Rob Wittman Explained

Rob Wittman
State:Virginia
Term Start:December 11, 2007
Predecessor:Jo Ann Davis
State Delegate1:Virginia
District1:99th
Term Start1:January 13, 2006
Term End1:December 11, 2007
Predecessor1:Albert C. Pollard
Successor1:Albert C. Pollard
Birth Name:Robert Joseph Wittman
Birth Date:3 February 1959
Birth Place:Washington, D.C., U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Kathryn Sisson
Children:2
Education:Virginia Tech (BS)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (MPH)
Virginia Commonwealth University (PhD)

Robert Joseph Wittman[1] (born February 3, 1959) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2007. The district contains portions of the Richmond suburbs and Hampton Roads area, as well as the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.[2] He is a member of the Republican Party.[3]

Early life, education and career

Wittman was born in Washington, D.C., the son of adoptive parents Regina C. (née Wood) and Frank Joseph Wittman. His father was of German descent and his mother's ancestors included immigrants from Ireland and Canada.[4] He grew up in Henrico County, Virginia. He attended Virginia Tech as a member of the Corps of Cadets and Army ROTC and studied biology. He did not subsequently serve in the military. While at Virginia Tech, he spent the summers working at a tomato cannery and on a fishing vessel. Also while in college, Wittman was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He earned a master's degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1990 and a Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002. Wittman worked for 20 years with the Virginia Department of Health. He served as an environmental health specialist and was field director for the Division of Shellfish Sanitation.[5]

Wittman served on the Montross Town Council from 1986 to 1996 and as mayor of the Town of Montross from 1992 to 1996. Two of his major accomplishments in this office were the overhaul of the sewage system and the development of a computerized system for tax billing. From 1996 to 2005, Wittman served on the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors, the last two years as chair. He helped create new libraries and pushed for raises in teacher salaries.

Virginia House of Delegates

In 2005, Wittman was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 99th district. He served on the Agricultural; Chesapeake and Natural Resources; and Police and Public Safety Committees.

U.S. House of Representatives

Tenure

In October 2021, Business Insider reported that Wittman had violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012, a federal transparency and conflict-of-interest law, by failing to properly disclose up to $60,000 worth of stock trades in companies including Johnson & Johnson, Royal Gold Inc., and TJX Companies.[6]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Wittman co-sponsored a personhood bill in Congress that defined life as beginning at conception.[14]

In 2012, Wittman said he would consider cutting pay and benefits for service members who join the military in the future in order to avoid closing bases or cutting the number of military personnel.[15]

Wittman authored the Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act, designed "to enhance coordination, flexibility and efficiency of restoration efforts," according to Wittman.[16] After several senators sponsored a bill to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Wittman introduced a version of the bill for House members to consider.[17] He proposed the Advancing Offshore Wind Production Act (H.R. 1398), which he said was designed to simplify the process companies must go through to test and develop offshore wind power.[18]

Immigration

In November 2018, Wittman said that "85 percent [of immigrants] don't show up for a scheduled court hearing or call to schedule a court hearing." PolitiFact found that his claim was false. Wittman said he got the information from Representative Bob Goodlatte, who in turn said he got it from the conservative website Newsmax, which attributed the claim to an anonymous "senior Los Angeles County Sheriff's detective".[19]

Health care

Wittman opposes the Affordable Care Act and has voted to repeal it.[20] He said that Congress should not merely be "anti-Obamacare" and that Congressional Republicans are ready to provide alternatives if it is deemed unconstitutional. In 2017, he voted for the American Health Care Act, which would have repealed and replaced the ACA.

Texas v. Pennsylvania

In December 2020, Wittman was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated[21] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[22] [23] [24]

Certification of 2020 presidential election

On January 6, 2021, Wittman was one of the 147 Republican members of the U.S. Congress who objected to certifying the 2020 presidential election.[25] He voted against certifying Pennsylvania's electors after a day of violence as the U.S. Capitol was breached by Trump supporters who disrupted proceedings, despite no clear evidence of widespread voter fraud.[26]

Political campaigns

2005

Wittman was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates over Democrat Linda M. Crandell with 62% of the vote.[27]

2007

Wittman was reelected to the Virginia House of Delegates unopposed.

See also: 2007 Virginia's 1st congressional district special election. On December 11, 2007, Wittman was first elected to the United States Congress to succeed the late Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, who died in October 2007. He was heavily favored in the special election due to the 1st's heavy Republican bent; it has been in Republican hands since 1977.[28] The Independent candidate was Lucky Narain.

2008

Wittman was elected to his first full term, defeating Democratic nominee Bill Day and Libertarian Nathan Larson.[29]

2010

Wittman was reelected, defeating Democratic nominee Krystal Ball and Independent Green candidate Gail Parker.

2012

Wittman was reelected, defeating Democratic nominee Adam Cook and Independent Green candidate Gail Parker.[30]

2014

Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Norm Mosher, Libertarian Xavian Draper, and Independent Green Gail Parker.[31]

2016

Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Matt Rowe and Independent Green candidate Gail Parker.[32]

2018

Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Vangie Williams.[33] With the Republicans losing their remaining seat based in the Washington suburbs, as well as seats in Hampton Roads and the Richmond suburbs, Wittman was left as the only Republican holding a seat east of Charlottesville.

2020

Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Qasim Rashid.[34]

2022

Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Herb Jones and Independent David Foster.

Electoral history

: Results 2007–2022[35] [36] [37] ! Year!! Republican! Votes! Pct!! Democrat! Votes! Pct!! 3rd Party! Party! Votes! Pct!
2007 align="right" 42,77261%Philip Forgit align="right" 26,28237%Lucky NarainIndependent align="right" 1,253 align="right" 2%
2008 align="right" 203,83957%Bill Day align="right" 150,43242%Nathan LarsonLibertarian align="right" 5,265 align="right" 1%
2010 align="right" 135,56464%Krystal Ball align="right" 73,82435%Gail ParkerIndependent Green align="right" 2,544 align="right" 1%
2012 align="right" 200,84556%Adam M. Cook align="right" 147,03641%Gail ParkerIndependent Green align="right" 8,308 align="right" 2%[38]
2014 align="right" 131,86162.9%Norm Mosher align="right" 72,05934.4%Gail ParkerIndependent Green align="right" 5,097 align="right" 2.4%[39]
2016 align="right" 230,21359.8%Matt Rowe align="right" 140,78536.6%Gail ParkerIndependent Green align="right" 12,866 align="right" 3.3%[40]
2018 align="right" 183,25055.2%Vangie A. Williams align="right" 148,46444.7%[41]
2020 align="right" 260,61458.2%Qasim Rashid align="right" 186,92341.7%[42]
2022 align="right" 197,78956.7%Herb Jones align="right" 148,884 42.5%David FosterIndependent align="right" 3,3911%

Personal life

Wittman is an Episcopalian[43] and a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Montross.[44]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Virginia House of Delegates History: Robert Joseph "Rob" Wittman . 22 November 2023.
  2. News: 2022-11-08 . Virginia First Congressional District Election Results . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-10-26 . 0362-4331.
  3. Web site: America's First District - U.S. House of Representatives. wittman.house.gov. 6 May 2017. 7 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170107115313/http://wittman.house.gov/district/. live.
  4. Web site: Rob Wittman ancestry. January 5, 2016. August 18, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160818152337/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ebattle/reps/wittman.htm. live.
  5. Web site: About Rob . Rob Wittman . June 14, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140614021205/http://www.wittman.house.gov/about-rob/ . June 14, 2014.
  6. Web site: Leonard . Kimberly . Rojas . Warren . Levinthal . Dave . 2021-10-21 . Rep. Mo Brooks is one of Congress' most vocal opponents of COVID-19 vaccine mandates — and he just violated a federal conflict-of-interest law on a Pfizer stock sale . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306045605/https://www.businessinsider.com/mo-brooks-vaccine-mandate-pfizer-stock-sale-congress-senate-alabama-2021-10 . 2023-03-06 . 2024-07-18 . . en-US.
  7. Web site: Wittman Named Vice Chairman of Armed Services Committee, Chairman of Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee for 118th Congress. January 25, 2023. September 3, 2023.
  8. Web site: Members. House Baltic Caucus. 21 February 2018. 21 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180221222500/http://housebalticcaucus.webs.com/members. live.
  9. Web site: Members. Congressional Constitution Caucus. 8 May 2018. 8 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120308004451/https://congressionalconstitutioncaucus-garrett.house.gov/about-us/membership. live.
  10. Web site: Our Members. U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. 5 August 2018. 1 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180801155201/https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html. dead.
  11. Web site: Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus | U.S. Representative Rob Wittman. 2019-02-22. 2019-02-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20190223131534/https://wittman.house.gov/congressional-shipbuilding-caucus/. live.
  12. Web site: Congressional Public Health Leadership Commissioned Officers Association. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150523083445/http://www.coausphs.org/awards/congressional-public-health-leadership/. 2015-05-23.
  13. Web site: Member List. Republican Study Committee. 22 January 2018. 22 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171222002744/http://rsc-walker.house.gov/. dead.
  14. Web site: Davis . Chelyen . Federal debt a focus of 1st District debate . https://archive.today/20140615100256/http://news.fredericksburg.com/newsdesk/2012/10/09/federal-debt-a-focus-of-1st-district-debate/ . dead . June 15, 2014 . fredericksburg.com . October 9, 2012 . June 13, 2014 .
  15. Web site: GOP chairman on cutting future troops' benefits: 'I think that is a place we can go' . Military Times . 5 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131122201604/http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20130914/NEWS05/309140006 . 22 November 2013 .
  16. Web site: WITTMAN CHESAPEAKE BAY LEGISLATION PASSES THE HOUSE . wittman.house.gov . February 6, 2014 . June 13, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140613230718/http://www.wittman.house.gov/latest-news/wittman-chesapeake-bay-legislation-passes-the-house/ . June 13, 2014 .
  17. Web site: Senate Bill Pushes for Wetlands Conservation Act Reauthorization. floridasportsman.com. April 2, 2012. June 13, 2014. July 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714225931/http://www.floridasportsman.com/2012/04/02/senate-bill-pushes-for-wetlands-conservation-act-reauthorization/. live.
  18. Web site: Wittman. Rob. Wittman Introduces Renewable Energy Legislation. votesmart.org. March 26, 2013. June 13, 2014. July 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714113928/http://votesmart.org/public-statement/773315/wittman-introduces-renewable-energy-legislation#.U5tyTfldW8A. live.
  19. Web site: Rep. Rob Wittman says 85 percent of immigrants skip their court hearings. @politifact. en. 2019-06-09. 2019-06-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20190625004700/https://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2018/nov/13/rob-wittman/rep-rob-wittman-says-85-percent-immigrants-skip-th/. live.
  20. Web site: Rep. Rob Wittman holds town hall in Nokesville. Writer. James Ivancic Times Staff. Prince William Times. 25 March 2019 . en. 2019-06-09. 2019-07-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20190717005257/https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/rep-rob-wittman-holds-town-hall-in-nokesville/article_4599bc0a-4f11-11e9-9939-3bcde447b47e.html. live.
  21. Web site: Blood. Michael R.. Riccardi. Nicholas. December 5, 2020. Biden officially secures enough electors to become president. live. December 12, 2020. AP News. December 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201209/https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa.
  22. News: Liptak. Adam. Adam Liptak. 2020-12-11. Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-12-12. 0362-4331. December 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234955/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html. live.
  23. Web site: Order in Pending Case. 2020-12-11. Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. December 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234004/https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf. live.
  24. News: Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court. Daniella . Diaz. CNN. December 11, 2020. December 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201212000435/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/politics/read-house-republicans-texas-supreme-court/index.html. live.
  25. News: Yourish. Karen. Buchanan. Larry. Lu. Denise. 2021-01-07. The 147 Republicans Who Voted to Overturn Election Results. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-01-07. 0362-4331. 2021-01-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210109000730/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/07/us/elections/electoral-college-biden-objectors.html. live.
  26. News: Coghill Jr. Taft. 2021-01-07. Wittman votes against certifying Pennsylvania electors. en-US. The Free Lance-Star. live. 2021-01-07. 0362-4331. 2021-01-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20210107162639/https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/wittman-votes-against-certifying-pennsylvania-electors/article_15cb8e0d-ad91-563d-85d4-17ba946510ba.html.
  27. Web site: Virginia Elections Database » 2005 House of Delegates General Election District 99 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230814134442/https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/40584/ . August 14, 2023 . 2023-08-14 . Virginia Elections Database . en-US.
  28. News: Republican Wittman Wins Virginia House Seat in Special Election . Giroux . Greg . December 11, 2007 . CQ Politics . March 7, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081129075054/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002640404 . November 29, 2008 .
  29. Web site: District Detail: VA-01. Congressional Quarterly. March 7, 2010. November 27, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081127201509/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-VA-01. live.
  30. News: Hope for Congress?. May 27, 2012. Fredericksburg. May 4, 2012. January 23, 2013. https://archive.today/20130123122622/http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2012/052012/05042012/699093. live.
  31. Web site: US Rep. Rob Wittman wins GOP primary in Virginia. 10 June 2014. WTOP. January 5, 2016. 14 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714194912/http://www.wtop.com/120/3639386/US-Rep-Rob-Wittman-wins-GOP-primary-in-Virginia. live.
  32. Web site: Rep. Rob Wittman wins re-election in 1st District. 8 November 2016. Richmond Times-Dispatch. February 7, 2017. 23 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170923231548/http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_cb0d3f5e-4a0f-56ac-b0c7-6a24ecb9c872.html. live.
  33. Web site: Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2018. 2021-02-01. Ballotpedia. en. 2022-01-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20220131170752/https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia%27s_1st_Congressional_District_election,_2018. live.
  34. Web site: Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2020. 2021-02-01. Ballotpedia. en. 2020-11-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20201101072213/https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia%27s_1st_Congressional_District_election,_2020. live.
  35. Web site: Election Statistics . 2010-12-23 . Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070725184700/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html . 2007-07-25 .
  36. Web site: Election results . . 2010-12-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100617084700/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Election_Information/Election_Results/Index.html . 2010-06-17 .
  37. Web site: Virginia House Election Results 2022: Live Map | Midterm Races by District . .
  38. Web site: Election Results: Member of House of Representatives (01). November 2012 General Election Official Results. Virginia.gov. 18 January 2013. Virginia State Board of Elections. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130512101648/https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2012/68C30477-AAF2-46DD-994E-5D3BE8A89C9B/Official/6_s.shtml. 12 May 2013.
  39. Web site: Election Results: Member of House of Representatives (01). November 2014 General Election Official Results. Virginia.gov. 7 February 2017. Virginia State Board of Elections. 11 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080230/http://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/search/year_from:2014/year_to:2014/office_id:5/district_id:27254. live.
  40. Web site: Election Results: Member of House of Representatives (01). November 2016 General Election Official Results. Virginia.gov. 7 February 2017. Virginia State Board of Elections. 12 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190712141302/https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/search/year_from:2016/year_to:2016/office_id:5/district_id:27254. live.
  41. Web site: Election Results: Member of House of Representatives. Virginia.gov. Virginia State Board of Elections. 2019-05-05. 2018-11-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20181108141328/https://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2018%20November%20General/Site/Congress.html. live.
  42. Web site: 2020 November General. 2021-02-01. results.elections.virginia.gov. 2021-02-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20210203012722/https://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2020%20November%20General/Site/Congress.html. live.
  43. Web site: Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress. Pew Research Center. January 3, 2023.
  44. Web site: Rob Wittman. dela.state.va.us. June 13, 2014.

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