a b c "Bioguide Search".

37°51′08″N 76°54′24″W / 37.85222°N 76.90667°W / 37.85222; -76.90667

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