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2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia


The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the 11 U.S. representatives from the state of Virginia, one from each of the state's 11 congressional districts. The elections coincided with other states' elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. Primary elections took place on June 12.

The state congressional delegation flipped from a 7–4 Republican majority to a 7–4 Democratic majority. Democrats last held a majority of seats in the state in 2010.

PartyCandidatesVotesSeats
Democratic111,867,06156.69%7363.64%
Republican101,408,70142.77%4336.36%
Libertarian313,9950.42%00.0%
Write-in114,0500.12%00.0%
Total353,293,807100%11100%

Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia by district:

DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult
District 1148,46444.70%183,25055.18%3870.12%332,101100.0%Republican hold
District 2139,57151.05%133,45848.81%3710.14%273,400100.0%Democratic gain
District 3198,61591.22%00.00%19,1078.78%217,722100.0%Democratic hold
District 4187,64262.58%107,70635.92%4,5061.50%299,854100.0%Democratic hold
District 5145,04046.65%165,33953.18%5470.18%310,926100.0%Republican hold
District 6113,13340.21%167,95759.69%2870.10%281,377100.0%Republican hold
District 7176,07950.34%169,29548.40%4,4291.27%349,803100.0%Democratic gain
District 8247,13776.10%76,89923.68%7120.22%324,748100.0%Democratic hold
District 985,83334.75%160,93365.16%2140.09%246,980100.0%Republican hold
District 10206,35656.11%160,84143.73%5980.16%367,795100.0%Democratic gain
District 11219,19171.11%83,02326.93%6,0361.96%308,250100.0%Democratic hold
Total1,867,06156.36%1,408,70142.52%37,1941.12%3,312,956100.0%

Incumbent Republican Rob Wittman, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 60% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+8.

Wittman was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

  • Rob Wittman, incumbent U.S. representative

  • Vangie Williams, strategic planner, professional genealogist, historian, and professional speaker

  • Edwin Santana, former Marine

  • John Suddarth, Army veteran and businessman

  • Ryan Sawyers, Prince William County School Board chair

Vangie Williams defeated both Edwin Santana and John Suddarth in the Democratic primary, becoming the first woman of color to ever win a primary for congressional office throughout Virginia.

PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic11,00840.0
Democratic9,05932.9
Democratic7,47127.1
27,538100.0
SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportSafe RNovember 5, 2018
Inside ElectionsSafe RNovember 5, 2018
Sabato's Crystal BallSafe RNovember 5, 2018
RCPSafe RNovember 5, 2018
Daily KosSafe RNovember 5, 2018
538Safe RNovember 7, 2018
CNNSafe ROctober 31, 2018
PoliticoSafe RNovember 4, 2018
No.DateHostModeratorLinkRepublicanDemocratic
Oct. 22, 2018University of Mary WashingtonPP
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican183,25055.2
Democratic148,46444.7
Write-in3870.1
332,101100.0

Incumbent Republican Scott Taylor, who had represented the district since 2016, ran for re-election. He was elected with 61% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+3. This was one of only two GOP held seats that voted for Democrat Ralph Northam in 2017.

Taylor was challenged in the Republican primary by former James City County Supervisor Mary Jones, who attacked Rep. Taylor for his moderate stances and because she believed he had not backed President Donald Trump's proposals strongly enough.

  • Scott Taylor, incumbent U.S. representative

  • Mary Jones, former James City County Supervisor

PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican28,51576.1
Republican8,98223.9
37,497100.0

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee supported Elaine Luria, a United States Naval commander, for the nomination.

  • Elaine Luria, United States Naval commander

  • Karen Mallard, teacher

  • Shaun Brown, community activist and nominee for this seat in 2016

PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic17,55262.3
Democratic10,61037.7
28,162100.0
  • Shaun Brown, community activist and Democratic nominee for this seat in 2016
  • Padraig-Eoin Dalrymple, entrepreneur

Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell had been appointed as a special prosecutor to investigate claims that Taylor's aides forged signatures, including those of Delegate Glenn Davis and his wife, on Shaun Brown's petitions to make the ballot as an independent candidate. Taylor had already cut ties with his campaign manager when these irregularities came to light and promised to cooperate with the investigation, and said that the irregularities in the petitions should have no bearing on Brown's right to be on the ballot.

Shaun Brown submitted 2,163 petition signatures which actually went through the verification process. 1,030 of those were considered valid. Democrats asked the Virginia State Board of Elections to remove Brown from the ballot for falling short of the 1,000 signatures required, and filed suit. They also asked Attorney General of Virginia Mark Herring to investigate.

A review of the signatures also revealed that more than 50 Virginia Beach sheriff's employees had signed petition forms at work to get Brown on the ballot during the closing days of the petition drive, when petitioners were scrambling to meet the deadline.

Brown was accused by federal prosecutors of lying to the Federal Election Commission about donating $700,000 to her campaign and bilking the government by falsifying the number of meals her nonprofit fed to needy children, but her trial—in which Brown testified in her own defense and was subjected to a lengthy cross-examination—ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked 11–1. In a new trial the following October, Brown was convicted of fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud and theft of government property. In March, 2019 Brown was sentenced to three years in prison.

In September, circuit judge Gregory Rupe ordered Brown off the ballot. Brown subsequently appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court but justices declined to hear her case. The Virginia Attorney General's office argued that it was too late for her to appear on the ballot.

No.DateHostModeratorLinkRepublicanDemocratic
Oct. 23, 2018Hampton RoadsChamber of CommerceBob HollsworthPP
Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin oferrorScottTaylor (R)ElaineLuria (D)Undecided
Change Research (D)November 2–4, 201871047%47%6%
NYT Upshot/Siena CollegeOctober 18–22, 2018508± 4.6%45%42%13%
Christopher Newport UniversityOctober 3–12, 2018798± 4.0%50%43%7%
NYT Upshot/Siena CollegeSeptember 26 – October 1, 2018500± 4.5%49%41%10%
Change Research (D)September 26–28, 201875846%46%
Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group (D-Luria)September 5–8, 2018404± 5.0%43%51%
Public Policy Polling (D)April 16–17, 2018609± 4.0%48%42%10%
SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportTossupNovember 5, 2018
Inside ElectionsTilt RNovember 5, 2018
Sabato's Crystal BallLean D (flip)November 5, 2018
RCPLean RNovember 5, 2018
Daily KosTossupNovember 5, 2018
538Lean RNovember 7, 2018
CNNTossupOctober 31, 2018
PoliticoTossupNovember 4, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic139,57151.1
Republican133,45848.8
Write-in3710.1
273,400100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

Incumbent Democrat Bobby Scott, who had represented the district since 1993, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 67% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+16.

  • Bobby Scott, incumbent U.S. representative

No Republicans filed.

Scott ran unopposed as no Republican candidates filed for the district.

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportSafe DNovember 5, 2018
Inside ElectionsSafe DNovember 5, 2018
Sabato's Crystal BallSafe DNovember 5, 2018
RCPSafe DNovember 5, 2018
Daily KosSafe DNovember 5, 2018
538Safe DNovember 7, 2018
CNNSafe DOctober 31, 2018
PoliticoSafe DNovember 4, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic198,61591.2
Write-in19,1078.8
217,772100.0
Democratic hold

Incumbent Democrat Donald McEachin, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. He was elected with 58% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+10.

McEachin ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

  • Donald McEachin, incumbent U.S. representative

  • Ryan McAdams, pastor

  • Shion Fenty, fashion designer

  • David Leon

PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican17,51372.6
Republican6,62127.4
24,134100.0
SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportSafe DNovember 5, 2018
Inside ElectionsSafe DNovember 5, 2018
Sabato's Crystal BallSafe DNovember 5, 2018
RCPSafe DNovember 5, 2018
Daily KosSafe DNovember 5, 2018
538Safe DNovember 7, 2018
CNNSafe DOctober 31, 2018
PoliticoSafe DNovember 4, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic187,64262.6
Republican107,70635.9
Libertarian4,2331.4
Write-in2730.1
299,854100.00
Democratic hold

Incumbent Republican Tom Garrett, who had represented the district since 2017, did not run for re-election. He was elected with 58% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+6.

Garrett announced on May 28, 2018, that he would not run for reelection due to his struggle with alcoholism. Instead of a traditional primary to elect the Democratic and Republican nominees, party delegates voted to hold district conventions instead.

The Republican convention was held on June 2, 2018, less than one week after Garrett announced he would not seek reelection. Denver Riggleman edged out Cynthia Dunbar, who had just lost the Republican nomination in the 6th district just weeks before, in the final round of voting to get the Republican nomination.

  • Denver Riggleman, distillery owner

  • Martha Boneta, farmer

  • Michael Del Rosso, technology executive

  • Cynthia Dunbar, national GOP committee member

  • Michael Webert, state delegate

  • Joe Whited, veteran

The Democratic convention was held on May 5, 2018. The party delegates chose Leslie Cockburn as the Democratic nominee.

  • Leslie Cockburn, investigative journalist

  • Roger Dean "RD" Huffstetler, Marine veteran

  • Andrew Sneathern, former Albemarle County assistant attorney

No.DateHostModeratorLinkRepublicanDemocratic
Sep. 28, 2018Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public PolicyUniversity of Virginia Center for Effective LawmakingUniversity of Virginia College RepublicansUniversity of Virginia University DemocratsCraig VoldenGerald WarburgPP
Oct. 8, 2018Piedmont Virginia Community CollegeTyler HawnPP
Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin oferrorDenverRiggleman (R)LeslieCockburn (D)Undecided
NYT Upshot/Siena CollegeOctober 16–22, 2018501± 4.6%45%46%10%
SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportLean RNovember 5, 2018
Inside ElectionsLikely RNovember 5, 2018
Sabato's Crystal BallLean RNovember 5, 2018
RCPTossupNovember 5, 2018
Daily KosLean RNovember 5, 2018
538TossupNovember 7, 2018
CNNLean ROctober 31, 2018
PoliticoLean RNovember 4, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican165,33953.2
Democratic145,04046.7
Write-in5470.2
310,926100.0
Republican hold

Incumbent Republican Bob Goodlatte, who had represented the district since 1993, did not run for re-election. He was re-elected with 67% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+13.

The 6th district was an open seat in 2018, after Goodlatte announced his retirement in November 2017.

Republican delegates decided to hold a party convention instead of the primary to choose their nominee. Eight Republicans ran in the convention in this district, where State Delegate Ben Cline was chosen as the GOP nominee.

  • Ben Cline, state delegate

  • Mike Desjadon

  • Cynthia Dunbar, national GOP committee member

  • Chaz Haywood, Rockingham County Clerk of Court

  • Ed Justo, lawyer

  • Kathryn Lewis, small business owner

  • Elliot Pope, businessman

  • Douglas Wright, dentist and U.S. Navy veteran

  • Chan Park

  • Bob Goodlatte, incumbent U.S. representative

  • Jennifer Lewis, hospital liaison

  • Sergio Coppola

  • Charlotte Moore, former Roanoke County supervisor

  • Peter Volosin, regional planner

PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic8,20247.7
Democratic4,67827.2
Democratic3,17518.5
Democratic1,1506.68
17,205100.0
SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportSafe RNovember 5, 2018
Inside ElectionsSafe RNovember 5, 2018
Sabato's Crystal BallSafe RNovember 5, 2018
RCPSafe RNovember 5, 2018
Daily KosSafe RNovember 5, 2018
538Safe RNovember 7, 2018
CNNSafe ROctober 31, 2018
PoliticoSafe RNovember 4, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican167,95759.7
Democratic113,13340.2
Write-in2870.1
281,377100.0
Republican hold

Incumbent Republican Dave Brat, who had represented the district since 2014, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+6.

  • David Brat, incumbent U.S. representative

  • Abigail Spanberger, former CIA operations officer

  • Dan Ward, former U.S. Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler pilot

  • Helen Alli, Army veteran and small business owner

  • Janelle Noble

  • Joseph B. Walton

County and independent city results   Spanberger   50–60%  70–80%   Ward   50–60%

PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic33,21072.7
Democratic12,48327.3
45,693100.0
  • Joe Walton, former chair of the Powhatan Board of Supervisors

Helen Alli originally was going to run as a Democrat but failed to turn in enough signatures. She was then nominated by the Modern Whig Party, but again failed to turn in enough signatures. She finally ran as a write-in candidate.

No.DateHostModeratorLinkRepublicanDemocratic
Oct. 15, 2018Culpeper Media NetworkJonathan KrawchukPP
Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin oferrorDaveBrat (R)AbigailSpanberger (D)JoeWalton (L)Undecided
NYT Upshot/Siena CollegeOctober 30 – November 4, 2018500± 4.6%46%44%2%9%
Christopher Newport UniversityOctober 18–27, 2018871± 4.2%45%46%4%3%
Monmouth UniversitySeptember 15–24, 2018329 LV± 5.4%47%47%<1%6%
400 RV± 4.9%42%47%2%9%
Normington, Petts & Associates (D)September 18–20, 2018400± 4.9%47%47%6%
NYT Upshot/Siena CollegeSeptember 10–11, 2018501± 5.0%47%43%9%
SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportTossupNovember 5, 2018
Inside ElectionsTossupNovember 5, 2018
Sabato's Crystal BallLean D (flip)November 5, 2018
RCPTossupNovember 5, 2018
Daily KosTossupNovember 5, 2018
538TossupNovember 7, 2018
CNNTossupOctober 31, 2018
PoliticoTossupNovember 4, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic176,07950.3
Republican169,29548.4
Libertarian4,2161.2
Write-in1550.1
349,745100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

Incumbent Democrat Don Beyer, who had represented the district since 2015, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 68% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+21.

  • Don Beyer, incumbent U.S. representative

  • Thomas Oh, federal contractor

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportSafe DNovember 5, 2018
Inside ElectionsSafe DNovember 5, 2018
Sabato's Crystal BallSafe DNovember 5, 2018
RCPSafe DNovember 5, 2018
Daily KosSafe DNovember 5, 2018
538Safe DNovember 7, 2018
CNNSafe DOctober 31, 2018
PoliticoSafe DNovember 4, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic247,13776.1
Republican76,89923.7
Write-in7120.2
324,748100.0
Democratic hold

Incumbent Republican Morgan Griffith, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 65% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+19.

  • Morgan Griffith, incumbent U.S. representative

  • Anthony Flaccavento, farmer, sustainability consultant and nominee for this seat in 2012

  • Justin Santopietro

PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic10,75678.6
Democratic2,92121.4
13,677100.0
  • Scott Blankenship
SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportSafe RNovember 5, 2018
Inside ElectionsSafe RNovember 5, 2018
Sabato's Crystal BallSafe RNovember 5, 2018
RCPSafe RNovember 5, 2018
Daily KosSafe RNovember 5, 2018
538Safe RNovember 7, 2018
CNNSafe ROctober 31, 2018
PoliticoSafe RNovember 4, 2018
Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin oferrorMorganGriffith (R)AnthonyFlaccavento (D)OtherUndecided
Thirty-Ninth Street Strategies (D-Flaccavento)June 24–28, 2018400± 4.9%48%41%4%7%
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican160,93365.2
Democratic85,83334.7
Write-in2140.1
246,980100.0
Republican hold

Incumbent Republican Barbara Comstock, who had represented the district since 2015, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 53% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+1.

Six Democratic candidates, encouraged by the fact that Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock's district voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, submitted the required number of signatures to run for that seat. Republicans believed, however, that given that Comstock was an excellent fundraiser and fierce campaigner, she would be able to keep the seat. April polling was favorable to a generic Democrat against Comstock, although Comstock performed much better in polling when her name was on the ballot against a named Democratic opponent.

  • Barbara Comstock, incumbent U.S. representative

  • Shak Hill, combat pilot

County and independent city results   Comstock   50–60%  60–70%   Hill   50–60%

PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican28,28760.7
Republican18,31139.3
46,598100.0
  • Jennifer Wexton, state senator

  • Julia Biggins, scientist

  • Lindsey Davis Stover, senior advisor to Barack Obama's Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki

  • Alison Friedman, former State Department official

  • Dan Helmer, Army veteran

  • Paul Pelletier, federal prosecutor

  • Kimberly Adams, teacher and former president of the Fairfax County Education Association

  • Shadi Ayyas, physician

  • David Hanson

  • Julien Modica, former president of the JMA Foundation

  • Michael Pomerleano, retired banker

  • Deep Sran, teacher, tech entrepreneur and lawyer

  • Dorothy McAuliffe, attorney and former First Lady of the Commonwealth of Virginia

County and independent city results   Wexton   30–40%  40–50%   Davis Stover   20–30%  30–40%  40–50%

PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic22,40541.9
Democratic12,28323.0
Democratic8,56716.0
Democratic6,71212.5
Democratic2,0103.8
Democratic1,5132.8
53,490100.0

Patriarchist libertarian Nathan Larson filed to run as an independent, but then withdrew his candidacy on August 13 and endorsed Wexton, calling her "the accelerationist choice"; Wexton, through a spokesman, declined the endorsement. Comstock tweeted, "It is good news for all voters in the 10th District that Nathan Larson, a convicted felon who served time in prison for threatening to kill the President and is an admitted pedophile, an admitted rapist, white supremacist, and misogynist, is now off the ballot in the 10th Congressional District."

No.DateHostModeratorLinkRepublicanDemocratic
Sep. 21, 2018Loudoun CountyChamber of CommercePP
Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMarginof errorBarbaraComstock (R)JenniferWexton (D)OtherUndecided
Washington Post/Schar SchoolOctober 25–28, 2018446± 6.5%43%54%1%2%
Washington Post/Schar SchoolOctober 15–21, 2018430± 6.5%43%56%1%
NYT Upshot/Siena CollegeOctober 11–15, 2018484± 4.8%41%48%11%
Global Strategy Group (D)October 7–9, 2018400± 4.9%39%49%
McLaughlin & Associates (R-Comstock)October 6–8, 2018400± 4.9%48%47%5%
Washington Post/Schar SchoolSeptember 19 – October 5, 2018866± 4.0%43%55%2%
Christopher Newport UniversitySeptember 23 – October 2, 2018794± 4.1%44%51%5%
Monmouth UniversitySeptember 26–30, 2018374± 5.1%44%50%<1%5%
Monmouth UniversityJune 21–24, 2018338 LV± 5.3%41%50%3%6%
400 RV± 4.9%39%49%2%10%
DCCC (D)March 20–21, 201840043%46%
SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportLean D (flip)November 5, 2018
Inside ElectionsTilt D (flip)November 5, 2018
Sabato's Crystal BallLean D (flip)November 5, 2018
RCPLean D (flip)November 5, 2018
Daily KosLean D (flip)November 5, 2018
538Likely D (flip)November 7, 2018
CNNLean D (flip)October 31, 2018
PoliticoLean D (flip)November 4, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic206,35656.1
Republican160,84143.7
Write-in5980.2
367,795100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

Incumbent Democrat Gerry Connolly, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 88% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of D+15.

  • Gerry Connolly, incumbent U.S. representative

  • Jonathan Park

  • Jeff Dove, U.S. Army veteran

  • Stevan Porter

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportSafe DNovember 5, 2018
Inside ElectionsSafe DNovember 5, 2018
Sabato's Crystal BallSafe DNovember 5, 2018
RCPSafe DNovember 5, 2018
Daily KosSafe DNovember 5, 2018
538Safe DNovember 7, 2018
CNNSafe DOctober 31, 2018
PoliticoSafe DNovember 4, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic219,19171.1
Republican83,02326.9
Libertarian5,5461.8
Write-in5060.2
308,266100.0
  • 2018 Virginia elections

  • Candidates at Vote Smart

  • Candidates at Ballotpedia

  • Campaign finance at FEC

  • Campaign finance at OpenSecrets

Official campaign websites for first district candidates

  • Vangie Williams (D) for Congress Archived September 8, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
  • Rob Wittman (R) for Congress

Official campaign websites for second district candidates

  • Scott Taylor (R) for Congress Archived May 24, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
  • Elaine Luria (D) for Congress

Official campaign websites for third district candidates

  • Bobby Scott (D) for Congress

Official campaign websites for fourth district candidates

  • Ryan McAdams (R) for Congress Archived March 13, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
  • A. Donald McEachin (D) for Congress
  • Pete Wells (L) for Congress

Official campaign websites for fifth district candidates

  • Leslie Cockburn (D) for Congress
  • Denver Riggleman (R) for Congress

Official campaign websites for sixth district candidates

  • Ben Cline (R) for Congress
  • Jennifer Lewis (D) for Congress

Official campaign websites for seventh district candidates

  • Dave Brat (R) for Congress
  • Abigail Spanberger (D) for Congress
  • Joe Walton (L) for Congress

Official campaign websites for eighth district candidates

  • Don Beyer (D) for Congress
  • Thomas Oh (R) for Congress

Official campaign websites of ninth district candidates

  • Anthony Flaccavento (D) for Congress Archived December 22, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
  • Morgan Griffith (R) for Congress

Official campaign websites for tenth district candidates

  • Barbara Comstock (R) for Congress
  • Jennifer Wexton (D) for Congress

Official campaign websites for eleventh district candidates

  • Gerry Connolly (D) for Congress
  • Jeff Dove (R) for Congress Archived November 14, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
  • Stevan Porter (L) for Congress
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