Virginia's 2nd congressional district

Virginia's second congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It currently encompasses all of Accomack, Northampton, and Isle of Wight; all of the independent cities of Virginia Beach, Suffolk, and Franklin; part of the independent city of Chesapeake; and part of Southampton. However, its boundaries have changed greatly over the centuries; it initially encompassed what became West Virginia after the American Civil War. It is considered among the nation's most competitive congressional districts.

Virginia's 2nd congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since 2023
Representative
 Jen Kiggans
RVirginia Beach
Distribution
  • 92.57% urban[1]
  • 7.43% rural
Population (2022)780,161[2]
Median household
income
$83,535[3]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+2[4]
Virginia's 2nd congressional district from January 3, 2023

The district has a significant military presence.[5] The Hampton Roads area is considered to be a military town.[6]

Republican Scott Rigell defeated Democrat Glenn Nye in the November 2, 2010, election, and took his seat January 3, 2011, serving until 2017, when he was succeeded by Scott Taylor. In the November 6, 2018, election, Democrat Elaine Luria defeated Republican Scott Taylor. In 2022, Luria was defeated by Republican Jen Kiggans, thereby making the district one of 18 that would have voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election had they existed in their current configuration while being won or held by a Republican in 2022.

The responsibility of drawing maps for congressional and state legislative districts passed from the Virginia Redistricting Commission (VRC) to the Supreme Court of Virginia in November 2021. The Supreme Court completed redistricting in December 2021, which was used for the 2022 elections.[7]

Recent results in statewide races

Results under current lines (since 2023)
YearOfficeResults
2016PresidentTrump 49.8%–44.3%
2017GovernorNortham 50.4%-48.5%
Lieutenant GovernorVogel 52.2%-47.7%
Attorney GeneralAdams 51.1%–48.8%
2018SenatorKaine 52.6%-45.4%
2020PresidentBiden 50.0%-48.0%
SenatorWarner 52.0%-47.9%
2021GovernorYoungkin 55.1%-44.2%
Lieutenant GovernorSears 55.6%-44.3%
Attorney GeneralMiyares 55.1%-44.8%
Results under old lines

List of members representing the district

RepresentativePartyYearsCong
ress
Electoral history
District established March 4, 1789

John Brown
(Charlottesville)
Anti-AdministrationMarch 4, 1789 –
June 1, 1792
1st
2nd
Elected in 1789.
Re-elected in 1790.
Resigned.
VacantJune 2, 1792 –
March 3, 1793
2nd

Andrew Moore
(Lexington)
Anti-AdministrationMarch 4, 1793 –
March 3, 1795
3rd
4th
Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1793.
Re-elected in 1795.
Retired.
Democratic-RepublicanMarch 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1797

David Holmes
(Harrisonburg)
Democratic-RepublicanMarch 4, 1797 –
March 3, 1803
5th
6th
7th
Elected in 1797.
Re-elected in 1799.
Re-elected in 1801.
Redistricted to the 4th district.
James Stephenson
(Martinsburg)
FederalistMarch 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1805
8thElected in 1803.
Lost re-election.
John MorrowDemocratic-RepublicanMarch 4, 1805 –
March 3, 1809
9th
10th
Elected in 1805.
Re-elected in 1807.
Lost re-election.
James Stephenson
(Martinsburg)
FederalistMarch 4, 1809 –
March 3, 1811
11thElected in 1809.
Lost re-election.
John Baker
(Shepherdstown)
FederalistMarch 4, 1811 –
March 3, 1813
12thElected in 1811.
Retired.
Francis White
(Romney)
FederalistMarch 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1815
13thElected in 1813.
Lost re-election.
Magnus Tate
(Martinsburg)
FederalistMarch 4, 1815 –
March 3, 1817
14thElected in 1815.
Retired.
Edward Colston
(Martinsburg)
FederalistMarch 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1819
15thElected in 1817.
Lost re-election.
Thomas Van Swearingen
(Shepherdstown)
FederalistMarch 4, 1819 –
August 19, 1822
16th
17th
Elected in 1819.
Re-elected in 1821.
Died.
VacantAugust 19, 1822 –
October 28, 1822
17th
James Stephenson
(Martinsburg)
FederalistOctober 28, 1822 –
March 3, 1823
Elected to finish Van Swearingen's term and seated December 2, 1822.
Redistricted to the 16th district.
Arthur Smith
(Smithfield)
Democratic-RepublicanMarch 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825
18thRedistricted from the 20th district and Re-elected in 1823.
Retired.
James Trezvant
(Jerusalem)
JacksonianMarch 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1831
19th
20th
21st
Elected in 1825.
Re-elected in 1827.
Re-elected in 1829.
[data missing]

John Y. Mason
(Hicksford)
JacksonianMarch 4, 1831 –
January 11, 1837
22nd
23rd
24th
Elected in 1831.
Re-elected in 1833.
Re-elected in 1835.
Resigned.
VacantJanuary 12, 1837 –
March 3, 1837
24th
Francis E. Rives
(Littleton)
DemocraticMarch 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1841
25th
26th
Elected in 1837.
Re-elected in 1839.
Retired.
George B. Cary
(Bethlehem)
DemocraticMarch 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1843
27thElected in 1841.
Retired.

George Dromgoole
(Summit)
DemocraticMarch 4, 1843 –
April 27, 1847
28th
29th
30th
Elected in 1843.
Re-elected in 1845.
Died.
VacantApril 27, 1847 –
August 5, 1847
30th
Richard K. Meade
(Petersburg)
DemocraticAugust 5, 1847 –
March 3, 1853
30th
31st
32nd
Elected to finish Dromgoole's term.
Re-elected in 1847.
Re-elected in 1849.
Re-elected in 1851.
Lost renomination.

John Millson
(Norfolk)
DemocraticMarch 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1861
33rd
34th
35th
36th
Elected in 1853.
Re-elected in 1855.
Re-elected in 1857.
Re-elected in 1859.
Retired.
District inactiveMarch 4, 1861 –
January 26, 1870
37th
38th
39th
40th
Civil War and Reconstruction
James H. Platt Jr.
(Norfolk)
RepublicanJanuary 27, 1870 –
March 3, 1875
41st
42nd
43rd
Elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
Lost re-election.

John Goode Jr.
(Norfolk)
DemocraticMarch 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1881
44th
45th
46th
Elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Lost re-election.

John F. Dezendorf
(Norfolk)
RepublicanMarch 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1883
47thElected in 1880.
Retired.

Harry Libbey
(Old Point Comfort)
ReadjusterMarch 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1885
48th
49th
Elected in 1882.
[data missing]
RepublicanMarch 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1887
Elected in 1884.
Lost re-election.

George E. Bowden
(Norfolk)
RepublicanMarch 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1891
50th
51st
Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Lost re-election.

John W. Lawson
(Isle of Wight)
DemocraticMarch 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893
52ndElected in 1890.
Retired.

David Gardiner Tyler
(Sturgeon Point)
DemocraticMarch 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1897
53rd
54th
Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Lost re-election.
William A. Young
(Norfolk)
DemocraticMarch 4, 1897 –
April 26, 1898
55thElection invalidated.

Richard A. Wise
(Williamsburg)
RepublicanApril 26, 1898 –
March 3, 1899
55thElected in 1898.
Lost re-election.
William A. Young
(Norfolk)
DemocraticMarch 4, 1899 –
March 12, 1900
56thElection invalidated

Richard A. Wise
(Williamsburg)
RepublicanMarch 12, 1900 –
December 21, 1900
56thElected in 1900.
Died.
VacantDecember 21, 1900 –
March 3, 1901

Harry L. Maynard
(Portsmouth)
DemocraticMarch 4, 1901 –
March 3, 1911
57th
58th
59th
60th
61st
Elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Lost re-election.

Edward E. Holland
(Suffolk)
DemocraticMarch 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1921
62nd
63rd
64th
65th
66th
Elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Retired.

Joseph T. Deal
(Norfolk)
DemocraticMarch 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1929
67th
68th
69th
70th
Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Lost re-election.
Menalcus Lankford
(Norfolk)
RepublicanMarch 4, 1929 –
March 3, 1933
71st
72nd
Elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Lost re-election.
District inactiveMarch 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935
73rd

Colgate Darden
(Norfolk)
DemocraticJanuary 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1937
74thElected in 1934.
Lost renomination.

Norman R. Hamilton
(Portsmouth)
DemocraticJanuary 3, 1937 –
January 3, 1939
75thElected in 1936.
Lost renomination.

Colgate Darden
(Norfolk)
DemocraticJanuary 3, 1939 –
March 1, 1941
76th
77th
Elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Resigned to run for Governor of Virginia.
VacantMarch 1, 1941 –
April 8, 1941
77th
Winder R. Harris
(Norfolk)
DemocraticApril 8, 1941 –
September 15, 1944
77th
78th
Elected to finish Darden's term.
Re-elected in 1942.
Resigned.
VacantSeptember 15, 1944 –
November 7, 1944
78th

Ralph H. Daughton
(Norfolk)
DemocraticNovember 7, 1944 –
January 3, 1947
78th
79th
Elected to finish Harris' term.
Simultaneously elected to a full term in 1944.
Lost renomination.

Porter Hardy Jr.
(Portsmouth)
DemocraticJanuary 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1969
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
Elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Retired.

G. William Whitehurst
(Norfolk)
RepublicanJanuary 3, 1969 –
January 3, 1987
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
98th
99th
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.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Retired.

Owen B. Pickett
(Virginia Beach)
DemocraticJanuary 3, 1987 –
January 3, 2001
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
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.
Retired.

Ed Schrock
(Virginia Beach)
RepublicanJanuary 3, 2001 –
January 3, 2005
107th
108th
Elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Retired.

Thelma Drake
(Norfolk)
RepublicanJanuary 3, 2005 –
January 3, 2009
109th
110th
Elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Lost re-election.

Glenn Nye
(Norfolk)
DemocraticJanuary 3, 2009 –
January 3, 2011
111thElected in 2008.
Lost re-election.

Scott Rigell
(Virginia Beach)
RepublicanJanuary 3, 2011 –
January 3, 2017
112th
113th
114th
Elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Retired.

Scott Taylor
(Virginia Beach)
RepublicanJanuary 3, 2017 –
January 3, 2019
115thElected in 2016.
Lost re-election.

Elaine Luria
(Norfolk)
DemocraticJanuary 3, 2019 –
January 3, 2023
116th
117th
Elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Lost re-election.

Jen Kiggans
(Virginia Beach)
RepublicanJanuary 3, 2023 –
present
118thElected in 2022.

Election results

1980s

Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1980
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanG. William Whitehurst (Incumbent) 97,319 89.84%
IndependentKenneth P. Morrison11,00310.16%
Write-in60.01%
Total votes108,328 100%
Republican hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1982
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanG. William Whitehurst (Incumbent) 78,108 99.88%
Write-in970.12%
Total votes78,205 100%
Republican hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1984
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanG. William Whitehurst (Incumbent) 136,632 99.81%
Write-in2560.19%
Total votes136,888 100%
Republican hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1986
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticOwen B. Pickett 54,491 49.46%
RepublicanA. Joe Canada Jr.46,13741.88%
IndependentStephen P. Shao9,4928.62%
Write-in490.04%
Total votes110,169 100%
Democratic gain from Republican
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1988
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticOwen B. Pickett (Incumbent) 106,666 60.53%
RepublicanJerry R. Curry62,56435.51%
IndependentStephen P. Shao4,2552.41%
IndependentRobert A. Smith2,6911.53%
Write-in320.02%
Total votes176,208 100%
Democratic hold

1990s

Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1990
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticOwen B. Pickett (Incumbent) 55,179 74.95%
IndependentHarry G. Broskie15,91521.62%
Write-in2,5243.43%
Total votes73,618 100%
Democratic hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1992
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticOwen B. Pickett (Incumbent) 99,253 56.03%
RepublicanJ. L. Chapman IV77,79743.92%
Write-in830.05%
Total votes177,133 100%
Democratic hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1994
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticOwen B. Pickett (Incumbent) 81,372 59.05%
RepublicanJ. L. Chapman IV56,37540.91%
Write-in550.04%
Total votes137,802 100%
Democratic hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1996
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticOwen B. Pickett (Incumbent) 106,215 64.77%
RepublicanJohn F. Tate57,58635.11%
Write-in1950.12%
Total votes163,996 100%
Democratic hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 1998
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticOwen B. Pickett (Incumbent) 67,975 94.29%
Write-in4,1165.71%
Total votes72,091 100%
Democratic hold

2000s

Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2000
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanEdward L. Schrock 97,856 51.96%
DemocraticJody M. Wagner90,32847.96%
Write-in1450.08%
Total votes188,329 100%
Republican gain from Democratic
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2002
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanEdward L. Schrock (Incumbent) 103,807 83.15%
GreenD. C. Amarasinghe20,58916.49%
Write-in4500.36%
Total votes124,846 100%
Republican hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2004
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanThelma D. Drake 132,946 55.08%
DemocraticDavid B. Ashe108,18044.82%
Write-in2540.11%
Total votes241,380 100%
Republican hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2006
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanThelma D. Drake (Incumbent) 88,777 51.27%
DemocraticPhil Kellam83,90148.45%
Write-in4810.28%
Total votes173,159 100%
Republican hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2008
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticGlenn Nye 141,857 52.40%
RepublicanThelma D. Drake (Incumbent)128,48647.46%
Write-in3680.14%
Total votes270,711 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

2010s

Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanE. Scott Rigell 88,340 53.12%
DemocraticGlenn Nye (Incumbent)70,59142.45%
IndependentKenny E. Golden7,1944.33%
Write-in1640.10%
Total votes166,289 100%
Republican gain from Democratic
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2012
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanE. Scott Rigell (Incumbent) 166,231 53.76%
DemocraticPaul O. Hirschbiel, Jr.142,54846.10%
Write-in4430.14%
Total votes309,222 100%
Republican hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2014 [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanE. Scott Rigell (Incumbent) 101,558 58.68%
DemocraticSuzanne Patrick71,17841.13%
Write-in3240.19%
Total votes173,060 100%
Republican hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2016 [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanScott Taylor 190,475 61.33%
DemocraticShaun D. Brown119,44038.46%
Write-in6520.21%
Total votes310,567 100.00%
Republican hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2018 [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticElaine Luria 139,571 51.05%
RepublicanScott Taylor (Incumbent)133,45848.81%
Write-in3710.14%
Total votes273,400 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

2020s

Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2020 [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticElaine Luria (Incumbent) 185,733 51.55%
RepublicanScott Taylor165,03145.81%
IndependentDavid Foster9,1702.55%
Write-in3430.10%
Total votes360,277 100.00%
Democratic hold
Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2022[33]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJen Kiggans 153,328 51.6%
DemocraticElaine Luria (Incumbent)143,21948.2%
Write-in4490.2%
Total votes296,996 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

Historical district boundaries

The Virginia Second District started in 1788 covering the counties of Mercer, Jefferson, Fayette, Bourbon, Lincoln, Nelson and Madison.[34]

2003–2013
2013–2017
2017–2023

See also

References

37°24′29″N 75°53′13″W / 37.40806°N 75.88694°W / 37.40806; -75.88694