37°32′19″N 77°26′00″W / 37.53865°N 77.43331°W / 37.53865; -77.43331

Virginia House of Delegates
163rd Virginia General Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
Established1776
Preceded byHouse of Burgesses
New session started
January 10, 2024
Leadership
Don Scott (D)
since January 10, 2024
Majority Leader
Charniele Herring (D)
since January 10, 2024
Minority Leader
Todd Gilbert (R)
since January 10, 2024
Structure
Seats100
Political groups
Majority
  •   Democratic (51)
Political groups
Minority
Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle IV, Virginia Constitution
Salary$17,640/year + per diem
Elections
Last election
November 7, 2023
Next election
November 4, 2025
RedistrictingBy 16-member bipartisan commission, approved by General Assembly
Meeting place
House of Delegates Chamber
Virginia State Capitol
Richmond, Virginia
Website
Virginia General Assembly

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. 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.[1] Originally having 22 members, the House of Burgesses met from 1619 through 1632 in the choir of the church at Jamestown.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

On November 7, 2023, the Democrats regained control of the House of Delegates after securing a 51-seat majority.[6]

Salary and qualifications

The annual salary for delegates is $17,640 per year.[7] Each delegate represents roughly 84,702 people.[7] 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.[8][9] 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.[8][10]

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)
Total
Democratic Republican 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[11] 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

SpeakerDon Scott
Majority LeaderCharniele Herring
Majority Caucus ChairKathy Tran
Minority LeaderTodd Gilbert
Minority Caucus ChairAmanda Batten

Committee chairs and ranking members

The House has 14 standing committees.[12]

CommitteeChairVice ChairSenior Minority Member
Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Lee Ware Danny Marshall Kenneth R. Plum
Appropriations Barry Knight Terry Austin Luke Torian
Commerce and Energy Terry Kilgore Jeion Ward
Communications, Technology and Innovation Emily Brewer James E. Edmunds Alfonso H. Lopez
Counties Cities and Towns Keith Hodges Will Morefield
Courts of Justice Les Adams Vivian Watts
Education John Avoli Jeff Bourne
Finance Roxann Robinson Buddy Fowler Vivian Watts
General Laws Jay Leftwich Thomas C. Wright David Bulova
Health, Welfare and Institutions Bobby Orrock Chris Head Mark Sickles
Privileges and Elections Margaret Ransone Israel O'Quinn Mark Sickles
Public Safety Tony Wilt Matt Fariss Patrick Hope
Rules Todd Gilbert
Transportation Terry Austin Dave LaRock Jeion Ward

Members

Districts map from the 2023 election

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 162nd Virginia General Assembly, which convened in January 2022.

District Name Party Areas represented First election
Counties Cities
1 Terry Kilgore Rep Lee, Scott, Wise (part) Norton 1993
2 Candi King Dem Prince William (part), Stafford (part) 2021
3 Will Morefield Rep Bland, Buchanan, Russell (part), Tazewell 2009
4 Will Wampler Rep Dickenson, Russell (part), Washington (part), Wise (part) 2019
5 Israel O'Quinn Rep Grayson, Smyth (part), Washington (part) Bristol, Galax 2011
6 Jed Arnold Rep Carroll, Smyth (part), Wythe 2023
7 Marie March Rep Floyd, Montgomery (part), Pulaski (part) 2021
8 Joseph McNamara Rep Craig, Montgomery (part), Roanoke (part) Salem 2018
9 Wren Williams Rep Franklin (part), Henry (part), Patrick 2021
10 Wendy Gooditis Dem Clarke (part), Frederick (part), Loudoun (part) 2017
11 Sam Rasoul Dem Roanoke (part) 2013
12 Jason Ballard Rep Giles, Montgomery (part), Pulaski (part) Radford 2021
13 Danica Roem Dem Prince William (part) Manassas Park 2017
14 Danny Marshall Rep Henry (part), Pittsylvania (part) Danville 2001
15 Todd Gilbert Rep Page, Rockingham (part), Shenandoah, Warren (part) 2005
16 Les Adams Rep Henry (part), Pittsylvania (part) Martinsville 2013
17 Chris Head Rep Botetourt (part), Roanoke (part) Roanoke (part) 2011
18 Michael Webert Rep Culpeper (part), Fauquier (part), Rappahannock, Warren (part) 2011
19 Terry Austin Rep Alleghany, Bedford (part), Botetourt (part) Covington 2013
20 John Avoli Rep Augusta (part), Highland, Nelson(part) Staunton, Waynesboro 2019
21 Kelly Fowler Dem Virginia Beach (part) Chesapeake (part) 2017
22 Vacant Bedford (part), Campbell (part), Franklin (part) Lynchburg (part)
23 Wendell Walker Rep Amherst (part), Bedford (part) 2019
24 Ellen Campbell Rep Amherst (part), Augusta (part), Bath, Rockbridge Buena Vista, Lexington 2023
25 Chris Runion Rep Albemarle (part), Augusta (part), Rockingham (part) 2019
26 Tony Wilt Rep Rockingham (part) Harrisonburg 2010
27 Roxann Robinson Rep Chesterfield (part) 2010
28 Tara Durant Rep Stafford (part) Fredericksburg (part) 2021
29 Bill Wiley Rep Frederick (part), Warren (part) Winchester 2020
30 Nick Freitas Rep Culpeper (part), Madison, Orange 2015
31 Elizabeth Guzmán Dem Fauquier (part), Prince William (part) 2017
32 David A. Reid Dem Loudoun (part) 2017
33 Dave LaRock Rep Clarke (part), Frederick (part), Loudoun (part) 2013
34 Kathleen Murphy Dem Fairfax (part), Loudoun (part) 2015
35 Holly Seibold Dem Fairfax (part) 2023
36 Kenneth R. Plum Dem 1981
37 David Bulova Dem Fairfax 2005
38 Kaye Kory Dem 2009
39 Vivian Watts Dem 1995
40 Dan Helmer Dem Fairfax (part), Prince William (part) 2019
41 Eileen Filler-Corn Dem Fairfax (part) 2010
42 Kathy Tran Dem 2017
43 Mark Sickles Dem 2003
44 Paul Krizek Dem 2015
45 Elizabeth Bennett-Parker Dem Arlington (part), Fairfax (part) Alexandria (part) 2021
46 Charniele Herring Dem 2009
47 Patrick Hope Dem Arlington (part) 2009
48 Rip Sullivan Dem Arlington (part), Fairfax (part) 2014
49 Alfonso H. Lopez Dem 2011
50 Michelle Maldonado Dem Prince William (part) Manassas 2021
51 Briana Sewell Dem 2021
52 Luke Torian Dem 2009
53 Marcus Simon Dem Fairfax (part) Falls Church 2013
54 Bobby Orrock Rep Caroline (part), Spotsylvania (part) 1989
55 Buddy Fowler Rep Caroline (part), Hanover (part), Spotsylvania (part) 2009
56 John McGuire Rep Goochland (part), Henrico (part), Louisa, Spotsylvania (part) 2017
57 Sally L. Hudson Dem Albemarle (part) Charlottesville 2019
58 Vacant Albemarle (part), Fluvanna (part), Greene, Rockingham (part)
59 Matt Fariss Rep Albemarle (part), Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell (part), Nelson (part) 2011
60 James E. Edmunds Rep Campbell (part), Charlotte, Halifax, Prince Edward 2009
61 Thomas C. Wright Rep Amelia, Cumberland, Lunenburg (part), Mecklenburg, Nottoway 2000
62 Carrie Coyner Rep Chesterfield (part), Henrico (part), Prince George (part) Hopewell (part) 2019
63 Kim Taylor Rep Chesterfield (part), Dinwiddie (part), Prince George (part) Hopewell (part), Petersburg 2021
64 Emily Brewer Rep Isle of Wight (part), Prince George (part), Southampton (part), Surry (part), Sussex (part) Franklin (part), Suffolk (part) 2017
65 Lee Ware Rep Chesterfield (part), Fluvanna (part), Goochland (part), Powhatan 1998
66 Mike Cherry Rep Chesterfield (part) Colonial Heights 2021
67 Karrie Delaney Dem Fairfax (part), Loudoun (part) 2017
68 Dawn Adams Dem Chesterfield (part), Henrico (part) Richmond (part) 2017
69 Betsy B. Carr Dem Chesterfield (part) 2009
70 Delores McQuinn Dem Chesterfield (part), Henrico (part) 2009
71 Jeff Bourne Dem Henrico (part) 2017
72 Schuyler VanValkenburg Dem 2017
73 Rodney Willett Dem Richmond (part) 2019
74 Vacant Charles City, Henrico (part)
75 Otto Wachsmann Rep Brunswick, Dinwiddie (part) Greensville, Isle of Wight (part), Lunenburg (part), Southampton (part), Surry (part), Sussex (part) Emporia, Franklin (part) 2021
76 Clinton Jenkins Dem Chesapeake (part), Suffolk (part) 2019
77 Cliff Hayes Jr. Dem 2016
78 Jay Leftwich Rep Chesapeake (part) 2013
79 Vacant Norfolk (part), Portsmouth (part)
80 Don Scott Dem Chesapeake (part), Norfolk (part), Portsmouth (part), Suffolk (part) 2019
81 Barry Knight Rep Chesapeake (part), Virginia Beach (part) 2009
82 Anne Ferrell Tata Rep Virginia Beach (part) 2021
83 Vacant Norfolk (part), Virginia Beach (part)
84 Vacant Virginia Beach (part)
85 Karen Greenhalgh Rep 2021
86 Irene Shin Dem Fairfax (part), Loudoun (part) 2021
87 Suhas Subramanyam Dem Loudoun (part), Prince William (part) 2019
88 Philip Scott Rep Fauquier (part), Spotsylvania (part), Stafford (part) Fredericksburg (part) 2021
89 Jackie Glass Dem Norfolk (part) 2022
90 Angelia Williams Graves Dem Norfolk (part), Virginia Beach (part) 2021
91 A.C. Cordoza Rep York (part) Hampton (part), Poquoson 2021
92 Jeion Ward Dem Hampton (part) 2003
93 Vacant James City (part), York (part) Newport News (part), Williamsburg
94 Shelly Simonds Dem Newport News (part) 2019
95 Marcia Price Dem Hampton (part), Newport News (part) 2015
96 Amanda Batten Rep James City (part), York (part) 2019
97 Scott Wyatt Rep Hanover (part), King William (part), New Kent 2019
98 Keith Hodges Rep Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William (part), Mathews, Middlesex 2011
99 Margaret Ransone Rep Caroline (part), King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland 2011
100 Robert Bloxom, Jr. Rep Accomack, Northampton Norfolk (part), Virginia Beach (part) 2014

Database of Members past and present

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."[13][14][15]

See also

References

  1. "This Day in History". Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  2. Commonwealth of Virginia. "Capitol Square Timeline". Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  3. Commonwealth of Virginia. "Timeline".
  4. "Newly-Empowered Virginia Democrats Promise Action". Voice of America. Associated Press. January 8, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  5. "Proposed Amendments for 2020 - Virginia Department of Elections". www.elections.virginia.gov. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  6. Kronzer, Jessica (November 7, 2023). "Democrats sweep Virginia elections to take control of General Assembly". WTOP. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Virginia House of Delegates". DailyPress.com. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  8. 1 2 "Virginia State Legislature" (PDF). VAKids.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  9. "Constitution of Virginia, Article IV, Section 4. Qualifications of senators and delegates". Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  10. "Constitution of Virginia, Article IV, Section 6. Legislative sessions". Virginia General Assembly. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
  11. The 1997 general election yielded a 51-48-1 Democratic majority. David Brickley resigned his seat right afterward, however, and a special election for District 51 was called. His seat flipped to the Republicans, and with Independent Lacey Putney siding with the Republicans, the chamber was tied. Democrats retained the Speakership through a power-sharing agreement.
  12. "Virginia House of Delegates Committees List". virginiageneralassembly.gov. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  13. "Virginia House unveils new searchable website of its members". Village News. January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  14. "Virginia House of Delegates unveils searchable website". Henrico Citizen. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  15. Hankerson, Mechelle (January 3, 2019). "New database holds 400 years worth of information on members of Virginia's legislature". Virginia MErcury. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
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