Virginia's 9th congressional district

Virginia's ninth congressional district is a United States congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia, covering much of the southwestern part of the state. The 9th is Virginia's second-largest district in area, covering 9,113.87[4][5] square miles (slightly larger than the whole state of New Jersey). It has been represented by Republican Morgan Griffith since 2011. He took office after defeating 14-term incumbent Democrat Rick Boucher.[6] With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+23, it is the most Republican district in Virginia.[3]

Virginia's 9th congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since 2023
Representative
Area9,113.87 sq mi (23,604.8 km2)
Distribution
  • 58.25% rural[1]
  • 41.75% urban
Population (2023)776,692[2]
Median household
income
$53,640[2]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+23[3]
Virginia's 9th congressional district from January 3, 2023

The Ninth was the most competitive Virginia congressional district in the early 20th century, when the state was part of the Solid South. For twenty years (1903-1923), it was the only congressional district in Virginia — and one of the few in the entire former Confederacy — to be represented by a Republican. The district alternated between Democratic and Republican representation over the rest of the century. Some of the election results were so close — and questionable — that the district became known as "The Fighting Ninth."[7]

Since the 1990s, the district has increasingly trended Republican in federal and state races, and it has taken over from the Shenandoah Valley-based Sixth as the most Republican district in the state. It last supported a Democrat for president in 1996, and has supported a Democrat in only two statewide contests since then.

The 9th is the only district in Virginia that cast more votes for Hillary Clinton than Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary. Clinton won more than 60% of the vote, despite local Congressman Rick Boucher endorsing Obama. Republican presidential candidate John McCain received 59% of the vote in the 9th district in the 2008 General Election, however, his best performance in any of Virginia's eleven congressional districts. Voters in the 9th district supported McCain over Obama in the general election, despite reelecting Democratic Congressman Rick Boucher.[8] In the 2010 midterm elections, in which Democrats lost their majority in Congress, Virginia State Delegate Morgan Griffith unseated Congressman Boucher by aligning Boucher with President Barack Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, both unpopular figures in the district at the time. Boucher's support for the American Clean Energy and Security Act, or Cap and Trade was unpopular in the district. Since then, the district has not supported a Democrat in a statewide or federal election.[9]

As of 2017, the 9th district had the highest poverty rate of any Virginia congressional district, at 18.7 percent.[10]

The 9th district also includes Franklin County.

Recent election results from statewide races

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Year Office Results
1996 U.S. President Clinton 46%–43%–10%[11]
U.S. Senator Warner 55%–44%[12]
1997 Governor Gilmore 57%–41%[13]
Lieutenant Governor Hager 51%–44%[14]
Attorney General Earley 56%–44%[15]
2000 U.S. President Bush 55%–42%[16]
U.S. Senator Allen 57%–43%[17]
2001 Governor Warner 52%–47%[18]
Lieutenant Governor Katzen 49%–49%
Attorney General Kilgore 69%–31%
2002 U.S. Senator Warner 83%–8%–9%[19]
2004 U.S. President Bush 60%–39%[20]
2005 Governor Kilgore 55%–43%[21]
Lieutenant Governor Bolling 57%–43%[22]
Attorney General McDonnell 58%–42%[23]
2006 U.S. Senator Allen 55%–44%[24]
2008 U.S. President McCain 59%–40%[25]
U.S. Senator Warner 63%–36%[26]
2009 Governor McDonnell 66%–34%[27]
Lieutenant Governor Bolling 66%–34%[28]
Attorney General Cuccinelli 66%–34%[29]
2012 U.S. President Romney 63%–35%[30]
U.S. Senator Allen 62%–38%[31]
2013 Governor Cuccinelli 61%–32%–7%[32]
Lieutenant Governor Jackson 61%–39%[33]
Attorney General Obenshain 67%–33%[34]
2014 U.S. Senator Gillespie 59%–38%[35]
2016 U.S. President Trump 69%–27%
2017 Governor Gillespie 68%–31%
Lieutenant Governor Vogel 69%–31%
Attorney General Adams 69%–31%
2018 U.S. Senator Stewart 64%–35%[36]
2020 U.S. President Trump 70%–28%[37]
2021 Governor Youngkin 74%–24%[38]

Area covered

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The 9th district covers all or part of the following political subdivisions:

Counties

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The entirety of:

Portions of:

Cities

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List of members representing the district

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Representative Party Term Cong-
ress
Electoral history
District established March 4, 1789
 
Theodorick Bland
(Prince George County)
Anti-Administration March 4, 1789 –
June 1, 1790
1st Elected in 1789.
Died.
Vacant June 2, 1790 –
December 6, 1790
 
William B. Giles
(Amelia Courthouse)
Anti-Administration December 7, 1790 –
March 3, 1795
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Elected in July 1790 to finish Bland's term and seated December 7, 1790.
Re-elected later in 1790.
Re-elected in 1793.
Re-elected in 1795.
Re-elected in 1797.
Resigned.
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –
October 2, 1798
Vacant October 3, 1798 –
December 2, 1798
5th
Joseph Eggleston
(Egglestetton)
Democratic-Republican December 3, 1798 –
March 3, 1801
5th
6th
Elected to finish Giles's term.
Re-elected in 1799.
[data missing]
 
William B. Giles
(Amelia Courthouse)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1801 –
March 3, 1803
7th Elected in 1801.
Redistricted to the 16th district and retired.
 
Philip R. Thompson
(Fairfax)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1807
8th
9th
Redistricted from the 18th district and re-elected in 1803.
Re-elected in 1805.
Re-elected in 1807.
Re-elected in 1809.
Retired.
John Love
(Alexandria)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1811
10th
11th
Elected in 1807.
Re-elected in 1809.
Moved to the 7th district and lost re-election there.
Aylett Hawes
(Woodville)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1811 –
March 3, 1813
12th Elected in 1811.
Redistricted to the 10th district.
John P. Hungerford
(Leedstown)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1817
13th
14th
Elected in 1813.
Re-elected in 1815.
Lost re-election.
William L. Ball
(Nuttsville)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1823
15th
16th
17th
Elected in 1817.
Re-elected in 1819.
Re-elected in 1821.
Redistricted to the 13th district.
 
Andrew Stevenson
(Richmond)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825
18th
19th
20th
21st
22nd
Redistricted from the 23rd district and re-elected in 1823.
Re-elected in 1825.
Re-elected in 1827.
Re-elected in 1829.
Re-elected in 1831.
Redistricted to the 11th congressional district
Jackson March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1833
William P. Taylor
(Fredericksburg)
Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1835
23rd Elected in 1833.
Lost re-election.
John Roane
(Rumford Academy)
Jacksonian March 4, 1835 –
March 3, 1837
24th Elected in 1835.
Retired.
 
Robert M. T. Hunter
(Lloyds)
Whig March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1843
25th
26th
27th
Elected in 1837.
Re-elected in 1839.
Re-elected in 1841.
Lost re-election.
 
Samuel Chilton
(Warrenton)
Whig March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
28th Elected in 1843.
Retired.
John S. Pendleton
(Culpeper)
Whig March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1849
29th
30th
Elected in 1845.
Re-elected in 1847.
Lost re-election.
Jeremiah Morton
(Raccoon Ford)
Whig March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1851
31st Elected in 1849.
Lost re-election.
 
James F. Strother
(Rappahannock)
Whig March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853
32nd Elected in 1851.
Lost re-election.
 
John Letcher
(Lexington)
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1859
33rd
34th
35th
Elected in 1853.
Re-elected in 1855.
Re-elected in 1857.
Retired to run for Governor of Virginia.
 
John T. Harris
(Harrisonburg)
Independent Democratic March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
36th Elected in 1859.
Retired.
District inactive March 4, 1861 –
June 19, 1863
37th
38th
Civil War
District moved to West Virginia June 20, 1863
District re-established March 4, 1873
 
Rees T. Bowen
(Maiden Spring)
Democratic March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
43rd Elected in 1872.
Retired.
 
William Terry
(Wytheville)
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
44th Elected in 1874.
Lost re-election.
 
Auburn L. Pridemore
(Jonesville)
Democratic March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1879
45th Elected in 1876.
Lost re-election.
 
James B. Richmond
(Estillville)
Democratic March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1881
46th Elected in 1878.
Lost re-election.
 
Abram Fulkerson
(Bristol)
Democratic March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1883
47th Elected in 1880.
Retired.
 
Henry Bowen
(Tazewell)
Readjuster March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1885
48th Elected in 1882.
Lost re-election.
 
Connally F. Trigg
(Abingdon)
Democratic March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1887
49th Elected in 1884.
Lost re-election.
 
Henry Bowen
(Tazewell)
Republican March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1889
50th Elected in 1886.
Lost re-election.
 
John A. Buchanan
(Abingdon)
Democratic March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1893
51st
52nd
Elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Retired.
James W. Marshall
(New Castle)
Democratic March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1895
53rd Elected in 1892.
Lost re-election.
 
James A. Walker
(Wytheville)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1899
54th
55th
Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Lost re-election.
William F. Rhea
(Bristol)
Democratic March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1903
56th
57th
Elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Lost re-election.
 
Campbell Slemp
(Big Stone Gap)
Republican March 4, 1903 –
October 13, 1907
58th
59th
60th
Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Died.
Vacant October 14, 1907 –
December 16, 1907
60th
 
C. Bascom Slemp
(Big Stone Gap)
Republican December 17, 1907 –
March 3, 1923
60th
61st
62nd
63rd
64th
65th
66th
67th
Elected to finish Slemp's term.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Retired.
 
George C. Peery
(Tazewell)
Democratic March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1929
68th
69th
70th
Elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Retired.
Joseph C. Shaffer
(Wytheville)
Republican March 4, 1929 –
March 3, 1931
71st Elected in 1928.
Lost re-election.
John W. Flannagan Jr.
(Bristol)
Democratic March 4, 1931 –
March 3, 1933
72nd Elected in 1930.
Redistricted to at-large seat.
District inactive March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935
73rd
John W. Flannagan Jr.
(Bristol)
Democratic January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1949
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
Redistricted from at-large seat and re-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.
Retired.
 
Thomas B. Fugate
(Ewing)
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1953
81st
82nd
Elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Retired.
 
William C. Wampler
(Bristol)
Republican January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1955
83rd Elected in 1952.
Lost re-election.
 
W. Pat Jennings
(Marion)
Democratic January 3, 1955 –
January 3, 1967
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
Elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Lost re-election.
 
William C. Wampler
(Bristol)
Republican January 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1983
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
Elected in 1966.
Re-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.
Lost re-election.
 
Frederick C. Boucher
(Abingdon)
Democratic January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 2011
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
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.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Lost re-election.
 
Morgan Griffith
(Salem)
Republican January 3, 2011 –
present
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
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.

Recent election results

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2000

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2000 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rick Boucher 137,488 69.80
Republican Michael Osborne 59,335 30.1
Total votes 196,855 100.00
Democratic hold

2002

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2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rick Boucher (inc.) 100,075 65.76
Republican Jay Katzen (write-in) 52,076 34.22
Write-ins 32 0.02
Total votes 152,183 100.00
Democratic hold

2004

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2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rick Boucher (inc.) 150,039 59.32
Republican Kevin R. Triplett 98,499 38.94
Independent Seth A. Davis 4,341 1.72
Write-ins 68 0.03
Total votes 252,947 100.00
Democratic hold

2006

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2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rick Boucher (incumbent) 129,705 67.76
Republican Bill Carrico 61,574 32.17
Write-ins 136 0.07
Total votes 191,415 100.00
Democratic hold

2008

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2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rick Boucher (incumbent) 207,306 97.07
Write-ins 6,264 2.93
Total votes 213,570 100.00
Democratic hold

2010

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2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Morgan Griffith 95,726 51.21
Democratic Rick Boucher (incumbent) 86,743 46.41
Independent Jeremiah Heaton 4,282 2.29
Write-in 166 0.09
Total votes 186,917 100
Republican gain from Democratic

2012

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2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Morgan Griffith (inc.) 184,882 61.29
Democratic Anthony Flaccavento 116,400 38.59
Write-in 376 0.12
Total votes 301,658 100
Republican hold

2014

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2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Morgan Griffith (incumbent) 117,465 72.1
Independent William Carr 39,412 24.2
n/a Write-ins 5,940 3.7
Total votes 162,817 100.0
Republican hold

2016

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2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Morgan Griffith (incumbent) 212,838 68.6
Democratic Derek Kitts 87,877 28.3
Independent Janice Boyd 9,050 2.9
n/a Write-ins 549 0.2
Total votes 310,314 100.0
Republican hold

2018

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2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Morgan Griffith (incumbent) 160,933 65.2
Democratic Anthony Flaccavento 85,833 34.7
n/a Write-ins 214 0.1
Total votes 246,980 100.0
Republican hold

2020

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2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Morgan Griffith (incumbent) 271,851 94.0
Write-in 17,423 6.0
Total votes 289,274 100.0
Republican hold

2022

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2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Morgan Griffith (incumbent) 182,207 73.2
Democratic Taysha DeVaughan 66,027 26.5
Write-in 558 0.2
Total votes 248,792 100.0
Republican hold

Historical district boundaries

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The Virginia Ninth District started in 1788 covering the counties of Brunswick, Sussex, Greensville, Prince George, Dinwiddie, Mecklenburg, Lunenburg, Ameila, Cumberland and Powhatan.[39]

 
2003–2013
 
2013–2023

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (State-based)". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  3. ^ a b "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  4. ^ "9,113.87".
  5. ^ Geography, US Census Bureau. "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)". www.census.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  6. ^ Virginia State Board of Elections. "November 2, 2010 General and Special Elections Official Results: U.S. House of Representatives". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  7. ^ Bohlen, Celestine. "The Fighting Ninth". Washington Post. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  8. ^ "Virginia Elections Database » 2008 President General Election". Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  9. ^ "Virginia Elections Database » Search Elections". Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  10. ^ US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District: Virginia". www.census.gov. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  11. ^ "Summarized by Congressional District". Commonwealth Of Virginia – State Board of Elections ELECTION RESULTS November 5, 1996 General Election For Office of PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENT of the United States. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  12. ^ "Summarized by Congressional District". Commonwealth Of Virginia – State Board of Elections ELECTION RESULTS November 5, 1996 General Election For Office of UNITED STATES SENATE. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  13. ^ "Summary by Congressional District". Commonwealth Of Virginia/ELECTION RESULTS/November 4, 1997 GENERAL ELECTION/For Office of GOVERNOR/By Congressional District. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  14. ^ "Commonwealth Of Virginia ELECTION RESULTS NOVEMBER 4, 1997 GENERAL ELECTION For Office of LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR By Congressional District". Commonwealth Of Virginia/ELECTION RESULTS/November 4, 1997 GENERAL ELECTION/For Office of LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR/By Congressional District. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  15. ^ "SUMMARY OF NOVEMBER 4, 1997 GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS/by Congressional District". Commonwealth Of Virginia/ELECTION RESULTS/November 4, 1997 GENERAL ELECTION/For Office of ATTORNEY GENERAL/By Congressional District. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  16. ^ "U.S. President/Vice-President". Commonwealth of Virginia/November 7, 2000 – General Election/OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  17. ^ "U.S. Senate". Commonwealth of Virginia/November 7, 2000 – General Election/OFFICIAL RESULTS. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  18. ^ "Official Results/Governor". General Election – November 6, 2001. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 29, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  19. ^ "Official Results/U.S. Senate". November 5, 2002 General Election Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  20. ^ "Official Results/President". Commonwealth of Virginia/November 2 – General Election. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  21. ^ "Official Results/Governor". General Election – November 8, 2005. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  22. ^ "Official Results/Lieutenant Governor". General Election – November 8, 2005. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  23. ^ "Official Results/Attorney General". General Election – November 8, 2005. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  24. ^ "Official Results/U.S. Senate". General Election – November 7, 2006. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  25. ^ "President>President And Vice President>Votes By District". November 2008 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  26. ^ "Congress>U.S. Senate>United States Senate>Votes By District". November 2008 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  27. ^ "Governor>Votes by District". November 2009 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  28. ^ "Lieutenant Governor>Votes by District". November 2009 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  29. ^ "Attorney General>Votes by District". November 2009 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  30. ^ "President>President And Vice President>Votes By District". November 2012 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  31. ^ "Congress>U.S. Senate>United States Senate>Votes By District". November 2012 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  32. ^ "2013 Governor General Election". November 2013 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  33. ^ "2013 Lieutenant Governor General Election". November 2013 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  34. ^ "2013 Attorney General General Election". November 2013 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  35. ^ "2014 U.S. Senate General Election". November 2014 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  36. ^ "2018 U.S. Senate Results by Congressional District". The Virginia Public Access Project. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  37. ^ "Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2020, 2016, and 2012".
  38. ^ @greggiroux (November 16, 2021). "Certified results of Virginia governor's election by current congressional district" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  39. ^ Statute of 20 November 1788

References

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36°59′00″N 81°21′02″W / 36.98333°N 81.35056°W / 36.98333; -81.35056