Virginia's seventh congressional district is a United States congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The district is currently represented by Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who is not seeking reelection in 2024. Fellow Democrat Eugene Vindman was elected and will take office in Jan 2025.
| Virginia's 7th congressional district | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of district boundaries since 2023 | |
| Representative | |
| Area | 3,117.9 sq mi (8,075 km2) |
| Distribution |
|
| Population (2023) | 814,164[2] |
| Median household income | $109,348[3] |
| Ethnicity |
|
| Cook PVI | D+1[4] |
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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
editUntil 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
editAccording 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
edit2000s
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Cantor | 192,652 | 66.9 | |
| Democratic | Warren Stewart | 94,935 | 33.0 | |
| Write-ins | 304 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 287,891 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Cantor (incumbent) | 113,658 | 69.4 | |
| Democratic | Ben Jones | 49,854 | 30.5 | |
| Write-ins | 153 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 163,665 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Cantor (incumbent) | 230,765 | 75.5 | |
| Independent | Ben Jones | 74,325 | 24.3 | |
| Write-ins | 568 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 305,658 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Cantor (incumbent) | 163,706 | 63.8 | |
| Democratic | James Nachman | 88,206 | 34.4 | |
| Independent | Brad Blanton | 4,213 | 1.6 | |
| Write-ins | 272 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 256,397 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Cantor (incumbent) | 233,531 | 62.7 | |
| Democratic | Anita Hartke | 138,123 | 37.1 | |
| Write-ins | 683 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 372,337 | 100.00 | ||
2010s
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Cantor (incumbent) | 138,209 | 59.2 | |
| Democratic | Rick Waugh | 79,616 | 34.1 | |
| Green | Floyd Bayne | 15,164 | 6.5 | |
| Write-ins | 413 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 233,402 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Cantor (incumbent) | 222,983 | 58.4 | |
| Democratic | Wayne Powell | 158,012 | 41.4 | |
| Write-ins | 914 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 381,909 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Brat | 148,026 | 60.8 | |
| Democratic | Jack Trammell | 89,914 | 36.9 | |
| Libertarian | James Carr | 5,086 | 2.1 | |
| Write-ins | 325 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 243,351 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Brat (incumbent) | 218,057 | 57.5 | |
| Democratic | Eileen Bedell | 160,159 | 42.2 | |
| Write-ins | 947 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 379,163 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Abigail Spanberger | 176,079 | 50.3 | |
| Republican | David Brat (incumbent) | 169,295 | 48.4 | |
| Libertarian | Joe Walton | 4,216 | 1.2 | |
| Write-ins | 213 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 349,831 | 100.00 | ||
2020s
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Abigail Spanberger (incumbent) | 230,893 | 50.8 | |
| Republican | Nick Freitas | 222,623 | 49.0 | |
| Write-ins | 823 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 454,339 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Abigail Spanberger (incumbent) | 143,357 | 52.2 | |
| Republican | Yesli Vega | 130,586 | 47.6 | |
| Write-ins | 647 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 274,590 | 100.00 | ||
Recent results in statewide elections
edit- Results under current lines (since 2023)
| Year | Office | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | President | Obama 52.4%–46.8% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 51.3%-47.6% |
| Senator | Kaine 52.2%-47.7% | |
| 2013 | Governor | Cuccinelli 49.0%-45.7% |
| Lieutenant Governor | Northam 50.9%-49.0% | |
| Attorney General | Obenshain 51.7%–48.2% | |
| 2014 | Senator | Gillespie 52.7%-45.35% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 48.2%–46.0% |
| 2017 | Governor | Northam 52.2%-46.7% |
| Lieutenant Governor | Fairfax 51.5%-48.4% | |
| Attorney General | Herring 51.8%–48.1% | |
| 2018 | Senator | Kaine 55.7%-42.4% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 52.4%-45.7% |
| Senator | Warner 53.9%-46.0% | |
| 2021 | Governor | Youngkin 52.2%-47.0% |
| Lieutenant Governor | Sears 52.2%-47.7% | |
| Attorney General | Miyares 51.9%-48.0% |
- Results under old lines
List of members representing the district
edit
Historical district boundaries
editThe Virginia Seventh District started in 1788 covering the counties of Essex, Richmond, Westmoreland, Northumberland, Lancaster, Gloucester, Middlesex, King and Queen, King William and Caroline.[57]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "Summarized by Congressional District". Commonwealth Of Virginia – State Board of Elections ELECTION RESULTS November 5, 1996 General Election For Office of PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENT of the United States. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Summarized by Congressional District". Commonwealth Of Virginia – State Board of Elections ELECTION RESULTS November 5, 1996 General Election For Office of UNITED STATES SENATE. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Summary by Congressional District". Commonwealth Of Virginia/ELECTION RESULTS/NOVEMBER 4, 1997 GENERAL ELECTION/For Office of GOVERNOR/By Congressional District. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Commonwealth Of Virginia ELECTION RESULTS NOVEMBER 4, 1997 GENERAL ELECTION For Office of LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR By Congressional District". Commonwealth Of Virginia/ELECTION RESULTS/NOVEMBER 4, 1997 GENERAL ELECTION/For Office of LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR/By Congressional District. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "SUMMARY OF NOVEMBER 4, 1997 GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS/by Congressional District". Commonwealth Of Virginia/ELECTION RESULTS/NOVEMBER 4, 1997 GENERAL ELECTION/For Office of ATTORNEY GENERAL/By Congressional District. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "U.S. President/Vice-President". Commonwealth of Virginia/November 7, 2000 – General Election/OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "U.S. Senate". Commonwealth of Virginia/November 7, 2000 – General Election/OFFICIAL RESULTS. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Official Results/Governor". General Election – November 6, 2001. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 29, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Official Results/U.S. Senate". November 5, 2002 General Election Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Official Results/President". Commonwealth of Virginia/November 2nd – General Election. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Official Results/U.S. Senate". General Election – November 7, 2006. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Official Results/Governor". General Election – November 8, 2005. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Official Results/Lieutenant Governor". General Election – November 8, 2005. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Official Results/Attorney General". General Election – November 8, 2005. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "President>President And Vice President>Votes By District". November 2008 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Congress>U.S. Senate>United States Senate>Votes By District". November 2008 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
- ^ "Governor>Votes by District". November 2009 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Lieutenant Governor>Votes by District". November 2009 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "Attorney General>Votes by District". November 2009 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- ^ "President>President And Vice President>Votes By District". November 2012 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
- ^ "Congress>U.S. Senate>United States Senate>Votes By District". November 2012 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
- ^ "Governor>Votes by District". November 2013 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ^ "Lieutenant Governor>Votes by District". November 2013 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ^ "Attorney General>Votes by District". November 2013 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ^ "Congress". November 2014 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ^ "President>President And Vice President>Votes By District". November 2016 Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
- ^ "Governor>Votes by District". November 2017 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ "Lieutenant Governor>Votes by District". November 2017 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ "Attorney General>Votes by District". November 2017 General Election Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ "2018 U.S. Senate Results by Congressional District". The Virginia Public Access Project. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ "Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2020, 2016, and 2012".
- ^ @greggiroux (November 16, 2021). "Certified results of Virginia governor's election by current congressional district:" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - VA - District 07 Race - May 28, 1863".
- ^ Statute of 20 November 1788
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present