Todd Gilbert

American politician (born 1970) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Christopher Todd Gilbert (born October 19, 1970) is an American politician and attorney, who is the Senior Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for Page County and served as 57th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2022 to 2024. He served as a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 to 2025, representing the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains region, and served in the House's Republican leadership, including as majority and minority leader.[1] He also served as interim United States attorney for the Western District of Virginia for 38 days in summer 2025.

PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byZachary T. Lee (acting)
Succeeded byRobert Tracci (acting)
Quick facts United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, President ...
Todd Gilbert
Gilbert in 2024
United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
Interim
In office
July 14, 2025  August 20, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byZachary T. Lee (acting)
Succeeded byRobert Tracci (acting)
57th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
January 12, 2022  January 10, 2024
Preceded byEileen Filler-Corn
Succeeded byDon Scott
Majority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
January 10, 2018  January 8, 2020
Preceded byKirk Cox
Succeeded byCharniele Herring
Minority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
January 10, 2024  June 1, 2025
Preceded byDon Scott
Succeeded byTerry Kilgore
In office
January 8, 2020  January 12, 2022
Preceded byEileen Filler-Corn
Succeeded byEileen Filler-Corn
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
January 11, 2006  July 14, 2025
Preceded byAllen Louderback
Succeeded byVacant
Constituency15th district (2006–2024)
33rd district (2024–2025)
Personal details
BornChristopher Todd Gilbert
(1970-10-19) October 19, 1970 (age 55)
PartyRepublican
SpouseJennifer Wishon
EducationUniversity of Virginia (BA)
Southern Methodist University (JD)
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Early life and education

Gilbert was born in Newton, Texas. He graduated in 1989 from Central High School in Woodstock, Virginia, where he served as student body president and played three varsity sports. He attended the University of Virginia, where he earned a bachelor's degree in government in 1993. While at UVA, he was a legislative intern in the Capitol Hill office of then U.S. Representative George Allen.[1]

Upon graduation, Gilbert attended the Southern Methodist University School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor in 1996 and led the student body as president of the Student Bar Association. While at SMU Law, Gilbert won the school's annual mock trial competition and participated on the school's competitive mock trial team.[2]

Early career

Gilbert began his career as a prosecutor, and served in that role over fourteen years, working in four different jurisdictions.[3][4]

Political career

Virginia House of Delegates

Elections

He was first elected to represent the 15th district in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2005.

Tenure

In 2010, Gilbert was appointed to be Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Delegates.

Gilbert became the Virginia House of Delegates Majority Leader on January 10, 2018, as Republicans maintained their majority following the 2017 elections. He was chosen by the House Republican Caucus following their decision to promote current House Majority Leader Kirk Cox to Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Following the 2019 Virginia House of Delegates election, Gilbert became the Minority Leader following Democrats retaking the majority in the House of Delegates.[2]

When the Republicans regained control of the House of Delegates following the 2021 elections, Gilbert was elected Speaker of the House of Delegates.

Gilbert survived an attempt to oust him as Minority Leader after Republicans suffered losses in the 2023 elections and lost control of the chamber to Democrats.[5]

Committee assignments

  • Agriculture
  • Finance
  • Rules[6]

Other assignments

  • Virginia State Crime Commission

U.S. attorney

In 2025, Gilbert stepped down from party leadership in the House of Delegates as he was presumed to be nominated to be the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia[7] He was nominated to that position on June 30, and resigned his House of Delegates seat to assume the position as interim U.S. attorney on July 14.[8][9] On August 20, he resigned his position as interim U.S. attorney, and Robert Tracci became the acting U.S. attorney.[10][11] Gilbert's nomination was formally withdrawn in the Senate on September 3.[8] The Roanoke Times reported that Gilbert had wanted to keep the first assistant U.S. attorney, Zachary Lee, who had served under the previous Biden-appointed U.S. attorney and served as acting U.S. attorney before Gilbert, in place, but the Department of Justice, concerned that Lee had worked under the Biden-appointed U.S. attorney, removed Lee and replaced him with Tracci on August 4, after Gilbert refused to do so. Gilbert then created the position of senior counsel and executive assistant U.S. attorney for Lee, which led to the White House demanding Gilbert resign or be fired.[12]

Two weeks later, on September 3, 2025, Gilbert was hired into the position of Senior Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for Page County, which he had represented in the House of Delegates his entire career.[13]

Personal life

Gilbert is married to Jennifer Wishon Gilbert. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Woodstock. Outside of his political functions in Richmond, Gilbert also has a private law practice.[1]

Jay Jones texts

In October 2025, conservative news outlets New York Post and National Review revealed that Jay Jones, Virginia’s Democratic nominee for attorney general in 2025, sent a series of text messages to former colleague Carrie Coyner in 2022, where he created a theoretical scenario about killing Gilbert.[14] Jones confirmed he sent those text messages and apologized to Gilbert and his family.

Awards and honors

Some of Gilbert's awards and honors:

  • Virginia YMCA "Service to Youth Award"
  • Family Foundation "Legislator of the Year"
  • Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys "Champion of Justice Award"
  • Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police "Legislator of the Year"
  • Virginia State Police Association "Legislator of the Year"
  • American Conservative Union "Defender of Liberty"
  • Virginia Chamber of Commerce "Champion of Free Enterprise"
  • Virginia Chamber of Commerce "Advocate in Legal Reform Award"

Electoral history

More information Date, Election ...
DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes%
Virginia House of Delegates, 15th district
November 8, 2005[15] General C T Gilbert Republican 14,050 64.46
J K Blubaugh Democratic 7,721 35.42
Write Ins 26 0.12
Allen Louderback retired; seat stayed Republican
November 6, 2007[16] General C. Todd Gilbert Republican 15,156 98.05
Write Ins 301 1.94
November 3, 2009[17] General C. Todd Gilbert Republican 16,168 69.26
John D. Lesinski Democratic 7,155 30.65
Write Ins 19 0.08
November 8, 2011[18] General C. Todd Gilbert Republican 13,617 97.85
Write Ins 299 2.14
June 11, 2013[19] Republican primary C. Todd Gilbert 3,661 92.10
Mark W. Prince 314 7.90
November 5, 2013[20] General C. Todd Gilbert Republican 17,376 96.60
Write Ins 615 3.40
November 3, 2015[21] General C. Todd Gilbert Republican 16,102 97.90
Write Ins 350 2.10
November 7, 2017[22] General C. Todd Gilbert Republican 19,284 94.30
Write Ins 1,171 5.70
November 5, 2019[23] General C. Todd Gilbert Republican 18,914 74.40
Beverly Harrison Democratic 6,493 25.50
Write Ins 31 0.10
November 2, 2021[24] General C. Todd Gilbert Republican 26,613 77.69
Emily Scott Democratic 7,601 22.19
Write Ins 41 0.12
November 7, 2023[25] General C. Todd Gilbert Republican 21,554 77.71
Bob W. Smith Democratic 6,139 22.13
Write Ins 44 0.16
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Notes

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