2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia

In October 2013, three voters from Virginia's Third Congressional District filed a lawsuit challenging Governor Bob McDonnell's 2012 congressional redistricting plan. The plaintiffs argued that the map violated the Constitution by concentrating Black voters disproportionately within the district, a practice known as racial gerrymandering.

On October 7, 2014, a three-judge panel in the United States District Court ruled that the map was unconstitutional and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment. Despite this ruling, the court allowed the existing map to be used for the 2014 House Elections and ordered the Virginia General Assembly to redraw the districts by April 1, 2015.

In response, ten current and former Republican members of the House of Representatives appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the lower court's ruling. However, the Supreme Court remanded the case to the District Court for reconsideration in light of its recent decision in Alabama Legislative Black Caucus v. Alabama, a case involving racial gerrymandering.

On June 5, 2015, the District Court reaffirmed its previous ruling that the congressional map was unconstitutional and required the General Assembly to redraw the districts by September 1, 2015. However, the General Assembly failed to meet the deadline. Consequently, the District Court appointed a special master to create a new redistricting plan, which was approved on January 7, 2016.

The Republican House members subsequently petitioned the Supreme Court to pause the implementation of the new map, arguing that the original appeal regarding jurisdiction had not yet been resolved. The Supreme Court denied the request, allowing for the revised map to be used for the 2016 House primaries and general election. On March 21, 2016, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the appeal but ultimately dismissed it, ruling that the Republican House members lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution.

Following the Supreme Court's decision, some Republican members of the House filed another lawsuit challenging the District Court's revised map. Only three of the ten plaintiffs appeared before the Supreme Court, with Representative Randy Forbes arguing that the new map would alter the Fourth District from a Republican-leaning to a Democratic-leaning constituency, potentially jeopardizing his reelection. The plaintiffs contended that the new map unfairly disadvantaged incumbents. However, the Supreme Court upheld the District Court's redistricting plan, affirming its constitutionality.^[1]

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

2016 Virginia's 1st congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Rob Wittman Matt Rowe Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 230,213 140,785 Percentage 59.9% 36.6%

County and independent city results Precinct results Wittman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Rowe:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Rob Wittman Republican Elected U.S. Representative Rob Wittman Republican

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Republican Rob Wittman had represented Virginia's 1st congressional district since 2007. He was re-elected in 2014 with 63% of the vote.

Wittman announced that he intended to run for governor in 2017, but would still run for re-election in 2016.^[2]

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

2016 Virginia's 2nd congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Scott Taylor Shaun D. Brown Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 190,475 119,440 Percentage 61.3% 38.5%

County and independent city results Precinct results Taylor:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Brown:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. Representative before election Scott Rigell Republican Elected U.S. Representative Scott Taylor Republican

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Republican Scott Rigell was the incumbent of the 2nd district, which had a PVI of R+2. He was first elected in 2010. He declined to seek re-election.^[12] The district encompassed Virginia Beach and surrounding areas.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Scott Taylor, state delegate, candidate for this seat in 2010 and candidate for Mayor of Virginia Beach in 2008^[13]

Eliminated in primary

• Pat Cardwell, attorney^[14]
• Randy Forbes, incumbent U.S. Representative for Virginia's 4th congressional district^[15]

Declined

• Glenn Davis, state delegate^[16][17]
• Bill DeSteph, state senator^[16][18]
• Ben Loyola, defense contractor, candidate for the seat in 2010 and nominee for state senate in 2011^[16]
• Jeff McWaters, former state senator and founder and former CEO of Amerigroup^[16][19]
• Jason Miyares, state delegate^[20]
• Bert Mizusawa, Army Reserve major general and candidate for the seat in 2010^[16]
• Chris Stolle, state delegate^[16][21]
• Frank Wagner, state senator^[16]

Endorsements

Randy Forbes

Executive branch officials

• Seven former Secretaries of the Navy, including former US Senator John Warner^[15]

U.S. Representatives

• Scott Rigell, incumbent U.S. Representative,^[15] 2nd District
• Rob Wittman, incumbent U.S. Representative, 1st District

State legislators

• John Cosgrove, state senator
• Glenn Davis, state delegate
• Gordon Helsel, state delegate
• Barry Knight, state delegate
• Jason Miyares, state delegate
• Brenda Pogge, state delegate
• Ron Villanueva, state delegate

Organizations

• Tidewater Tea Party Alliance

Local officials

• John Atkinson, Virginia Beach City Treasurer
• Heather Cordasco, former James City County School Board
• Linda Curtis, Hampton Vice Mayor
• Bob Deeds, James City-Williamsburg Sheriff
• Danny Diggs, York-Poquoson Sheriff
• Bobby Dyer, Virginia Beach City Council
• Jim Funk, former York County Board of Supervisors
• Buddy Green, Poquoson City Council
• George Hrishak, former York County Board of Supervisors
• Gene Hunt, Poquoson Mayor
• Bob McCabe, Norfolk Sheriff
• John Moss, Virginia Beach City Council
• Kevin Onizuk, James City County Board of Supervisors
• Doug Pons, Williamsburg City Council
• Sue Sadler, James City County Board of Supervisors
• Phyllis Schaffly, Hampton School Board
• Tom Sheppard, York County Board of Supervisors
• Jeff Wassmer, York County Chairman
• Don Wiggins, former York County Board of Supervisors
• Walt Zaremba, York County Board of Supervisors
• Benny Zhang, Williamsburg City Council

Individuals

• Matt Schlapp, Chairman of the American Conservative Union

Scott Taylor

State legislators

• Bill DeSteph, state senator^[18]

Local officials

• Ken Stolle, Virginia Beach Sheriff

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...

Republican primary results^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Scott Taylor	21,406	52.6
	Republican	Randy Forbes (incumbent)	16,552	40.6
	Republican	Pat Cardwell	2,773	6.8
Total votes			40,731	100.0

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Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

2016 Virginia's 3rd congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Bobby Scott Marty Williams Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 208,337 103,289 Percentage 66.7% 33.1%

County and independent city results Precinct results Scott:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Williams:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:      40–50%

U.S. Representative before election Bobby Scott Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Bobby Scott Democratic

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Democrat Bobby Scott had represented Virginia's 3rd congressional district since 1993. He was re-elected in 2014 with 94% of the vote, but the district was made slightly more competitive following the court-ordered redistricting when all of its Richmond and Petersburg constituents were moved into the 4th district.

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

2016 Virginia's 4th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Donald McEachin Mike Wade Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 200,136 145,731 Percentage 57.7% 42.0%

County and independent city results Precinct results McEachin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Wade:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. Representative before election Randy Forbes Republican Elected U.S. Representative Donald McEachin Democratic

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Republican Randy Forbes, first elected in 2001, was the incumbent of the 4th district, but attempted to seek re-election in the 2nd district. The 4th district was changed from a Hampton Roads centered district to a Richmond-centered district following the court's redistricting. Notably, it gained heavily Democratic, black-majority Richmond and Petersburg, which was enough to turn the district into a strongly Democratic district on paper. The old 4th had a PVI of R+4, while the new 4th had a PVI of D+10. The district was considered a Safe Gain for the Democrats by many political analysts, including Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball.

Quick facts Candidate, Party ...

2016 Virginia's 5th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Candidate Tom Garrett Jane Dittmar Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 207,758 148,339 Percentage 58.2% 41.6%

County and independent city results Precinct results Garrett:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Dittmar:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. Representative before election Robert Hurt Republican Elected U.S. Representative Tom Garrett Republican

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Incumbent Republican Robert Hurt, first elected in 2010, retired in 2016.^[39] The 5th district, which has a PVI of R+5, is the largest district in the state and stretches from Virginia's southern border to the exurbs of Washington, D.C.

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

2016 Virginia's 6th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Bob Goodlatte Kai Degner Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 225,471 112,170 Percentage 66.6% 33.2%

County and independent city results Precinct results Goodlatte:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Degner:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. Representative before election Bob Goodlatte Republican Elected U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte Republican

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Republican Bob Goodlatte had represented Virginia's 6th congressional district since 1993. He was re-elected with 75% of the vote in 2014.

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

2016 Virginia's 7th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Dave Brat Eileen Bedell Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 218,057 160,159 Percentage 57.5% 42.2%

County and independent city results Precinct results Brat:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Bedell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. Representative before election Dave Brat Republican Elected U.S. Representative Dave Brat Republican

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Republican Dave Brat had represented Virginia's 7th congressional district since 2014. He was elected in 2014 with 61% of the vote.

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

2016 Virginia's 8th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Don Beyer Charles Hernick Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 246,653 98,387 Percentage 68.4% 27.3%

County and independent city results Precinct results Beyer:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Hernick:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election Don Beyer Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Don Beyer Democratic

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Democrat Don Beyer had represented Virginia's 8th congressional district since 2015. He was elected in 2014 with 63% of the vote.

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

2016 Virginia's 9th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Morgan Griffith Derek Kitts Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 212,838 87,877 Percentage 68.6% 28.3%

County and independent city results Precinct results Griffith:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Kitts:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      40–50%

U.S. Representative before election Morgan Griffith Republican Elected U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith Republican

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Republican Morgan Griffith represented Virginia's 9th congressional district since 2011. He won re-election to a third term in 2014 with 72% of the vote.

Quick facts Candidate, Party ...

2016 Virginia's 10th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Candidate Barbara Comstock LuAnn Bennett Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 210,791 187,712 Percentage 52.7% 46.9%

County and independent city results Precinct results Comstock:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Bennett:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Tie:      40–50%

U.S. Representative before election Barbara Comstock Republican Elected U.S. Representative Barbara Comstock Republican

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Republican Barbara Comstock was the incumbent in the 10th district. In 2015, she succeeded Republican Frank Wolf, who served for 17 terms before choosing to not seek re-election 2014. The 10th district, which has a PVI of D+1, consists of the northernmost portions of the state. Comstock ran for re-election.^[67]

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

2016 Virginia's 11th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Gerry Connolly Party Democratic Popular vote 247,818 Percentage 87.9%

County and independent city results Precinct results Connolly:      70–80%      80–90%      >90%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Gerry Connolly Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly Democratic

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Democrat Gerry Connolly had represented Virginia's 11th congressional district since 2009. He was re-elected in 2014 with 57% of the vote. He was the only candidate on the ballot for the seat in 2016.^[72]