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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Virginia's House Of Delegates
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. Originally having 22 members, the House of Burgesses met from 1619 through 1632 in the choir of the church at Jamestown. 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.

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.

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.

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

Salary and qualifications

The annual salary for delegates is $17,640 per year. Each delegate represents roughly 84,702 people. 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. 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.

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

See also: Political party strength in Virginia

(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 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

Speaker Don Scott
Majority Leader Charniele Herring
Majority Caucus Chair Kathy Tran
Minority Leader Todd Gilbert
Minority Caucus Chair Amanda Batten
Minority Whip Michael Webert

Committee chairs and ranking members

The House has 14 standing committees.

Committee Chair Vice Chair Senior Minority Member
Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Alfonso Lopez Nadarius Clark
Appropriations Luke Torian Mark Sickles
Communications, Technology and Innovation Cliff Hayes Irene Shin
Counties, Cities and Towns Candi King Elizabeth Bennett-Parker
Courts of Justice Patrick Hope Marcus Simon
Education Sam Rasoul Shelly Simonds
Finance Vivian Watts Rip Sullivan
General Laws David Bulova Betsy Carr
Health and Human Services Mark Sickles Kathy Tran
Labor and Commerce Jeion Ward Charniele Herring
Privileges and Elections Cia Price Kelly Convirs-Fowler
Public Safety Marcus Simon Candi King
Rules Don Scott Dan Helmer
Transportation Karrie Delaney David Reid

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 163rd Virginia General Assembly, which convened on January 10, 2024.

District Name Party Areas represented First election
Counties Cities
1 Patrick Hope Dem Arlington (part) 2009
2 Adele McClure Dem 2023
3 Alfonso Lopez Dem Alexandria (part) 2011
4 Charniele Herring Dem Fairfax (part) 2009 (special)
5 Elizabeth Bennett-Parker Dem 2021
6 Rip Sullivan Dem Fairfax (part) 2013
7 Karen Keys-Gamarra Dem 2023
8 Irene Shin Dem 2021
9 Karrie Delaney Dem 2017
10 Dan Helmer Dem 2019
11 David Bulova Dem Fairfax (part) 2005
12 Holly Seibold Dem 2023 (special)
13 Marcus Simon Dem Falls Church 2013
14 Vivian Watts Dem 1981
15 Laura Cohen Dem 2023
16 Paul Krizek Dem 2015
17 Mark Sickles Dem 2003
18 Kathy Tran Dem 2017
19 Rozia Henson Dem Fairfax (part), Prince William (part) 2023
20 Michelle Maldonado Dem Prince William (part) Manassas, Manassas Park 2021
21 Josh Thomas Dem 2023
22 Ian Lovejoy Rep 2023
23 Candi King Dem Prince William (part), Stafford (part) 2021 (special)
24 Luke Torian Dem Prince William (part) 2009
25 Briana Sewell Dem 2021
26 Kannan Srinivasan Dem Loudoun (part) 2023
27 Atoosa Reaser Dem 2023
28 David Reid Dem 2017
29 Marty Martinez Dem 2023
30 Geary Higgins Rep Loudoun (part), Fauquier (part) 2023
31 Delores Oates Rep Clarke, Frederick (part), Warren (part) 2023
32 Bill Wiley Rep Frederick (part) Winchester 2019
33 Todd Gilbert Rep Page, Rockingham (part), Shenandoah, Warren (part) 2005
34 Tony Wilt Rep Rockingham (part) Harrisonburg 2009
35 Chris Runion Rep Augusta (part), Bath, Highland, Rockingham (part) 2019
36 Ellen Campbell Rep Augusta (part), Rockbridge (part) Staunton, Waynesboro 2023 (special)
37 Terry Austin Rep Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Rockbridge (part) Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington 2013
38 Sam Rasoul Dem Roanoke (part) 2013
39 Will Davis Rep Franklin, Roanoke (part) 2023
40 Joseph McNamara Rep Roanoke (part) Roanoke (part), Salem 2017
41 Chris Obenshain Rep Montgomery (part), Roanoke (part) 2023
42 Jason Ballard Rep Giles, Montgomery (part), Pulaski (part) Radford 2021
43 Will Morefield Rep Bland, Buchanan, Dickenson (part), Russell (part), Tazewell 2009
44 Israel O'Quinn Rep Russell (part), Washington Bristol 2011
45 Terry Kilgore Rep Dickenson (part), Lee, Scott, Wise Norton 1993
46 Jed Arnold Rep Grayson, Pulaski (part), Smyth, Wythe 2023 (special)
47 Wren Williams Rep Carroll, Floyd, Henry (part), Patrick Galax 2021
48 Eric Phillips Rep Henry (part), Pittsylvania (part) Martinsville 2024 (special)
49 Danny Marshall Rep Halifax (part), Pittsylvania (part) Danville 2001
50 Tommy Wright Rep Charlotte, Halifax (part), Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Prince Edward (part) 2000 (special)
51 Eric Zehr Rep Bedford (part), Campbell (part), Pittsylvania (part) 2023
52 Wendell Walker Rep Campbell (part) Lynchburg 2019
53 Tim Griffin Rep Amherst, Bedford (part), Nelson (part) 2023
54 Katrina Callsen Dem Albemarle (part) Charlottesville 2023
55 Amy Laufer Dem Albemarle (part), Louisa (part), Nelson (part) 2023
56 Tom Garrett Rep Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland (part), Prince Edward (part) 2023
57 David Owen Rep Goochland (part), Henrico (part) 2023
58 Rodney Willett Dem Henrico (part) 2019
59 Buddy Fowler Rep Hanover (part), Louisa (part) 2013
60 Scott Wyatt Rep Hanover (part), New Kent (part) 2019
61 Michael Webert Rep Culpeper (part), Fauquier (part), Rappahannock 2011
62 Nick Freitas Rep Culpeper (part), Greene, Madison, Orange 2015
63 Phillip Scott Rep Orange (part), Spotsylvania (part) 2021
64 Paul Milde Rep Stafford (part) 2023
65 Joshua Cole Dem Spotsylvania (part), Stafford (part) Fredericksburg 2019
66 Bobby Orrock Rep Caroline (part), Spotsylvania (part) 1989
67 Hillary Kent Rep Caroline (part), King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland 2023
68 Keith Hodges Rep Essex, Gloucester (part), King and Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex 2011
69 Chad Green Rep Gloucester (part), James City (part), York (part) Newport News (part) 2023
70 Shelly Simonds Dem 2019
71 Amanda Batten Rep James City (part), New Kent (part) Williamsburg 2019
72 Lee Ware Rep Amelia, Chesterfield (part), Nottoway, Powhatan 1997
73 Mark Earley Rep Chesterfield (part) 2023
74 Mike Cherry Rep Colonial Heights 2021
75 Carrie Coyner Rep Chesterfield (part), Prince George (part) Hopewell 2019
76 Debra Gardner Dem Chesterfield (part) 2023
77 Michael Jones Dem Richmond (part) 2023
78 Betsy Carr Dem 2009
79 Rae Cousins Dem 2023
80 Destiny LeVere Bolling Dem Henrico (part) 2023
81 Delores McQuinn Dem Charles City, Chesterfield (part), Henrico (part) 2009 (special)
82 Kim Taylor Rep Dinwiddie (part), Prince George (part), Surry Petersburg 2021
83 Otto Wachsmann Rep Brunswick, Dinwiddie (part), Greensville, Isle of Wight (part), Southampton, Sussex Emporia 2021
84 Nadarius Clark Dem Isle of Wight (part) Franklin, Suffolk (part) 2021
85 Cia Price Dem Newport News (part) 2015
86 A.C. Cordoza Rep York (part) Hampton (part), Poquoson 2021
87 Jeion Ward Dem Hampton (part) 2003
88 Don Scott Dem Portsmouth (part) 2019
89 Baxter Ennis Rep Chesapeake (part), Suffolk (part) 2023
90 Jay Leftwich Rep Chesapeake (part) 2013
91 Cliff Hayes Dem Chesapeake (part), Portsmouth (part) 2016 (special)
92 Bonita Anthony Dem Chesapeake (part), Norfolk (part) 2023
93 Jackie Glass Dem Norfolk (part) 2021
94 Phil Hernandez Dem 2023
95 Alex Askew Dem Norfolk (part), Virginia Beach (part) 2019
96 Kelly Convirs-Fowler Dem Virginia Beach (part) 2017
97 Michael Feggans Dem 2023
98 Barry Knight Rep 2009 (special)
99 Anne Tata Rep 2021
100 Robert Bloxom Rep Accomack, Northampton 2013

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."

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Virginia House of Delegates.
  1. ^ "This Day in History". Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  2. ^ Commonwealth of Virginia. "Capitol Square Timeline". Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  3. ^ Commonwealth of Virginia. "Timeline". Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  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. ^ "Virginia House of Delegates". DailyPress.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  8. ^ "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. [1] [2]
  12. ^ "Virginia House of Delegates 2024 Committees List". virginiageneralassembly.gov. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  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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