Virginia House of Delegates

Coordinates: 37°32′19″N 77°26′00″W / 37.53865°N 77.43331°W / 37.53865; -77.43331

Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia General Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 13, 2016
Leadership
William Howell (R)
Since January 8, 2003
Majority Leader
Kirk Cox (R)
Since December 5, 2010
Minority Leader
David Toscano (D)
Since November 19, 2011
Structure
Seats 100
Political groups

Majority

Minority

Length of term
2 years
Authority Article IV, Virginia Constitution
Salary $17,640/year + per diem
Elections
Last election
November 3, 2015
Next election
November 7, 2017
Redistricting Legislative Control
Meeting place
House of Delegates Chamber
Virginia State Capitol
Richmond, Virginia
Website
Virginia General Assembly

The Virginia House of Delegates is one of two parts in the Virginia General Assembly the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the House membership by the Delegates. The Speaker is almost always a member of the majority party and, as Speaker, becomes the most powerful member of the House. The House shares legislative power with the Senate of Virginia, the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The House of Delegates is the modern-day successor to the Virginia House of Burgesses, which first met at Jamestown in 1619. The House is divided into Democratic and Republican caucuses. In addition to the Speaker, there is a majority leader, majority caucus chair, minority leader, minority caucus chair, and the chairs of the several committees of the House.

Through the House of Burgesses, the Virginia House of Delegates is considered the oldest continuous legislative body in the New World.[1] Originally having 22 members, the House of Burgesses met from 1619 through 1632 in the choir of the church at Jamestown.[2] From 1632 to 1699 the legislative body met at four different state houses in Jamestown. The first state house convened at the home of Colonial Governor Sir John Harvey from 1632 to 1656. The burgesses convened at the second state house from 1656 until it was destroyed in 1660. Historians have yet to precisely identify its location.[3]

The House has met in Virginia's Capitol Building, designed by Thomas Jefferson, since 1788. The legislative body met from 1788 to 1904 in what is known as today the Old Hall of the House of Delegates or commonly referred to as the Old House Chamber. The Old House Chamber is part of the original Capitol building structure. It measures 76 feet in width and is filled today with furnishings that resemble what the room would have looked like during its time of use. There are many bronze and marble busts of historic Virginians on display in the Old House Chamber, including: George Mason, George Wythe, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and Meriwether Lewis. From 1904 to 1906, University of Virginia graduate and architect John K. Peeples designed and built compatible classical wings to the west and east side of the Capitol building. The new wings added to provide more space and serve as the legislative chambers in the Virginia General Assembly, the Senate of Virginia resides in the west chamber and the House of Delegates resides in the east chamber. The General Assembly members and staff operate from offices in the General Assembly Building, located in Capitol Square. Prior to 1788 the House of Delegates met in the Colonial Capital of Williamsburg.

In 1999, Republicans took control of the long-time Democratic House of Delegates for the first time since Reconstruction (with the exception of a brief 2-year period in which the Readjuster Party was in the majority in the 1880s).

Salary and qualifications

The annual salary for delegates is $17,640 per year.[4] Each delegate represents roughly 83,000 people.[4] Candidates for office must be at least 21 years of age at the time of the election, residents of the districts they seek to represent, and qualified to vote for General Assembly legislators.[5][6] The regular session of the General Assembly is 60 days long during even numbered years and 30 days long during odd numbered years, unless extended by a two-thirds vote of both houses.[5][7]

Composition

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Ind Democratic Vacant
End of 2010–2012 session 59 2 39 100 0
End of 2012–2014 session 64 2 32 98 2
Begin (January 2014) 67 0 33 100 0
January 28, 2014[c 1] 32 99 1
February 26, 2014[c 2] 68 100 0
June 30, 2014[c 3] 30 98 2
August 19, 2014[c 4] 32 100 0
September 18, 2014[c 5] 67 99 1
Nov. 4, 2014[c 6] 31 98 2
Nov. 10, 2014[c 7] 66 97 3
December 9, 2014[c 8] 67 98 2
December 18, 2014[c 9] 30 97 3
January 6, 2015[c 10] 32 99 1
January 13, 2015[c 11] 1 100 0
March 25, 2015[c 12] 0 99 1
End of 2014–2016 session
Begin (January 2016) 66 0 34 100 0
Latest voting share 66% 34%
  1. Democrat Lynwood Lewis (District 100) resigned to take his seat in the Virginia Senate after winning the January 7 special election to replace Ralph Northam.
  2. Republican Robert Bloxom, Jr. replaced Lewis after winning February 24 special election.
  3. Democrat Bob Brink (District 48) resigned to serve as deputy commissioner for aging services at the Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services and Democrat Algie Howell resigned to take a seat on the Virginia Parole Board.
  4. Democrat Rip Sullivan (District 48) replaced Brink and Democrat Joe Lindsey replaced Howell after winning August 19 special elections.
  5. Republican Ben Chafin (District 4) takes seat in Virginia Senate after winning special election.
  6. Democrat Rosalyn Dance (District 63) takes seat in Virginia Senate after winning special election.
  7. Republican Barbara Comstock (District 34) resigns after being elected to the U.S. Congress.
  8. Republican Todd Pillion (District 4) takes Chafin's old seat after winning special election.
  9. Democrat Joe Morrissey (District 74) resigns his seat.
  10. Democrats Kathleen Murphy (District 34) and Joseph E. Preston (District 63) take Comstock's and Dance's old seats after winning special elections.
  11. Joe Morrissey reelected to his old seat as an Independent.
  12. Joe Morrissey moved to a residence outside his district, in violation of Article IV Section 4 of the Virginia Constitution.

Party control

(The party control table shows the balance of power after each recent general election. The preceding Makeup table includes results of special elections since the last general election.)

Years Democrats Republicans Independents
1900-1904 93 7 0
1904-1912 86 14 0
1912-1914 90 10 0
1914-1916 92 8 0
1916-1922 88 12 0
1922-1924 95 5 0
1924-1926 97 3 0
1926-1928 95 5 0
1928-1930 93 7 0
1930-1934 95 5 0
1934-1940 93 7 0
1940-1944 97 3 0
1944-1946 94 6 0
1946-1950 93 7 0
1950-1960 94 6 0
1960-1962 96 4 0
1962-1964 94 5 1
1964-1966 89 11 0
1966-1968 87 12 1
1968-1970 86 14 0
1970-1972 75 24 1
1972-1974 73 24 3
1974-1976 65 20 15
1976-1978 78 17 5
1978-1980 76 21 3
1980-1982 74 25 1
1982-1984 66 32 2
1984-1986 65 34 1
1986-1988 65 33 2
1988-1990 64 35 1
1990–1992 59 40 1
1992–1994 58 41 1
1994–1996 52 47 1
1996–1998 52 47 1
1998–2000 50[8] 49 1
2000–2002 47 52 1
2002–2004 34 64 2
2004–2006 37 61 2
2006–2008 40 57 3
2008–2010 44 54 2
2010–2012 39 59 2
2012–2014 32 66 2
2014–2016 32 67 1
2016–2018 34 66 0

House leadership

Speaker William J. Howell
Majority Leader Kirk Cox
Minority Leader David Toscano[9]
Caucus Chair Charniele Herring

Committee chairs and ranking members

The House has 14 standing committees.[10]

Committee Chair Senior Minority Member
Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Daniel Marshall III (HD14) Kenneth Plum (HD36)
Appropriations S. Chris Jones (HD76) Luke Torian (HD52)
Commerce and Labor Terry Kilgore (HD01) Jennifer McClellan (HD71)
Counties, Cities and Towns Riley Ingram (HD62) Lionell Spruill, Sr. (HD77)
Courts of Justice David Albo (HD42) Vivian Watts (HD39)
Education R. Steven Landes (HD25) Jennifer McClellan (HD71)
Finance R. Lee Ware, Jr. (HD65) Vivian Watts (HD39)
General Laws C. Todd Gilbert (HD15) Jeion Ward (HD92)
Health, Welfare and Institutions Robert Orrock, Sr. (HD54) Lionell Spruill, Sr. (HD77)
Militia, Police and Public Safety L. Scott Lingamfelter (HD31) Roslyn Tyler (HD75)
Privileges and Elections Mark Cole (HD88) Mark Sickles (HD43)
Rules Bill Howell (HD28) Kenneth Plum (HD36)
Science and Technology Richard Anderson (HD51) Vivian Watts (HD39)
Transportation Ronald Villanueva (HD21) Jeion Ward (HD92)

Members

The Virginia House of Delegates is reelected every two years, with intervening vacancies filled by special election. The next general election of the House is in November 2017.

District Name Party Areas Represented First Election
Counties Cities
1 Terry Kilgore Rep Lee, Scott, Wise (part) Norton 1993
2 Mark Dudenhefer Prince William (part), Stafford (part) 2015
3 Will Morefield Rep Bland, Buchanan, Russell (part), Tazewell 2009
4 Todd Pillion Dickenson, Russell (part), Washington (part), Wise (part) 2013
5 Israel O'Quinn Grayson, Smyth (part), Washington (part) Bristol, Galax 2011
6 Jeff Campbell Carroll, Smyth (part), Wythe 2013
7 Nick Rush Floyd, Montgomery (part), Pulaski (part) 2011
8 Greg Habeeb Craig, Montgomery (part), Roanoke (part) Salem 2011
9 Charles Poindexter Franklin (part), Henry (part), Patrick 2007
10 Randy Minchew Clarke (part), Frederick (part), Loudoun (part) 2011
11 Salam "Sam" Rasoul Dem Roanoke (part) 2013
12 Joseph Yost Rep Giles, Montgomery (part), Pulaski (part) Radford 2011
13 Bob Marshall Prince William (part) Manassas Park 1991
14 Danny Marshall Henry (part), Pittsylvania (part) Danville 2001
15 Todd Gilbert Page, Rockingham (part), Shenandoah, Warren (part) 2005
16 Les Adams Henry (part), Pittsylvania (part) Martinsville 2013
17 Chris Head Botetourt (part), Roanoke (part) Roanoke (part) 2011
18 Michael Webert Culpeper (part), Fauquier (part), Rappahannock, Warren (part) 2011
19 Terry Austin Alleghany, Bedford (part), Botetourt (part) Covington 2013
20 Richard P. Bell Augusta (part), Highland, Nelson(part) Staunton, Waynesboro 2009
21 Ron Villanueva Virginia Beach (part) Chesapeake (part) 2009
22 Kathy Byron Bedford (part), Campbell (part), Franklin (part) Lynchburg (part) 1997
23 Scott Garrett Amherst (part), Bedford (part) 2009
24 Ben Cline Amherst (part), Augusta (part), Bath, Rockbridge Buena Vista, Lexington 2002
25 Steve Landes Albemarle (part), Augusta (part), Rockingham (part) 1995
26 Tony Wilt Rockingham (part) Harrisonburg 2010
27 Roxann Robinson Chesterfield (part) 2010
28 Bill Howell
Speaker of the House
Stafford (part) Fredericksburg (part) 1987
29 Chris Collins Frederick (part), Warren (part) Winchester, Front Royal (part) 2015
30 Nicholas Freitas Culpeper (part), Madison, Orange 2015
31 Scott Lingamfelter Fauquier (part), Prince William (part) 2001
32 Tag Greason Loudoun (part) 2009
33 Dave LaRock Clarke (part), Frederick (part), Loudoun (part) 2013
34 Kathleen Murphy Dem Fairfax (part), Loudoun (part) 2015
35 Mark Keam Fairfax (part) 2009
36 Kenneth R. Plum 1981
37 David Bulova Fairfax 2005
38 Kaye Kory 2009
39 Vivian E. Watts 1995
40 Tim Hugo

Majority Caucus Chairman

Rep Fairfax (part), Prince William (part) 2002
41 Eileen Filler-Corn Dem Fairfax (part) 2010
42 Dave Albo Rep 1993
43 Mark D. Sickles Dem 2003
44 Paul Krizek 2015
45 Mark Levine Arlington (part), Fairfax (part) Alexandria (part) 2015
46 Charniele Herring
Minority Whip
2009
47 Patrick Hope Arlington (part) 2009
48 Rip Sullivan Arlington (part), Fairfax (part) 2014
49 Alfonso Lopez 2011
50 Jackson H. Miller Rep Prince William (part) Manassas 2006
51 Richard L. Anderson 2009
52 Luke Torian Dem 2009
53 Marcus Simon Fairfax (part) Falls Church 2013
54 Bobby Orrock Rep Caroline (part), Spotsylvania (part) 1989
55 Buddy Fowler Caroline (part), Hanover (part), Spotsylvania (part) 2009
56 Peter Farrell Goochland (part), Henrico (part), Louisa, Spotsylvania (part) 2011
57 David Toscano
Minority Leader
Dem Albemarle (part) Charlottesville 2005
58 Rob Bell Rep Albemarle (part), Fluvanna (part), Greene, Rockingham (part) 2001
59 Matt Fariss Albemarle (part), Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell (part), Nelson (part) 2011
60 James Edmunds Campbell (part), Charlotte, Halifax, Prince Edward 2009
61 Tommy Wright Amelia, Cumberland, Lunenburg (part), Mecklenburg, Nottoway 2000
62 Riley Ingram Chesterfield (part), Henrico (part), Prince George (part) Hopewell (part) 1991
63 Lashrecse Aird Dem Chesterfield (part), Dinwiddie (part), Prince George (part) Hopewell (part), Petersburg 2015
64 Rick Morris Rep Isle of Wight (part), Prince George (part), Southampton (part), Surry (part), Sussex (part) Franklin (part), Suffolk (part) 2011
65 Lee Ware Chesterfield (part), Fluvanna (part), Goochland (part), Powhatan 1998
66 Kirk Cox
Majority Leader
Chesterfield (part) Colonial Heights 1989
67 James LeMunyon Fairfax (part), Loudoun (part) 2009
68 Manoli Loupassi Chesterfield (part), Henrico (part) Richmond (part) 2007
69 Betsy Carr Dem Chesterfield (part) 2009
70 Delores McQuinn Chesterfield (part), Henrico (part) 2009
71 Jennifer McClellan Henrico (part) 2005
72 Jimmie Massie Rep 2007
73 John O'Bannon Richmond (part) 2000
74 Lamont Bagby Dem Charles City, Henrico (part) 2015
75 Roslyn Tyler Dem Brunswick, Dinwiddie (part) Greensville, Isle of Wight (part), Lunenburg (part), Southampton (part), Surry (part), Sussex (part) Emporia, Franklin (part) 2005
76 Chris Jones Rep Chesapeake (part), Suffolk (part) 1997
77 Cliff Hayes,Jr Dem 2016
78 James Leftwich Rep Chesapeake (part) 2013
79 Stephen Heretick Dem Norfolk (part), Portsmouth (part) 2015
80 Matthew James Chesapeake (part), Norfolk (part), Portsmouth (part), Suffolk (part) 2009
81 Barry Knight Rep Chesapeake (part), Virginia Beach (part) 2009
82 Jason Miyares Virginia Beach (part) 2015
83 Chris Stolle Norfolk (part), Virginia Beach (part) 2009
84 Glenn Davis Virginia Beach (part) 2014
85 Scott Taylor 2013
86 Jennifer Boysko Dem Fairfax (part), Loudoun (part) 2015
87 John Bell Loudoun (part), Prince William (part) 2015
88 Mark Cole Rep Fauquier (part), Spotsylvania (part), Stafford (part) Fredericksburg (part) 2001
89 Daun Hester Dem Norfolk (part) 2012
90 Joe Lindsey Norfolk (part), Virginia Beach (part) 2014
91 Gordon Helsel Rep York (part) Hampton (part), Poquoson 2011
92 Jeion Ward Dem Hampton (part) 2003
93 Michael P. Mullin James City (part), York (part) Newport News (part), Williamsburg 2016
94 David Yancey Rep Newport News (part) 2011
95 Marcia Price Dem Hampton (part), Newport News (part) 2015
96 Brenda Pogge Rep James City (part), York (part) 2007
97 Chris Peace Hanover (part), King William (part), New Kent 2006
98 Keith Hodges Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William (part), Mathews, Middlesex 2011
99 Margaret Ransone Caroline (part), King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland 2011
100 Robert Bloxom, Jr. Accomack, Northampton Norfolk (part), Virginia Beach (part) 2014

See also

Notes

  1. "This Day in History". Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  2. Commonwealth of Virginia. "Capitol Square Timeline". Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  3. Commonwealth of Virginia. "Timeline".
  4. 1 2 "Virginia House of Delegates". DailyPress.com. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  5. 1 2 "Virginia State Legislature" (PDF). VAKids.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  6. "Constitution of Virginia, Article IV, Section 4. Qualifications of senators and delegates.". Virginia General Assembly. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  7. "Constitution of Virginia, Article IV, Section 6. Legislative sessions.". Virginia General Assembly. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  8. The 1997 general election yielded a 51-48-1 Democrat majority. David Brickley resigned his seat right afterward, however, and a special election for District 51 was called. His seat flipped to the Republicans, and with Independent Lacey Putney siding with the Republicans, the chamber was tied. Democrats retained the Speakership through a power-sharing agreement.
  9. Kumar, Anita (2011-11-19). "Toscano, Sickles to lead House Democratic caucus". Washington Post. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  10. "Legislative Committees". Legislative Information System. Virginia General Assembly. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
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