Virginia's 7th congressional district
U.S. House district for Virginia
Virginia's 7th congressional district Interactive map of district boundaries since 2023
Representative Area 3,117.9 sq mi (8,075 km2 ) Distribution 73.1% urban[ 1] 26.9% rural Population (2023) 814,164[ 2] Median household income $109,348[ 3] Ethnicity Cook PVI D+1[ 4]
Virginia's 7th congressional district from January 3, 2023
Virginia's seventh congressional district is a United States congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia . The district is currently represented by Democrat Eugene Vindman since January 3, 2025.
The district spans across much of Central and Northern Virginia including all of Orange , Culpeper , Spotsylvania , Greene County , Madison County , Fredericksburg , Caroline County , King George County , Stafford County , the south-eastern half of Prince William County , and a small sliver of Albemarle County .
History
Until the 1970s, the 7th district comprised the northern half of the Shenandoah Valley , now part of the strongly Republican sixth district . After the 1970 census, it lost most of the Valley except for Winchester , while picking up Manassas and Fredericksburg , thus stretching from the fringes of the Washington, D.C. suburbs to Charlottesville . This iteration of the 7th was one of the first areas of Virginia to shake off its Solid South roots. The area's Democrats started splitting their tickets as early as the 1930s. The Republicans took the seat in 1970, and held it without much difficulty until 1993.
The district's current configuration dates from 1993, when Virginia was forced to create a majority-minority district by a Justice Department directive. At that time, most of Richmond, which had been entirely in the old 3rd district for over a century, was shifted to a newly created 3rd district. The remaining territory in the old 3rd was combined with some more rural areas to the north to form the new 7th district.
From 2013 to 2017, the 7th district stretched from the west end of Richmond through the wealthier portions of Henrico and Chesterfield counties before taking in all of Goochland, Hanover, Louisa, New Kent , Orange, Culpeper, Page and Rappahannock counties and a portion of Spotsylvania County. In 2016, the adjacent 3rd district was found unconstitutional, leading to court-ordered redistricting which changed the 7th district for the 2016 elections .[ 5] [ 6]
From 2017 to 2023, the district spanned across much of Central Virginia including all of Orange , Culpeper , Goochland , Louisa , Nottoway , Amelia , and Powhatan counties. The district also included large portions of Chesterfield and Henrico counties in the suburbs of Richmond . However, Richmond was not in the 7th. Spotsylvania County also had a large portion in the 7th district just outside of Fredericksburg .[ 7]
Demographics
According to the United States Census Bureau's 2017 data for Virginia's 7th Congressional District, the total population of the district is 790,084. Median age for the district is 39.7 years. 65.5% of the district is Non-Hispanic White, 18.4% Black, 5.1% Asian, 0.3% Native American or Alaskan, and 3.4% some other race with 7.3% Hispanic or Latino. Owner-occupied housing is 73.0% and renter-occupied housing is 27.0%.[ 8] The median value of single-family owner-occupied homes is $266,500. 91.6% of the district population has at least a high school diploma, 40.4% at least a bachelor's degree or higher. 9.1% of the district are civilian veterans. 9.1% are foreign born and 11.9% speak a language other than English at home. 9.9% are of disability status.[ 9] 68.2% of the district is in the labor force, which consists of those 16 years and older. Mean travel time to work is 29.3 minutes. Median household income is $77,533. Per capita income is $37,567. 5.3% of the population account for families living below the poverty level, and 7.7% of individuals live below the poverty level.[ 10] 9.5% of Children live below the poverty line.[ 11]
Recent election results
2000s
2010s
2020s
Recent election results from statewide races
List of members representing the district
Representative
Party
Term
Cong ress
Electoral history
District established March 4, 1789
John Page (Gloucester County )
Anti-Administration
March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1793
1st 2nd
Elected in 1789 .Re-elected in 1790 . Redistricted to the 12th district .
Abraham B. Venable (Farmville )
Anti-Administration
March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795
3rd 4th 5th
Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1793 .Re-elected in 1795 .Re-elected in 1797 . Retired.
Democratic-Republican
March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1799
John Randolph (Roanoke Plantation )
Democratic-Republican
March 4, 1799 – March 3, 1803
6th 7th
Elected in 1799 .Re-elected in 1801 . Redistricted to the 15th district .
Joseph Lewis Jr. (Upperville )
Federalist
March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1813
8th 9th 10th 11th 12th
Elected in 1803 .Re-elected in 1805 .Re-elected in 1807 .Re-elected in 1809 .Re-elected in 1811 . Redistricted to the 8th district .
Hugh Caperton (Union )
Federalist
March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1815
13th
Elected in 1813 . Lost re-election.
Ballard Smith (Lewisburg )
Democratic-Republican
March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1821
14th 15th 16th
Elected in 1815 .Re-elected in 1817 .Re-elected in 1819 . Lost re-election.
William Smith (Lewisburg )
Democratic-Republican
March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823
17th
Elected in 1821 . Redistricted to the 21st district .
Jabez Leftwich (Liberty )
Democratic-Republican
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825
18th
Redistricted from the 14th district and re-elected in 1823 . Lost re-election.
Nathaniel Claiborne (Rocky Mount )
Jacksonian
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1835
19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th
Elected in 1825 .Re-elected in 1827 .Re-elected in 1829 .Re-elected in 1831 .Re-elected in 1833 .Re-elected in 1835 . Lost re-election.
Anti-Jacksonian
March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837
Archibald Stuart (Mount Airy )
Democratic
March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839
25th
Elected in 1837 . Lost re-election.
William L. Goggin (Liberty )
Whig
March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843
26th 27th
Elected in 1839 .Re-elected in 1841 . Lost re-election.
Henry A. Wise (Accomac )
Democratic
March 4, 1843 – February 12, 1844
28th
Elected in 1843 . Resigned.
Vacant
February 13, 1844 – May 5, 1844
Thomas H. Bayly (Accomac )
Democratic
May 6, 1844 – March 3, 1853
28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd
Elected to finish Wise's term .Re-elected in 1845 .Re-elected in 1847 .Re-elected in 1849 .Re-elected in 1851 . Redistricted to the 1st district .
William Smith (Warrenton )
Democratic
March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1861
33rd 34th 35th 36th
Elected in 1853 .Re-elected in 1855 .Re-elected in 1857 .Re-elected in 1859 . Resigned.
Vacant
March 4, 1861 – May 22, 1861
37th
Charles H. Upton (Falls Church )
Unionist
May 23, 1861 – February 27, 1862
Election invalidated.
Vacant
February 28, 1862 – February 15, 1863
Lewis McKenzie (Alexandria )
Unionist
February 16, 1863 – March 3, 1863
Elected to finish Upton's term . Lost re-election.[ 27]
District inactive
March 4, 1863 – January 30, 1870
38th 39th 40th 41st
Civil War and Reconstruction
Lewis McKenzie (Alexandria )
Conservative
January 31, 1870 – March 3, 1871
41st
Elected in 1870 . Lost re-election.
Elliott M. Braxton (Fredericksburg )
Democratic
March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873
42nd
Elected in 1870 . Lost re-election.
John T. Harris (Harrisonburg )
Democratic
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1881
43rd 44th 45th 46th
Elected in 1872 .Re-elected in 1874 .Re-elected in 1876 .Re-elected in 1878 . Retired.
John Paul (Harrisonburg )
Readjuster
March 4, 1881 – September 5, 1883
47th 48th
Elected in 1880 .Re-elected in 1882 . Appointed U.S. District Court judge.
Vacant
September 6, 1883 – May 4, 1884
48th
Charles T. O'Ferrall (Harrisonburg )
Democratic
May 5, 1884 – December 28, 1893
48th 49th 50th 51st 52nd 53rd
Elected to finish Paul's term .Re-elected in 1884 .Re-elected in 1886 .Re-elected in 1888 .Re-elected in 1890 .Re-elected in 1892 . Retired to run for Governor of Virginia .
Vacant
December 29, 1893 – January 29, 1894
53rd
Smith S. Turner (Front Royal )
Democratic
January 30, 1894 – March 3, 1897
53rd 54th
Elected to finish O'Ferrall's term .Re-elected in 1894 . Retired.
James Hay (Madison )
Democratic
March 4, 1897 – October 1, 1916
55th 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th
Elected in 1896 .Re-elected in 1898 .Re-elected in 1900 .Re-elected in 1902 .Re-elected in 1904 .Re-elected in 1906 .Re-elected in 1908 .Re-elected in 1910 .Re-elected in 1912 .Re-elected in 1914 . Appointed U.S. Claim Court judge.
Vacant
October 2, 1916 – November 6, 1916
64th
Thomas W. Harrison (Winchester )
Democratic
November 7, 1916 – December 15, 1922
64th 65th 66th 67th
Elected to finish Hay's term .Re-elected in 1916 .Re-elected in 1918 . Election invalidated.
John Paul Jr. (Harrisonburg )
Republican
December 15, 1922 – March 3, 1923
67th
Elected in 1922 . Lost re-election.
Thomas W. Harrison (Winchester )
Democratic
March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1929
68th 69th 70th
Elected in 1922 .Re-elected in 1924 .Re-elected in 1926 . Lost re-election.
Jacob A. Garber (Harrisonburg )
Republican
March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1931
71st
Elected in 1928 . Lost re-election.
John W. Fishburne (Charlottesville )
Democratic
March 4, 1931 – March 3, 1933
72nd
Elected in 1930 . Retired.
District inactive
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935
73rd
Absalom Willis Robertson (Lexington )
Democratic
January 3, 1935 – November 5, 1946
74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th
Elected in 1934 .Re-elected in 1936 .Re-elected in 1938 .Re-elected in 1940 .Re-elected in 1942 .Re-elected in 1944 . Resigned to run for U.S. senator .
Burr Harrison (Winchester )
Democratic
November 5, 1946 – January 3, 1963
79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th
Elected to finish Robertson's term .Re-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 . Retired.
John O. Marsh Jr. (Strasburg )
Democratic
January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1971
88th 89th 90th 91st
Elected in 1962 .Re-elected in 1964 .Re-elected in 1966 .Re-elected in 1968 . Retired.
J. Kenneth Robinson (Winchester )
Republican
January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1985
92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th
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 . Retired.
D. French Slaughter Jr. (Culpeper )
Republican
January 3, 1985 – November 5, 1991
99th 100th 101st 102nd
Elected in 1984 .Re-elected in 1986 .Re-elected in 1988 .Re-elected in 1990 . Resigned.
George F. Allen (Chesterfield County )
Republican
November 5, 1991 – January 3, 1993
102nd
Elected to finish Slaughter's term . Retired due to redistricting [1] .
Thomas J. Bliley Jr. (Richmond )
Republican
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001
103rd 104th 105th 106th
Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1992 .Re-elected in 1994 .Re-elected in 1996 .Re-elected in 1998 . Retired.
Eric Cantor (Henrico County )
Republican
January 3, 2001 – August 18, 2014
107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th
Elected in 2000 .Re-elected in 2002 .Re-elected in 2004 .Re-elected in 2006 .Re-elected in 2008 .Re-elected in 2010 .Re-elected in 2012 . Lost renomination and then resigned.
Vacant
August 18, 2014 – November 12, 2014
113th
Dave Brat (Glen Allen )
Republican
November 12, 2014 – January 3, 2019
113th 114th 115th
Elected to finish Cantor's term .Elected to full term in 2014 .Re-elected in 2016 . Lost re-election.
Abigail Spanberger (Glen Allen )
Democratic
January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2025
116th 117th 118th
Elected in 2018 .Re-elected in 2020 .Re-elected in 2022 . Retired to run for governor of Virginia .
Eugene Vindman (Dale City )
Democratic
January 3, 2025 – present
119th
Elected in 2024 .
Historical district boundaries
The Virginia Seventh District started in 1788 covering the counties of Essex, Richmond, Westmoreland, Northumberland, Lancaster, Gloucester, Middlesex, King and Queen, King William and Caroline.[ 28]
2003–2013
2013–2017
2017–2023
See also
References
^ Geography, US Census Bureau. "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)" . www.census.gov . Retrieved April 6, 2018 .
^ "Congressional District 7, VA - Profile data - Census Reporter" .
^ "My Congressional District" .
^ "2022 Cook PV: District Map and List" . The Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2023 .
^ Andrew Cain (January 7, 2016). "Judges impose new Va. congressional map, redrawing 3rd, 4th Districts | Virginia Politics" . Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved May 6, 2017 .
^ Dispatch, PATRICK WILSON Richmond Times. "Fueled by suburban votes, Spanberger beats Brat in 7th District House race" . Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved November 7, 2018 .
^ "Virginia's 7th Congressional District – VA-07 Representatives & District Map – GovTrack.us" . GovTrack.us . Retrieved April 6, 2018 .
^ "Congressional District 7, VA - Profile data - Census Reporter" .
^ "DISABILITY CHARACTERISTICS/2010 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates" . United States Census Bureau . Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2012 .
^ "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS/2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates" . United States Census Bureau . Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2012 .
^ "Congressional District 7, VA - Profile data - Census Reporter" .
^ "Virginia's 7th Congressional District - Ballotpedia" .
^ "Virginia's 7th Congressional District - Ballotpedia" .
^ "Virginia's 7th Congressional District - Ballotpedia" .
^ "Virginia's 7th Congressional District - Ballotpedia" .
^ "Virginia's 7th Congressional District - Ballotpedia" .
^ "Virginia's 7th Congressional District - Ballotpedia" .
^ "Virginia's 7th Congressional District - Ballotpedia" .
^ "Virginia's 7th Congressional District - Ballotpedia" .
^ "Virginia's 7th Congressional District - Ballotpedia" .
^ "Virginia Elections Database" .
^ "Virginia Election Results: Seventh Congressional District" . The New York Times . November 3, 2020.
^ "2020 November General" . 2020 November General Election Official Results . Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2022 .
^ "2020 November General" . 2024 November General Election Official Results . Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 3, 2024 .
^ https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::bc930c25-236f-46a7-bbe9-d8d77e21d011
^ https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13OwY9FYKHM72i5DDMG_cNxz7pYoDPFjCQD1T44-D_hA/htmlview#
^ "Our Campaigns - VA - District 07 Race - May 28, 1863" .
^ Statute of 20 November 1788
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