Virginia's 7th Congressional District election, 2018

Elections in Virginia, 2018

• General election: Nov. 6
• Voter registration deadline: Oct. 15
• Early voting: N/A
• Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6

• Online registration: Yes
• Same-day registration: No
• Voter ID: Photo ID required
• Poll times: 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Special state legislative • State ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • Democratic primaries • Republican primaries

2020 → ← 2016
Virginia's 7th Congressional District
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 29, 2018
Primary: June 12, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 Pre-election incumbent: David Brat (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Virginia
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Toss-up Inside Elections: Toss-up Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
See also
Virginia's 7th Congressional District U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th Virginia elections, 2018 U.S. Congress elections, 2018 U.S. Senate elections, 2018 U.S. House elections, 2018 Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House racesArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House racesFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House racesOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House racesTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House racesVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House racesSenden

Abigail Spanberger (D) defeated Rep. David Brat (R) and Joe Walton (L) in the November 6, 2018, general election to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District.

All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. The Democratic Party gained a net total of 40 seats, winning control of the chamber. This race was identified as a 2018 battleground that might have affected partisan control of the U.S. House in the 116th Congress. Heading into the election, the Republican Party was in the majority holding 235 seats to Democrats' 193 seats, with seven vacant seats. Democrats needed to win 23 GOP-held seats in 2018 to win control of the House. From 1918 to 2016, the president’s party lost an average of 29 seats in midterm elections.

Heading into the 2018 election, the 7th District had been held by Republicans since 1971. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) targeted the seat in 2018. The district contains portions of Henrico and Chesterfield counties, both of which voted Democratic in 2017's gubernatorial election. In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Henrico, while Donald Trump (R) won Chesterfield by a 2-point margin.

Brat was re-elected in 2016 by 15 percentage points over his Democratic opponent. He was first elected in 2014 after defeating then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the Republican primary.

For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the Republican primary, click here.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 7

Abigail Spanberger defeated incumbent David Brat and Joe Walton in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Abigail Spanberger (D)	50.3	176,079
		David Brat (R)	48.4	169,295
		Joe Walton (L)	1.2	4,216
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	213

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 349,803
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7

Abigail Spanberger defeated Daniel Ward in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Abigail Spanberger	72.7	33,210
		Daniel Ward	27.3	12,483

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 45,693
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Janelle Noble (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7

Incumbent David Brat advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		David Brat

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Candidate profiles

See also: Editorial approach to writing about key campaign messages

David Brat, U.S. representative

Party: Republican

Incumbent: Yes

Political office: U.S. representative, Virginia's 7th Congressional District (Assumed office: 2014)

Biography: Brat received a Masters of Divinity degree and a Ph.D. in economics from American University. Before joining Congress, he served on the Joint Advisory Board of Economists. He also taught economics at Randolph-Macon College. In 2014, he defeated House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in Virginia's 7th District Republican primary. As of the 2018 election, he was a member of the House Freedom Caucus.

Key messages

• Brat said he had a record of doing what he promised he would since he took office in 2014, including voting to lower taxes and repeal Obamacare.

• Brat emphasized that he was the only member of Congress with a Ph.D. in economics, saying that he was uniquely qualified to handle budgetary policy.

• Brat described Spanberger's policy proposals as tax hikes, sanctuary cities, and bankrupting Medicare. He contrasted this with his proposals, described as lowering taxes, reducing government involvement in healthcare, and securing borders. Brat sought to connect Spanberger with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) during debates.

Abigail Spanberger, retired CIA officer

Party: Democratic

Incumbent: No

Political office: None

Biography: Spanberger received her M.B.A. from a dual-degree German-American program between the GISMA business school and Purdue University. Her professional experience includes serving as a federal law enforcement officer for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and an operations officer for the CIA.

Key messages

• Spanberger emphasized her background in law enforcement and the CIA, saying she was committed to serving the public rather than partisan ideology. She said that Brat refused to work across the aisle, whereas she would.

• She said she decided to run the day the House passed an Obamacare repeal measure that Brat voted for. She said she wanted to strengthen and stabilize the ACA.

• Spanberger said she would hold a town hall event in each of District 7's counties during her first year in office. She said that Brat had been inaccessible to his constituents, alluding to him not holding a town hall for more than a year after a 2017 event where he said he couldn't get a word in.

Joe Walton, former chair, County of Powhatan Board of Supervisors

Party: Libertarian

Incumbent: No

Political office: County of Powhatan Board of Supervisors (2008-2011)

Biography: Walton received a B.S. in science and a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He served as vice-chair and chair of the Powhatan Board of Supervisors during his tenure. As of the 2018 election, he was pursuing a Ph.D. in public policy and administration at VCU and working as senior internal auditor of IT at VCU.

Key messages

• Walton said his political principles were social inclusivity and fiscal responsibility. He said these "are both sensible and centrist in a political atmosphere increasingly polarized by the two major party machines."

• Walton said he had a record of effective leadership in Virginia. As examples, he said Powhatan County's credit rating was upgraded and its budgets were balanced during his tenure.

• Walton described Spanberger as too liberal for the district and criticized Brat for not holding town halls for more than a year. Walton said he would make constituent services and accountability his first priorities in office.

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

Virginia's 7th Congressional District 2018, Brat v. Spanberger v. Walton
Poll	David Brat (R)	Abigail Spanberger (D)	Joe Walton (L)	Undecided	Margin of Error	Sample Size
Christopher Newport University October 18-27, 2018	45%	46%	4%	3%	+/-4.2	871
Monmouth University September 15-24, 2018	47%	47%	1%	6%	+/-5.4	329
Note: A "0%" finding means the question was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected]

Virginia's 7th Congressional District 2018, Brat v. Spanberger
Poll	David Brat (R)	Abigail Spanberger (D)	Undecided	Margin of Error	Sample Size
NYT Upshot/Siena College Oct.30-Nov. 4, 2018	46%	44%	9%	+/-4.6	500
NYT Upshot/Siena College September 9-12, 2018	47%	43%	9%	+/-5	501
Note: A "0%" finding means the question was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected]

Campaign finance

The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
David Brat	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Abigail Spanberger	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Joe Walton	Libertarian Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," . This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

Satellite spending

Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.

This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.

• Americans for Prosperity announced it would support David Brat on August 30, 2018. The group's statement said it would "fully activate its grassroots infrastructure through phone banks and neighborhood canvassing, as well as deploy targeted digital, mail, and radio advertising" for Brat and seven other endorsed House members.
  • The group spent about $320,000 on digital ads, canvassing, and doorhangers supporting Brat between September 10 and October 3, 2018.

• The Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, spent $2.9 million toward the race through November 1, 2018.
  • The group spent $878,000 on ads opposing Spanberger through September.
  • The group spent an additional $2 million in October. The money went toward ads, doorhangers, and canvassing both opposing Spanberger and supporting Brat.

• End Citizens United spent $712,000 toward the race through October. Of that, $579,000 went toward a media buy opposing Brat. The rest was spent on materials supporting Spanberger and opposing Brat.

• House Freedom Action, a super PAC, reported spending $416,000 on ads opposing Spanberger between October 1 and 3.

• The super PAC House Majority PAC spent $1.2 million toward the race through November 1 on ads and mailers opposing Brat.

• The League of Conservation Voters Victory Fund super PAC announced on October 1 having spent $327,000 on a TV ad opposing Brat.

Race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: Virginia's 7th Congressional District election, 2018
Race tracker	Race ratings
	October 30, 2018	October 23, 2018	October 16, 2018	October 9, 2018
The Cook Political Report	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+6, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 6 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Virginia's 7th Congressional District the 182nd most Republican nationally.

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.88. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.88 points toward that party.

Noteworthy endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.

Click the links below to see endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites.

• David Brat
• Abigail Spanberger

Noteworthy general election endorsements
Endorsement	David Brat	Abigail Spanberger
Newspapers and editorials
Charlottesville’s Daily Progress	✔
Richmond Times-Dispatch	✔
Culpeper Star Exponent	✔
Elected officials
Pres. Donald Trump	✔
Vice Pres. Mike Pence	✔
Former Pres. Barack Obama		✔
Former Vice Pres. Joe Biden		✔
Former Sen. John Warner (R-Va.)		✔

Timeline

• November 1, 2018: A New York Times Upshot/Siena College poll found Brat and Spanberger tied within the margin of error, with 46 percent and 44 percent support, respectively.

• October 27, 2018: A poll found Spanberger and Brat tied within the margin of error, with 46 percent and 45 percent support, respectively.

• October 20, 2018: Vice President Mike Pence (R) campaigned in Virginia for Brat and other Republicans.

• October 18, 2018: President Donald Trump (R) endorsed David Brat.

• October 15, 2018: Brat and Spanberger met for a debate at Germanna Community College hosted by the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce.

• October 1-3, 2018: Barack Obama and Joe Biden endorsed Abigail Spanberger; Vice President Mike Pence (R) endorsed David Brat.

• September 24, 2018: A Monmouth University poll found that, among likely voters, Brat and Spanberger were tied with 47 percent support. The margin of error was +/-5.4 percentage points.

• September 12, 2018: A poll found Brat leading by 4 points, within the poll's margin of error of 5 points.

Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Dave Brat

Support

"Guiding Principle" - Brat campaign ad, released October 12, 2018

"Puppies" - Brat campaign ad, released September 26, 2018

"Dave Brat: Delivering for Virginia Families" - Brat campaign ad, released August 20, 2018

Oppose

"Looks" - EMILY's List ad, released October 16, 2018

"Rigged" - End Citizens United ad, released October 16, 2018

"Thinking" - House Majority PAC campaign ad, released October 2, 2018

"Stands With Them" - League of Conservation Voters ad, released October 1, 2018

"Jody" - Spanberger campaign ad, released September 28, 2018

"Shell Game" - ad by House Majority PAC, released September 12, 2018

Abigail Spanberger

Support

"Superhero" - Spanberger campaign ad, released October 22, 2018

"Fix" - Spanberger campaign ad, released October 13, 2018

"Work Together" - Spanberger campaign ad, released October 10, 2018

"Joe" - Spanberger campaign ad, released October 10, 2018

"Women Rising" - Serve America ad, released October 9, 2018

"Women Rising" - Serve America ad, released October 9, 2018

"Stood Up" - Spanberger campaign ad, released September 25, 2018

"Training" - Spanberger campaign ad, released September 19, 2018

"Vetted" - Spanberger campaign ad, released September 11, 2018

"Stack" - Spanberger campaign ad, released September 5, 2018

"Too Partisan" - Spanberger campaign ad, released August 30, 2018

"Commitment" - Spanberger campaign ad, released August 22, 2018

"Values" - Spanberger campaign ad, released August 8, 2018

Oppose

"Facts" - Dave Brat ad, released October 31, 2018

"Double Down" - Dave Brat ad, released October 23, 2018

"Premium" - Dave Brat ad, released October 23, 2018

"Town Hall TV" - Dave Brat ad, released October 8, 2018

"Radical Policies" - Congressional Leadership Fund ad, released September 27, 2018

"Hiding" - Congressional Leadership Fund ad, released September 18, 2018

"Nothing" - Brat campaign ad, released September 17, 2018

"Terror High" - ad by the Congressional Leadership Fund, released September 6, 2018

Debates and forums

• Brat and Spanberger met for a debate at Germanna Community College hosted by the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce on October 15, 2018. Click here for footage of the debate.

Campaign themes

David Brat

The following were found on Brat's campaign website.

"	HEALTHCARE Obamacare has proven to be an economically disastrous law and an unconstitutional power grab by our federal government. The government cannot and should not be permitted to run and regulate nearly 20% of our nation’s economy. We must restore the relationship between doctor and patient. We must restore the relationship between price and service in medicine or we will continue on the Road to Serfdom. I support a plan to defund the law and replace it with free-market solutions that lower costs, improve quality, and increase access to care. FISCAL RESPONSIBLITY Our national debt has skyrocketed, reaching over $21 trillion dollars. What our leaders in Washington fail to mention is the $127 trillion dollars in unfunded liabilities (see U.S. Debt Clock). This lack of leadership on both sides of the aisle threatens our nation’s stability and long term growth and forces an undue burden on our children and grandchildren. We must balance the federal budget by reducing spending. I have introduced a balanced budget amendment which will force Congress to rein in the out-of-control federal spending and restore confidence in the American economy. SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE We must keep the federal government’s promise to our seniors. As an economist, I know that our current financial path is unsustainable. By our federal government’s own calculations, Medicare and Social Security will run out of money in less than 20 years. I have pledged to prevent cuts to Medicare and Social Security for seniors while working on reforms to ensure these programs stay solvent for years to come. IMMIGRATION When addressing the issue of immigration, we must start by securing our border. An open border is both a national security threat and an economic threat that our country cannot ignore. I reject any proposal that grants amnesty and undermines the fundamental rule of law. Adding millions of workers to the labor market will force wages to fall and jobs to be lost. I supported legislation that will secure our border, enforce our current laws, and restore an orderly and fair process to allow law-abiding individuals to work towards becoming citizens of this great nation. I also introduced legislation to address asylum reform to ensure families stay together at the border. TERM LIMITS I am a strong proponent of term limits for members of Congress. Career politicians and special moneyed interests have corrupted our democratic system. I pledge to support and submit legislation that enforces term limits. Ideally, congressional term limits would be for 12 years total, across both House and Senate. Thus, I pledge to term limit myself to 12 years in Congress. HUMAN TRAFFICKING We must do all we can to end the scourge of human trafficking. As I have met with local law enforcement and health care professionals, I have learned more about how this modern day slavery is happening right here in the 7th District and what they are doing to fight it. In Congress, I worked with Rep. Ann Wagner of Missouri to pass the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act. The legislation gives law enforcement and prosecutors the tools to hold websites accountable for supporting the sale of sex trafficking victims. Since it passed, the Department of Justice has been able to shut down many sex trafficking websites. Banks have closed the accounts of internet traffickers. Experts believe online demand for commercials sex has been driven down substantially. And victims’ shelters are reporting double the intake of self-referrals. SECOND AMENDMENT I will oppose any efforts to undermine or limit the constitutional right to bear arms. I am a strong supporter of gun rights. The right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right enshrined in the constitution for a reason – it provides the people with the ultimate guarantee of sovereignty. I will oppose any back door attempts to confiscate guns or create a national gun registry. All too frequently, the knee-jerk reaction to tragedies by the media and chattering class is to move to restrict our rights. In Congress, I will be a steady and firm supporter of our Second Amendment rights at all times – not just when it is convenient. Our founding documents make it clear that our inalienable rights come from God and that the job of the government is to ensure and protect those God-given rights. I intend to keep it that way. UPHOLD HUMAN LIFE Human life is sacred, as proclaimed by our founding documents, and I will always support laws that protect life. Our fundamental rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness precede the existence of government and come from God, the Author of Nature. These core constitutional rights have been usurped by the Judicial and Executive Branches and must be returned to the people and their representatives. EDUCATION As an economist and educator for 18 years, I understand the value of a good education. This is why I oppose top-down approaches by the federal government such as Common Core and No Child Left Behind. I will support efforts to place Virginia’s teachers, parents, and local officials who best understand the needs of the community in control of our education system. NATIONAL SECURITY/FOREIGN POLICY Ronald Reagan said it best: “Peace through strength.” A strong military is essential to the success of our nation. We must secure our borders, support the Armed Forces, both at home and abroad, and maintain a strong national defense in order to secure our country’s future. This year, Congress passed legislation to give our troops the biggest pay raise they have received in almost a decade. FEDERAL RESERVE I support a full audit of the Federal Reserve System. ENERGY I support a broad-spectrum energy approach that relies on the free market. The private sector must be set free to invest in natural gas, wind, solar, oil, nuclear, and other forms of energy as we move forward. Ending our reliance on foreign oil and moving toward energy independence is vital to the future of America. TENTH AMENDMENT The federal government has grown far too large. Our Founders envisioned a nation in which the federal government’s powers were explicitly listed and limited to protect our liberty. I fully support the Constitution and enforcing the Tenth Amendment and getting the government out of the way of economic growth. I will work to bring power back to the Commonwealth of Virginia. INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS The federal government’s abuse of our freedoms has spun out of control. Whether it is the NSA violating our Fourth Amendment Rights by collecting phone records, the IRS violating our First Amendment rights by targeting conservative organizations, or President Obama violating our Fifth Amendment rights with the indefinite detention of American citizens, our freedoms have been under attack and they must be restored.	”
—David Brat’s campaign website (2018)

Abigail Spanberger

The following were found on Spanberger's campaign website.

"	HEALTHCARE I will work to ensure that every person has quality, affordable healthcare. No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and getting the care, medication, or life-saving treatments they need. No one should lose or be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, and no one fighting a serious illness should face the fear of lifetime coverage caps. We can improve our healthcare system, while lowering costs, ensuring greater coverage, and achieving better outcomes, but it will take tremendous political will and a commitment to creatively looking at the options. Assaults against the ACA, such as the removal of the individual mandate, are causing rising premiums and losses of coverage across our district and country. I support measures that would strengthen the framework of the ACA such as reinstating the individual mandate, which mitigates risk, and moving the enrollment deadline to align with tax day. To increase coverage nationwide, I support pursuing universal coverage through a public option, specifically the proposed Medicare-X Choice Act currently before the U.S. Senate. I support Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP and the vital resources they provide to our seniors and most vulnerable citizens and children. I also support protecting women’s access to reproductive healthcare, including federal funding to Planned Parenthood and other providers that ensure essential healthcare to women and men. GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION Thousands of Americans die each year due to violence, suicide, or accidents involving firearms, and our lawmakers’ unwillingness to address this problem leaves our citizens and our children vulnerable. I am a former federal law enforcement officer, I used to carry a gun every day, and I support responsible gun ownership, but the ever-increasing number of Americans who die each day requires that we take action. Addressing gun violence and protecting lives should not be a political issue; it is a public safety issue. I support background checks for all firearm purchases, regardless of where or from whom the purchases are made. States that require background checks for all purchases have fewer suicides by gun, fewer law enforcement officers shot and killed, and fewer women killed by an intimate partner. Ninety four percent of Americans support background checks for all firearms purchases, as well as the Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police. I support common sense gun policy, such as HR 2598, the Gun Violence Restraining Order Act of 2017. The implementation of Gun Violence Restraining Orders allow family, friends, and law enforcement to help people facing crisis who, with a firearm in their possession, might be a risk to themselves or others. I support ensuring that states have the ability to provide current information to the NICs database to ensure informed background checks, and I support funding the research of gun violence. I also support the proposed HR 5087, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2018. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. Members of Congress must have the courage to address this problem and implement policies that will help keep our children and communities safe. PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE For decades, working families have paid into the Social Security and Medicare programs with the understanding that they were paying for retirement security later in life. I oppose any attempts to privatize these systems or to cut benefits. I am committed to ensuring their viability, and I will work to protect Social Security and Medicare so we can meet our obligations to seniors, now and into the future. JOBS AND ECONOMY Advancements in technology have radically restructured the global economy. While these changes bring many benefits, they have also altered the employment landscape for many Americans. We must take steps to acknowledge and understand how this impacts individuals, salaries, and the economic growth across our country, so that we can plan accordingly and ensure that our workforce training meets the needs of the changing economy. Our strength as a nation comes from the idea that anyone with a good idea can make it happen — the recent craft brewing renaissance we’ve experienced throughout central Virginia is just one example. This is why I support policies that empower small businesses (the backbone of our economy) to innovate and pursue bold entrepreneurial ventures. I also recognize that, despite living in an era of historic corporate profitability, people are working harder and harder, but their incomes are not keeping up with their expenses. Congress has had more than enough time to reinforce the middle class by prioritizing the people and small businesses that keep our economy strong; I will make them a priority. I also support organized labor, as unions have historically been a driver of economic stability within America’s middle class. This has been true for my own family, as my grandfather, a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, was able to raise his four children as a young widower because of the stability his union employment provided. As we see a changing landscape of employment opportunities, union apprenticeship programs remain an invaluable asset as they train the next generation of skilled workers. EDUCATION As a proud graduate of Henrico County Public Schools and as a mother of children who attend public schools, I believe deeply in the value of public education. I will advocate for and work to strengthen our public education system. I support building more skills/career training and apprenticeship programs for Americans whose path to employment does not include a four-year degree. For those who attend two and four-year colleges, we should ensure that they are not saddled with debt when they graduate and enter the workforce. I will be a tireless advocate for our nation’s students from the day they enter school to the day they graduate. TAX REFORM AND THE BUDGET We need comprehensive tax reform, but what Congress just passed is not it. We need tax reform that makes our tax system simpler and more fair, and strengthens our middle class. Congress must also work across party lines to address our nation’s debt and deficit issues. We can’t keep adding hundreds of billions of dollars to our debt each year. We must find common sense solutions to cut wasteful spending without penalizing hard-working families, seniors, or future generations. When considering budgetary issues, I will put the needs of the middle class first and fight to end corporate giveaways that send profits and jobs overseas. NATIONAL SECURITY I worked to keep our country safe as an officer in the CIA’s clandestine service, and I will continue to work in support of our national security as a member of Congress. Our elected leaders should understand and acknowledge the interconnected nature of our national security, our foreign policy, and our economic prosperity. We must also continue to value and support our military, diplomats, intelligence officers, and civil servants, as they work together to serve our country and protect our nation. CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUALITY I believe every person should be treated with dignity and have equal rights under the law. No person in a free and fair society should make less money, be denied government services, pay more for healthcare, lose a job or housing opportunities, or face discrimination in the community or workplace because of their gender, race, creed, national origin, disability, whom they love, or anything else that defines them. I support protecting women’s access to reproductive healthcare and federal funding to Planned Parenthood and other providers that ensure essential healthcare to women and men. I will work to protect marriage equality and LGBTQ rights. I also support the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. I support the rights of individuals with disabilities and will work to protect the civil rights protects afforded under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We must pursue criminal justice reform. We are five percent of the world’s population, but have 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. We need criminal justice reform to ensure that our justice system is fairly sentencing offenders regardless of race or economic status, and that we’re addressing issues related to addiction in our jails and prisons. I also support bolstering reentry efforts, which reduce recidivism and ensure that those who have paid their debt to society have the knowledge and resources necessary to become employed and engaged community members. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM AND GERRYMANDERING The Citizens United ruling is one of the most destructive decisions ever handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court. It ushered in an era of unchecked and unaccounted for political spending, and our nation has paid a dear price for it. I support campaign finance reform and efforts to reduce the influence of money in politics. I support efforts to bring greater transparency to campaign finance, overturn Citizens United, and block illegal foreign funds from influencing our elections. As we’ve increasingly dealt with the effects of special interests in campaign finance, it’s important that all elected officials take a stand against letting a small group of funders influence our elections. And because my commitment to campaign finance reform starts now, with my campaign, I will not accept any corporate PAC donations. I am proud that our campaign has earned the support of End Citizens United, a national organization committed to fighting for campaign finance reform. As a Virginian, I’ve seen the negative effects of gerrymandering. We need fairly-drawn, non-partisan districts to ensure the health of our representative democracy. ENVIRONMENT As a kid, I cherished the time I spent outdoors, trekking through the woods or picnicking in parks with my family. As an adult, I know how lucky we are to have Virginia’s mountains, rivers, and beaches. It is our responsibility to protect these resources for our children and generations to come by investing in alternative and renewable energy sources and decreasing air and water pollution. Energy independence is good for the environment and good for the economy — solar energy job growth climbed 65% from 2015-16 in Virginia, making the Commonwealth one of the fastest growing solar job markets in the nation. We must do everything we can to seize this opportunity. Climate change is real, and we’re already seeing the effects right here in Virginia with rising sea levels, higher average temperatures, and stronger hurricanes. An investment in clean, renewable energy is an investment in our ecosystem, our health, and our economy. These efforts require significant coordination, as well as a shared baseline of facts, and I will stand up to attacks against science. TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNET Access to broadband internet provides economic and educational opportunities, and I support efforts to bring broadband access to everyone here in the 7th and in underserved communities across the country. I also support net neutrality. Legislation protecting net neutrality is vital to ensuring that the internet remains a conduit for free speech and a free market, and that it’s available to those who rely on the internet to create opportunities or grow their business, whether they’re working from home in Louisa or managing a farm in Culpeper. It is an essential service to small businesses, educators, and everyday citizens alike, and it must become and remain equally accessible to all users. FIGHTING FOR VETERANS Unemployment, homelessness, and suicide rates among our nation’s veterans are unacceptably high, and I will work to ensure that we, as a country, make the process of transitioning from active duty to civilian life a positive one for our veterans. I will work to ensure veterans’ continued access to quality healthcare through our VA system, and I will work to strengthen existing efforts to improve our veterans’ transitions to the civilian workforce through credentialing, education, and job training programs. DRUG AND ADDICTION CRISIS Last year, drug overdoses remained the #1 cause of unnatural death in Virginia for the 4th straight year. The opioid crisis is having a serious impact on our communities and our economy, and we need to start thinking of new ways to address the problem. We must stop treating drug addiction as a crime. Substance use disorders are a health issue, and those suffering from them are in dire need of treatment. We must treat this epidemic by studying the problem and all possible solutions. Adding to our already overcrowded jails and prisons is not the solution, and will not provide those battling addiction with a path to recovery. I support addressing prescribing practices, advocating for recovery programs, and working with law enforcement and our jails to ensure better outcomes.	”
—Abigail Spanberger’s campaign website (2018)

Noteworthy events

U.S. Postal Service apologizes for releasing confidential Spanberger file

The U.S. Postal Service apologized for releasing the confidential personnel file (called an SF-86) of Abigail Spanberger on August 30, 2018. Unredacted copies of Spanberger's files were released via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request that was filed by America Rising, an opposition research organization. America Rising then shared the file with the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), which CNBC reported "used the file for political attacks against Spanberger."

Chief executive of America Rising Joe Pounder said, “America Rising never published her personal information and has no interest in it, so it is glad to return the documents to the Post office for their redaction.” An attorney for the CLF said the group obtained the information through an FOIA request, and said, "As is its right, CLF therefore will continue to disseminate this information through all available means so that voters can reach an informed conclusion regarding their choice at the polls on November 6, 2018."

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management states that some information from an SF-86 may be released to “the news media or the general public,” but that they have to be limited to “factual information the disclosure of which would be in the public interest and which would not constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.” Spanberger's entire file was released by the Postal Service.

David Partenheimer, a Postal Service spokesman, said in a statement, "We take full responsibility for this unfortunate error, and we have taken immediate steps to ensure this will not happen again. The privacy and security of personal information is of utmost importance to the Postal Service. The Postal Service offers our sincere apology to Ms. Spanberger, and we will request the return of the information which we mistakenly disclosed."

Social media

Twitter accounts

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Facebook accounts

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David Brat

Abigail Spanberger

District history

2016

See also: Virginia's 7th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent David Brat (R) defeated Eileen Bedell (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Neither candidate faced an opponent at the party nominating conventions.

U.S. House, Virginia District 7 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	David Brat Incumbent	57.5%	218,057
	Democratic	Eileen Bedell	42.2%	160,159
	K.A.	Write-in	0.2%	947
Total Votes				379,163
Source: Virginia Department of Elections

2014

See also: Virginia's 7th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 7th Congressional District of Virginia held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. David Brat (R) defeated Jack Trammell (D) and James Carr (L) in the general election.

U.S. House, Virginia District 7 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	David Brat	60.8%	148,026
	Democratic	Jack Trammell	36.9%	89,914
	Libertarian	James Carr	2.1%	5,086
	K.A.	Write-in	0.1%	325
Total Votes				243,351
Source: Virginia Department of Elections

2012

See also: Virginia's 7th Congressional District elections, 2012

U.S. House, Virginia District 7 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	E. Wayne Powell	41.4%	158,012
	Republican	Eric Cantor Incumbent	58.4%	222,983
	Write-In	K.A.	0.2%	914
Total Votes				381,909
Source: Virginia State Board of Elections "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010

On November 2, 2010, Eric Cantor won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Rick E. Waugh, Jr. (D) and Floyd C. Bayne (G) in the general election.

U.S. House, Virginia District 7 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Eric Cantor incumbent	59.2%	138,209
	Democratic	Rick E. Waugh	34.1%	79,616
	Green	Floyd C. Bayne	6.5%	15,164
	K.A.	Write-in	0.2%	413
Total Votes				233,402

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Five of 133 Virginia counties—3.8 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County	Trump margin of victory in 2016	Obama margin of victory in 2012	Obama margin of victory in 2008
Buckingham County, Virginia	11.28%	2.43%	0.87%
Caroline County, Virginia	5.02%	8.24%	11.97%
Essex County, Virginia	2.14%	7.30%	10.35%
Nelson County, Virginia	5.59%	2.72%	9.15%
Westmoreland County, Virginia	7.14%	6.95%	10.24%

Note: Although it is highlighted in the map above, the city of Chesapeake is not considered a county and not included in our calculations as such.

In the 2016 presidential election, Virginia was a battleground state. Hillary Clinton (D) won Virginia with 49.7 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 44.4 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Virginia voted Democratic 56.67 percent of the time and Republican 43.33 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Virginia voted Democratic three times (2008, 2012, and 2016) and Republican two times (2000 and 2004).

State overview

Partisan control

This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Virginia heading into the 2018 elections.

Congressional delegation

• Following the 2016 elections, Democrats held both U.S. Senate seats in Virginia.
• Republicans held seven of 11 U.S. House seats in Virginia.

State executives

• As of May 2018, Democrats held four of 12 state executive positions and the remaining positions were officially nonpartisan.
• The governor of Virginia was Democrat Ralph Northam. The state held elections for governor and lieutenant governor in 2021.

State legislature

• Republicans controlled both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly. They had a 50-49 majority in the state House and a 21-19 majority in the state Senate.

Trifecta status

• Virginia was under divided government, meaning that the two parties shared control of the state government. Ralph Northam (D) served as governor, while Republicans controlled the state legislature.

2018 elections

See also: Virginia elections, 2018

Virginia held elections for the following positions in 2018:

• One U.S. Senate seat
• 11 U.S. House seats
• One state House seat
• Municipal elections in Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach

Demographics

Demographic data for Virginia
	Virginia	U.S.
Total population:	8,367,587	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	39,490	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	69%	73.6%
Black/African American:	19.2%	12.6%
Asian:	6%	5.1%
Native American:	0.3%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0.1%	0.2%
Two or more:	3.2%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	8.6%	17.1%
Bildung
High school graduation rate:	88.3%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	36.3%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$65,015	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	13%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Virginia. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

As of July 2016, Virginia's three largest cities were Virginia Beach (pop. est. 450,435), Norfolk (pop. est. 244,703), and Chesapeake (pop. est. 240,397).

State election history

This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Virginia from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Virginia State Board of Elections.

Historical elections

Presidential elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Virginia every year from 2000 to 2016.

Election results (President of the United States), Virginia 2000-2016
Year	First-place candidate	First-place candidate votes (%)	Second-place candidate	Second-place candidate votes (%)	Margin of victory (%)
2016	Hillary Clinton	49.7%	Donald Trump	44.4%	5.3%
2012	Barack Obama	51.1%	Mitt Romney	47.2%	3.9%
2008	Barack Obama	52.6%	John McCain	46.3%	6.3%
2004	George W. Bush	53.7%	John Kerry	45.5%	8.2%
2000	George W. Bush	52.5%	Al Gore	44.4%	12.0%

U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Virginia from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

Election results (U.S. Senator), Virginia 2000-2016
Year	First-place candidate	First-place candidate votes (%)	Second-place candidate	Second-place candidate votes (%)	Margin of victory (%)
2014	Mark Warner	49.1%	Ed Gillespie	48.3%	0.8%
2012	Tim Kaine	52.8%	George Allen	46.9%	5.9%
2008	Mark Warner	65.0%	Jim Gilmore	33.7%	31.3%
2006	Jim Webb (Virginia)	49.6%	George Allen	49.2%	0.4%
2002	John Warner	82.6%	Nancy B. Spannaus (Independent)	9.7%	72.9%
2000	George Allen	52.3%	Chuck Robb	47.7%	4.6%

Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Virginia.

Election results (Governor), Virginia 2000-2016
Year	First-place candidate	First-place candidate votes (%)	Second-place candidate	Second-place candidate votes (%)	Margin of victory (%)
2017	Ralph Northam	53.9%	Ed Gillespie	45.0%	8.9%
2013	Terry McAuliffe	47.8%	Ken Cuccinelli	45.2%	2.6%
2009	Bob McDonnell	58.6%	Creigh Deeds	41.3%	17.3%
2005	Tim Kaine	51.7%	Jerry Kilgore	46.0%	5.7%
2001	Mark Warner	52.2%	Mark Earley	47.0%	5.2%

Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Virginia in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

Congressional delegation, Virginia 2000-2016
Year	Republicans	Republicans (%)	Democrats	Democrats (%)	Balance of power
2016	7	63.6%	4	36.4%	R+3
2014	8	72.7%	3	27.3%	R+5
2012	8	72.7%	3	27.3%	R+5
2010	8	72.7%	3	27.3%	R+5
2008	5	45.4%	6	54.5%	D+1
2006	8	72.7%	3	27.3%	R+5
2004	8	72.7%	3	27.3%	R+5
2002	8	72.7%	3	27.3%	R+5
2000	7	50.0%	3	50.0%	R+4

Trifectas, 1992-2017

A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

Virginia Party Control: 1992-2024
Four years of Democratic trifectas  •  Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R
Senate	D	D	D	D	S	S	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D
House	D	D	D	D	D	D	S	S	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	R	R	D

See also

• Virginia's 7th Congressional District election (June 12, 2018 Democratic primary)
• Virginia's 7th Congressional District election (June 12, 2018 Republican primary)
• United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2018
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2018

Footnotes

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Virginia's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Tim Kaine (D)

Mark Warner (D)

Representatives

District 1

Rob Wittman (R)

District 2

Jennifer Kiggans (R)

District 3

Bobby Scott (D)

District 4

Jennifer McClellan (D)

District 5

Bob Good (R)

District 6

Benjamin Lee Cline (R)

District 7

Abigail Spanberger (D)

District 8

Donald Sternoff Beyer (D)

District 9

H. Morgan Griffith (R)

District 10

Jennifer Wexton (D)

District 11

Gerald Edward Connolly (D)

Democratic Party (8)

Republican Party (5)