Virginia's 6th congressional district

Virginia's sixth congressional district is a United States congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It covers much of the west-central portion of the state, including Roanoke, Harrisonburg, and Winchester. The district also encompasses most of the Shenandoah Valley. It has been represented by Republican Ben Cline since 2019, following the retirement of longtime incumbent Republican Bob Goodlatte.

The district was an open seat in 2018. In November 2017, Goodlatte announced that he would retire from Congress at the end of his current term, and would not seek re-election.

Historically, the 6th district was one of the first areas of Virginia to turn Republican. Many of the old Byrd Democrats in the area began splitting their tickets and voting Republican at the national level as early as the 1930s. It was also one of the first areas of Virginia where Republicans were able to break the long Democratic dominance at the state and local level. The district elected Republicans, who held office for 30 years, from 1953 to 1983. Democrat Jim Olin won the seat in 1982, and held it for a decade before Goodlatte won it.

Some counties in the district have not supported a Democrat for president since Franklin D. Roosevelt. For instance, Highland and Shenandoah counties last voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in 1932, Page County last voted Democratic in 1936, and Augusta and Roanoke counties have not supported a Democrat since 1944.Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004; pp. 326-330 The district as a whole has not supported a Democrat for president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Area covered For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:

Alleghany County (7)

All 7 communities Augusta County (20) All 20 communities

Bath County (3)

All 3 communities

Botetourt County (10)

All 10 communities

Clarke County (3)

All 3 communities

Frederick County (6)

All 6 communities

Highland County (2)

McDowell, Monterey

Page County (3)

All 3 communities

Roanoke County (3)

Glenvar, Hollins, Vinton

Rockbridge County (4)

All 4 communities

Rockingham County (15)

All 15 communities

Shenandoah County (9)

All 9 communities

Warren County (6)

All 6 communities

Independent cities (9)

Buena Vista, Covington, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton, Waynesboro, Winchester

Recent election results 2000s

2010s

2020s

2024

Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentMcCain 56% - 42% SenateWarner 59% - 40%2009 GovernorMcDonnell 66% - 34% Lt. GovernorBolling 66% - 34% Attorney GeneralCuccinelli 67% - 33%2012 PresidentRomney 58% - 40% SenateAllen 58% - 41%2013 GovernorCuccinelli 57% - 35% Lt. GovernorJackson 57% - 42% Attorney GeneralObenshain 64% - 36%2014 SenateGillespie 60% - 37%2016 PresidentTrump 60% - 34%2017 GovernorGillespie 60% - 38% Lt. GovernorVogel 63% - 37% Attorney GeneralDonley Adams 62% - 38%2018 SenateStewart 57% - 41%2020 PresidentTrump 60% - 38% SenateGade 58% - 41%2021 GovernorYoungkin 66% - 33% Lt. GovernorEarle-Sears 66% - 34% Attorney GeneralMiyares 66% - 34%2024 PresidentTrump 61% - 37% SenateCao 59% - 41%2025 GovernorEarle-Sears 58% - 42% Lt. GovernorReid 60% - 40% Attorney GeneralMiyares 62% - 38%

List of members representing the district Representative Party Term Congress Electoral history District established March 4, 1789 Isaac Coles Anti-Administration March 4, 1789 –March 3, 1791 Elected in 1789.Retired. Abraham B. Venable Anti-Administration March 4, 1791 –March 3, 1793 Elected in 1790.Redistricted to the . Isaac Coles Anti-Administration March 4, 1793 –March 3, 1795 Elected in 1793.Re-elected in 1795.Retired. Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –March 3, 1797 Matthew Clay Democratic-Republican March 4, 1797 –March 3, 1803 Elected in 1797.Re-elected in 1799.Re-elected in 1801.Redistricted to the . Abram Trigg Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –March 3, 1809 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1803.Re-elected in 1805.Re-elected in 1807.Retired. Daniel Sheffey Federalist March 4, 1809 –March 3, 1817 Elected in 1809.Re-elected in 1811.Re-elected in 1813.Re-elected in 1815.Retired. Alexander Smyth Democratic-Republican March 4, 1817 –March 3, 1823 Elected in 1817.Re-elected in 1819.Re-elected in 1821.Redistricted to the . George Tucker Democratic-Republican March 4, 1823 –March 3, 1825 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1823.Lost re-election. Thomas Davenport Jackson March 4, 1825 –March 3, 1833 Elected in 1825.Re-elected in 1827.Re-elected in 1829.Re-elected in 1831.Re-elected in 1833.Lost re-election. Anti-Jackson March 4, 1833 –March 3, 1835 Walter Coles Jackson March 4, 1835 –March 3, 1837 Elected in 1835.Re-elected in 1837.Re-elected in 1839.Re-elected in 1841.Redistricted to the . Democratic March 4, 1837 –March 3, 1843 John W. Jones Democratic March 4, 1843 –March 3, 1845 Elected in 1843.Retired. James A. Seddon Democratic March 4, 1845 –March 3, 1847 Elected in 1845.Retired. John M. Botts Whig March 4, 1847 –March 3, 1849 Elected in 1847.Lost re-election. James A. Seddon Democratic March 4, 1849 –March 3, 1851 Elected in 1849.Retired. John S. Caskie Democratic March 4, 1851 –March 3, 1853 Elected in 1851.Redistricted to the . Paulus Powell Democratic March 4, 1853 –March 3, 1859 Elected in 1853.Re-elected in 1855.Re-elected in 1857.Lost re-election. Shelton F. Leake Independent Democratic March 4, 1859 –March 3, 1861 Elected in 1859.Retired. District inactive March 4, 1861 –January 26, 1870 Civil War and Reconstruction William Milnes Jr. Conservative January 27, 1870 –March 3, 1871 Elected in 1870.Lost re-election. John T. Harris Democratic March 4, 1871 –March 3, 1873 Elected in 1870.Redistricted to the . Thomas Whitehead Democratic March 4, 1873 –March 3, 1875 Elected in 1872.Retired. John R. Tucker Democratic March 4, 1875 –March 3, 1885 Elected in 1874.Re-elected in 1876.Re-elected in 1878.Re-elected in 1880.Re-elected in 1882.Redistricted to the . John W. Daniel Democratic March 4, 1885 –March 3, 1887 Elected in 1884.Elected to the U.S. Senate Samuel I. Hopkins Labor Party March 4, 1887 –March 3, 1889 Elected in 1886.Retired. Paul C. Edmunds Democratic March 4, 1889 –March 3, 1895 Elected in 1888.Re-elected in 1890.Re-elected in 1892.Retired. Peter J. Otey Democratic March 4, 1895 –May 4, 1902 Elected in 1894.Re-elected in 1896.Re-elected in 1898.Re-elected in 1900.Died. Vacant May 5, 1902 –November 3, 1902 E. Carter Glass Democratic November 4, 1902 –December 16, 1918 Elected to finish Otey's term.Elected the same day to the next term.Re-elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910.Re-elected in 1912.Re-elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Re-elected in 1918.Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Treasury. Vacant December 17, 1918 –February 24, 1919 James P. Woods Democratic February 25, 1919 –March 3, 1923 Elected to finish Glass's term.Elected the same day to the next term.Lost re-election. Clifton A. Woodrum Democratic March 4, 1923 –March 3, 1933 Elected in 1922.Elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Re-elected in 1930.Redistricted to the . District inactive March 4, 1933 –January 3, 1935 Clifton A. Woodrum Democratic January 3, 1935 –December 31, 1945 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Re-elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Resigned. Vacant December 31, 1945 –January 22, 1946 J. Lindsay Almond Democratic January 22, 1946 –April 17, 1948 Elected to finish Woodrum's term.Re-elected in 1946.Elected Attorney General of Virginia. Vacant April 17, 1948 –November 2, 1948 Clarence G. Burton Democratic November 2, 1948 –January 3, 1953 Elected to finish Almond's term.Re-elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Lost re-election. Richard H. Poff Republican January 3, 1953 –August 29, 1972 Elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Resigned when appointed Virginia Supreme Court justice. Vacant August 29, 1972 –November 7, 1972 M. Caldwell Butler Republican November 7, 1972 –January 3, 1983 Elected to finish Poff's term.Re-elected in 1972.Re-elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Re-elected in 1978.Re-elected in 1980.Retired. Jim Olin Democratic January 3, 1983 –January 3, 1993 Elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Retired. Bob Goodlatte Republican January 3, 1993 –January 3, 2019 Elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Re-elected in 2002.Re-elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Retired. Ben Cline Republican January 3, 2019 –present Elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024.

Historical district boundaries The Virginia Sixth District started in 1788 covering the counties of Campbell, Charlotte, Buckingham, Bedford, Prince Edward, Franklin, Henry, Pittsylvania and Halifax.Statute of 20 November 1788

Virginia's 6th congressional district

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