Virginia House of Delegates explained

Virginia House of Delegates
Legislature:163rd Virginia General Assembly
Coa Pic:Seal of Virginia.svg
Session Room:Speaker Bill Howell opens session at Virginia House of Delegates.jpg
House Type:Lower House of the Virginia General Assembly
Term Limits:None
New Session:January 10, 2024
Leader1 Type:Speaker
Leader1:Don Scott (D)
Election1:January 10, 2024
Leader2 Type:Majority Leader
Leader2:Charniele Herring (D)
Election2:January 10, 2024
Leader4 Type:Minority Leader
Leader4:Todd Gilbert (R)
Election4:January 10, 2024
Term Length:2 years
Authority:Article IV, Virginia Constitution
Salary:$17,640/year + per diem
Structure1:Virginia House of Delegates after 2023 elections.svg
Structure1 Res:250px
Members:100
Political Groups1:Majority
Political Groups2:Minority
Next Election1:November 4, 2025
Redistricting:By 16-member bipartisan commission, approved by General Assembly
Meeting Place:House of Delegates Chamber
Virginia State Capitol
Richmond, Virginia
Website:Virginia General Assembly
Established:1776
Preceded By:House of Burgesses

The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two houses of 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 usually 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, the upper house of the General Assembly. The House of Delegates is the modern-day successor to the colonial 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 whip, majority caucus chair, minority leader, minority whip, minority caucus chair, and the chairs of the several committees of the House.

Only Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates.

History and location

The House of Burgesses was the first elected 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 of Burgesses had its final meeting in May 1776, and the House of Delegates took its place in October of that year.

The House has met in the Virginia State Capitol, 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 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). The Republican Party held the majority until 2019, when the Democratic Party won a majority of the seats, thus regaining control of the House of Delegates. The majority was sworn in on January 8, 2020, after which Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) was elected as the first female and Jewish Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.[4]

On November 4, 2020, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment that removed the authority to redistrict congressional and state legislative districts from the General Assembly, and gave that power to a newly-established 16-member panel composed of eight lawmakers and eight non-lawmaker citizens. The maps created by this commission are subject to the approval of the General Assembly, but lawmakers cannot change the commission's lines.[5]

On November 7, 2023, the Democrats regained control of the House of Delegates after securing a 51-seat majority.[6]

Salary and qualifications

The annual salary for delegates is $17,640 per year.[7] Each delegate represents roughly 84,702 people.[7] 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.[8] [9] 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.[8] [10]

Composition

Article IV, Section 3 of the Constitution of Virginia stipulates that the House of Delegates shall consist of between 90 and 100 members. It does not put any condition on the number of districts and only speaks of "several house districts". While there used to be multi-member districts, since 1982, there have been 100 districts electing one member each.

Current political composition

51<--style= "background:#FFFFFF; width:0.0%; text-align:center; color:black"-->49
DemocraticRepublican
AffiliationParty

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

Total
DemocraticRepublicanVacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"Previous legislature (2016–2018)34661000
nowrap style="font-size:80%"Previous legislature (2018-2020)49511000
nowrap style="font-size:80%"Previous legislature (2020-2022)55451000
nowrap style="font-size:80%"Previous legislature (2022-2024)48521000
nowrap style="font-size:80%"Begin 202451491000
nowrap style="font-size:80%"Latest voting share

Historical party control

See also: Political party strength in Virginia. (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.)

YearsDemocratsRepublicansIndependents
1900–19049370
1904–191286140
1912–191490100
1914–19169280
1916–192288120
1922–19249550
1924–19269730
1926–19289550
1928–19309370
1930–19349550
1934–19409370
1940–19449730
1944–19469460
1946–19509370
1950–19609460
1960–19629640
1962–19649451
1964–196689110
1966–196887121
1968–197086140
1970–197275241
1972–197473243
1974–1976652015
1976–197878175
1978–198076213
1980–198274251
1982–198466322
1984–198665341
1986–198865332
1988–199064351
1990–199259401
1992–199458411
1994–199652471
1996–199852471
1998–200050[11] 491
2000–200247521
2002–200434642
2004–200637612
2006–200840573
2008–201044542
2010–201239592
2012–201432662
2014–201632671
2016–201834660
2018–202049510
2020–202255450
2022–202448520
2024–202651490

House leadership

SpeakerDon Scott
Majority LeaderCharniele Herring
Majority Caucus ChairKathy Tran
Minority LeaderTodd Gilbert
Minority Caucus ChairAmanda Batten
Minority WhipMichael Webert

Committee chairs and ranking members

The House has 14 standing committees.[12]

CommitteeChairVice ChairSenior Minority Member
Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural ResourcesAlfonso LopezNadarius Clark
AppropriationsLuke TorianMark Sickles
Communications, Technology and InnovationCliff HayesIrene Shin
Counties, Cities and TownsCandi KingElizabeth Bennett-Parker
Courts of JusticePatrick HopeMarcus Simon
EducationSam RasoulShelly Simonds
FinanceVivian WattsRip Sullivan
General LawsDavid BulovaBetsy Carr
Health and Human ServicesMark SicklesKathy Tran
Labor and CommerceJeion WardCharniele Herring
Privileges and ElectionsCia PriceKelly Convirs-Fowler
Public SafetyMarcus SimonCandi King
RulesDon ScottDan Helmer
TransportationKarrie DelaneyDavid Reid

Members

The Virginia House of Delegates is reelected every two years, with intervening vacancies filled by special election. The list below contains the House delegates that are currently serving in the 163rd Virginia General Assembly, which convened on January 10, 2024.

DistrictNamePartyAreas representedFirst election
Counties <-- column 1+2+3 occupied -->Cities
1Patrick HopeDemArlington (part)2009
2Adele McClureDem2023
3Alfonso LopezDemAlexandria (part)2011
4Charniele HerringDemFairfax (part)2009 (special)
5Elizabeth Bennett-ParkerDem2021
6Rip SullivanDemFairfax (part)2013
7Karen Keys-GamarraDem2023
8Irene ShinDem2021
9Karrie DelaneyDem2017
10Dan HelmerDem2019
11David BulovaDemFairfax (part)2005
12Holly SeiboldDem2023 (special)
13Marcus SimonDemFalls Church2013
14Vivian WattsDem1981
15Laura CohenDem2023
16Paul KrizekDem2015
17Mark SicklesDem2003
18Kathy TranDem2017
19Rozia HensonDemFairfax (part), Prince William (part)2023
20Michelle MaldonadoDemPrince William (part)Manassas, Manassas Park2021
21Josh ThomasDem2023
22Ian LovejoyRep2023
23Candi KingDemPrince William (part), Stafford (part)2021 (special)
24Luke TorianDemPrince William (part)2009
25Briana SewellDem2021
26Kannan SrinivasanDemLoudoun (part)2023
27Atoosa ReaserDem2023
28David ReidDem2017
29Marty MartinezDem2023
30Geary HigginsRepLoudoun (part), Fauquier (part)2023
31Delores OatesRepClarke, Frederick (part), Warren (part)2023
32Bill WileyRepFrederick (part)Winchester2019
33Todd GilbertRepPage, Rockingham (part), Shenandoah, Warren (part)2005
34Tony WiltRepRockingham (part)Harrisonburg2009
35Chris RunionRepAugusta (part), Bath, Highland, Rockingham (part)2019
36Ellen CampbellRepAugusta (part), Rockbridge (part)Staunton, Waynesboro2023 (special)
37Terry AustinRepAlleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Rockbridge (part)Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington2013
38Sam RasoulDemRoanoke (part)2013
39Will DavisRepFranklin, Roanoke (part)2023
40Joseph McNamaraRepRoanoke (part)Roanoke (part), Salem2017
41Chris ObenshainRepMontgomery (part), Roanoke (part)2023
42Jason BallardRepGiles, Montgomery (part), Pulaski (part)Radford2021
43Will MorefieldRepBland, Buchanan, Dickenson (part), Russell (part), Tazewell2009
44Israel O'QuinnRepRussell (part), WashingtonBristol2011
45Terry KilgoreRepDickenson (part), Lee, Scott, WiseNorton1993
46Jed ArnoldRepGrayson, Pulaski (part), Smyth, Wythe2023 (special)
47Wren WilliamsRepCarroll, Floyd, Henry (part), PatrickGalax2021
48Eric PhillipsRepHenry (part), Pittsylvania (part)Martinsville2024 (special)
49Danny MarshallRepHalifax (part), Pittsylvania (part)Danville2001
50Tommy WrightRepCharlotte, Halifax (part), Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Prince Edward (part)2000 (special)
51Eric ZehrRepBedford (part), Campbell (part), Pittsylvania (part)2023
52Wendell WalkerRepCampbell (part)Lynchburg2019
53Tim GriffinRepAmherst, Bedford (part), Nelson (part)2023
54Katrina CallsenDemAlbemarle (part)Charlottesville2023
55Amy LauferDemAlbemarle (part), Louisa (part), Nelson (part)2023
56Tom GarrettRepAppomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland (part), Prince Edward (part)2023
57David OwenRepGoochland (part), Henrico (part)2023
58Rodney WillettDemHenrico (part)2019
59Buddy FowlerRepHanover (part), Louisa (part)2013
60Scott WyattRepHanover (part), New Kent (part)2019
61Michael WebertRepCulpeper (part), Fauquier (part), Rappahannock2011
62Nick FreitasRepCulpeper (part), Greene, Madison, Orange2015
63Phillip ScottRepOrange (part), Spotsylvania (part)2021
64Paul MildeRepStafford (part)2023
65Joshua ColeDemSpotsylvania (part), Stafford (part)Fredericksburg2019
66Bobby OrrockRepCaroline (part), Spotsylvania (part)1989
67Hillary KentRepCaroline (part), King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland2023
68Keith HodgesRepEssex, Gloucester (part), King and Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex2011
69Chad GreenRepGloucester (part), James City (part), York (part)Newport News (part)2023
70Shelly SimondsDem2019
71Amanda BattenRepJames City (part), New Kent (part)Williamsburg2019
72Lee WareRepAmelia, Chesterfield (part), Nottoway, Powhatan1997
73Mark EarleyRepChesterfield (part)2023
74Mike CherryRepColonial Heights2021
75Carrie CoynerRepChesterfield (part), Prince George (part)Hopewell2019
76Debra GardnerDemChesterfield (part)2023
77Michael JonesDemRichmond (part)2023
78Betsy CarrDem2009
79Rae CousinsDem2023
80Destiny LeVere BollingDemHenrico (part)2023
81Delores McQuinnDemCharles City, Chesterfield (part), Henrico (part)2009 (special)
82Kim TaylorRepDinwiddie (part), Prince George (part), SurryPetersburg2021
83Otto WachsmannRepBrunswick, Dinwiddie (part), Greensville, Isle of Wight (part), Southampton, SussexEmporia2021
84Nadarius ClarkDemIsle of Wight (part)Franklin, Suffolk (part)2021
85Cia PriceDemNewport News (part)2015
86A.C. CordozaRepYork (part)Hampton (part), Poquoson2021
87Jeion WardDemHampton (part)2003
88Don ScottDemPortsmouth (part)2019
89Baxter EnnisRepChesapeake (part), Suffolk (part)2023
90Jay LeftwichRepChesapeake (part)2013
91Cliff HayesDemChesapeake (part), Portsmouth (part)2016 (special)
92Bonita AnthonyDemChesapeake (part), Norfolk (part)2023
93Jackie GlassDemNorfolk (part)2021
94Phil HernandezDem2023
95Alex AskewDemNorfolk (part), Virginia Beach (part)2019
96Kelly Convirs-FowlerDemVirginia Beach (part)2017
97Michael FeggansDem2023
98Barry KnightRep2009 (special)
99Anne TataRep2021
100Robert BloxomRepAccomack, Northampton2013

Database of Members past and present

Marking the 400th anniversary of the House of Burgesses, the House Clerk's Office announced a new Database of House Members called "DOME" that chronicles the "9,700-plus men and women who served as burgesses or delegates in the Virginia General Assembly over the past four centuries."[13] [14] [15]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: This Day in History. March 23, 2016.
  2. Web site: Commonwealth of Virginia. Capitol Square Timeline. April 26, 2011. June 13, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110613004503/http://legis.virginia.gov/1_vis_guide/cap_timeline.html. dead.
  3. Web site: Commonwealth of Virginia. Timeline. April 26, 2011. June 13, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110613004503/http://legis.virginia.gov/1_vis_guide/cap_timeline.html#16191632. dead.
  4. News: . Newly-Empowered Virginia Democrats Promise Action . . . January 8, 2020 . September 6, 2020.
  5. Web site: Proposed Amendments for 2020 - Virginia Department of Elections. 2021-02-23. www.elections.virginia.gov.
  6. News: Democrats sweep Virginia elections to take control of General Assembly. Jessica. Kronzer. WTOP. November 7, 2023. November 8, 2023.
  7. Web site: Virginia House of Delegates. DailyPress.com. September 11, 2008. February 22, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222001913/http://www.dailypress.com/topic/politics/virginia-house-of-delegates-ORGOV0000123.topic. dead.
  8. Web site: Virginia State Legislature . VAKids.org . September 11, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080517174906/http://www.vakids.org/pubs/virginia_state_legislature_faq.pdf . May 17, 2008 .
  9. Web site: Constitution of Virginia, Article IV, Section 4. Qualifications of senators and delegates. . Commonwealth of Virginia . November 7, 2017.
  10. Web site: Constitution of Virginia, Article IV, Section 6. Legislative sessions. . Virginia General Assembly . October 22, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081218210922/http://legis.state.va.us/Laws/search/Constitution.htm#4S6 . December 18, 2008 . dead . mdy-all .
  11. The 1997 general election yielded a 51-48-1 Democratic 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. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/vastateleg/issues/party2.htm https://books.google.com/books?id=GNr40qOoXOoC&amp;dq=virginia+house+of+delegates+elections+1997&amp;pg=PA139
  12. Web site: Virginia House of Delegates 2024 Committees List . January 21, 2024 . virginiageneralassembly.gov.
  13. News: Virginia House unveils new searchable website of its members . 25 January 2019 . Village News . 2019-01-08.
  14. News: Virginia House of Delegates unveils searchable website . 25 January 2019 . Henrico Citizen.
  15. News: Hankerson . Mechelle . New database holds 400 years worth of information on members of Virginia's legislature . 25 January 2019 . Virginia MErcury . 2019-01-03.