List of United States political families (W)

The following is an alphabetical list of political families in the United States whose last name begins with W.

The Wades Benjamin F. Wade (1800–1878), Prosecuting Attorney of Ashtabula County, Ohio 1835–37; Ohio State Senator 1837-1839-1841-1843; Circuit Court Judge in Ohio 1847–51; U.S. Senator from Ohio 1851–69. Brother of Edward Wade. Edward Wade (1802–1866), Justice of the Peace in Ashtabula County, Ohio 1831; Prosecuting Attorney of Ashtabula County, Ohio 1833; U.S. Representative from Ohio 1853–61. Brother of Benjamin F. Wade.

The Wadsworths

James Wadsworth (1730–1816), Continental Congress 1784 Jeremiah Wadsworth (1743–1804), Continental Congress 1788, United States House of Representatives 1789–95, Connecticut House of Representatives 1795 Frederick Wadsworth (1786–1869), mayor of Akron, Ohio 1852 James Wadsworth (1819–1891), mayor of Buffalo, New York 1851–52, New York State Senate 1856–59 Philip Wadsworth (1832–1901), Connecticut House of Representatives 1895–97 James Wolcott Wadsworth (1846–1926), New York State Assembly 1878–79, New York State Comptroller 1880–81, United States House of Representatives 1881–85 & 1891–1907 James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr. (1877–1952), son of James Wolcott Wadsworth, New York State Assembly 1905–10, United States Senator 1915–27, United States House of Representatives 1933–51 James Jeremiah Wadsworth (1905–1984), son of James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr., New York State Assembly 1932–41, United States Ambassador to the United Nations 1960–61 George Wadsworth (1893–1958), United States Ambassador to Italy 1941, Lebanon & Syria 1944–47, Iraq 1947–48, Turkey & Czechoslovakia 1948–52, and Saudi Arabia & North Yemen 1954–58

The Waggonners Joe Waggonner (1918–2007), U.S. representative from Louisiana's 4th congressional district 1961–79 W. E. "Willie" Waggonner (1905–1976), sheriff of Bossier Parish, Louisiana, 1948–76, brother of Joe Waggonner"Bossier Sheriff Waggonner Dies", Shreveport Times, May 10, 1976

The Wagners Robert F. Wagner (1877–1953), New York Assemblyman 1905–08, New York State Senator 1909–18, acting Lieutenant Governor of New York 1913–14, delegate to the New York Constitutional Convention 1915 1938, delegate to the Republican National Convention 1916 1936 1940 1944, Justice of the New York Supreme Court 1919–26, U.S. Senator from New York 1927–49. Father of Robert F. Wagner Jr. Robert F. Wagner Jr. (1910–1991), New York Assemblyman 1937–41, Borough President of Manhattan 1950–53, delegate to the Democratic National Convention 1952 1956 1960 1964, Mayor of New York City 1954–65, U.S. Ambassador to Spain 1968–69, candidate for Democratic nomination for Mayor of New York City 1969 1973, U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. Son of Robert F. Wagner.

The Waihees John D. Waihee III (born 1946), delegate to the Hawaii Constitutional Convention 1978, Hawaii State Representative 1981–82, Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii 1983–86, Governor of Hawaii 1986–94, Democratic National Committeeman 2004, delegate to the Democratic National Convention 2004 2008. Father of Jennifer Waihee. Jennifer Waihee, candidate for Hawaii State Representative 2004. Daughter of John D. Waihee III.From the Hawaii Campaign Trail - Oct. 15, 2004 Hawaii Reporter

The Waites Henry Matson Waite (1787–1869), Connecticut State Assemblyman, Connecticut State Senator, Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. Morrison Waite (1816–1888), Chief Justice of the United States 1874–88. Son of Henry Matson Waite.

The Walbridges Henry S. Walbridge (1801–1869), New York Assemblyman 1829 1846, Ithaca, New York Councilman; U.S. Representative from New York 1851–53; Judge of Tompkins County, New York 1859–68. Cousin of Hiram Walbridge. Hiram Walbridge (1821–1870), Buffalo, New York Alderman; U.S. Representative from New York 1853–55; candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 1862. Cousin of Henry S. Walbridge.

The Walbridges of Michigan, Missouri, and New York Ebenezer W. Walbridge (1779–1856), New York Assemblyman 1816–17 1819–20. First cousin twice removed of Davis S. Walbridge. David S. Walbridge (1802–1868), Michigan State Representative 1848, Michigan State Senator, Chairman of the Michigan Republican Convention 1854, U.S. Representative from Michigan 1855–59, Postmaster of Kalamazoo, Michigan. First cousin twice removed of Ebenezer W. Walbridge. Cyrus Walbridge (1849–1921), Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri 1893–97. First cousin four times removed of Ebenezer W. Walbridge. Henry E. Walbridge, delegate to the Michigan Constitutional Convention 1907 1908. Third cousin once removed of David S. Walbridge.

The Waldens Paul E. Walden, Oregon State Representative. Father of Gregory P. Walden. Gregory P. Walden (born 1957), Oregon State Representative 1989–95, Oregon State Senator 1995–97, U.S. Representative from Oregon 1999–2021. Son of Paul E. Walden.

The Walkers John Williams Walker (1783–1823), Alabama Territory Representative, delegate to the Alabama Constitutional Convention 1819, U.S. Senator from Alabama 1819–22. Father of Percy Walker, LeRoy Pope Walker, and Richard Wilde Walker. Percy Walker (1812–1880), Alabama State Attorney, Alabama State Representative 1839 1847 1853, U.S. Representative from Alabama 1855–57. Son of John Williams Walker. LeRoy Pope Walker (1817–1884), Alabama State Representative 1843–44 1847–51 1853, delegate to the Democratic National Convention 1860 1876, Confederate States Secretary of War 1861 delegate to the Alabama Constitutional Convention 1875. Son of John Williams Walker. Richard Wilde Walker (1823–1874), member of the Alabama Legislature 1851 1855, Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court 1859, Confederate Representative from Alabama 1961–1862, Confederate Senator from Alabama 1864–65. Son of John Williams Walker. Richard Wilde Walker Jr. (1857–1936), Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court 1891–1914, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge in Alabama 1914–36. Son of Richard Wilde Walker. Richard Walker Bolling (1916–1991), U.S. Representative from Missouri 1959–83. Great-great grandson of John Williams Walker.

The Walkers of Arkansas and Kentucky George Walker (1763–1819), Kentucky State Senator 1810–14, U.S. Senator from Kentucky 1814. Brother of David Walker (Kentucky). David Walker (1763–1820), Clerk of Logan County, Kentucky; Kentucky State Representative 1793–96; U.S. Representative from Kentucky 1817–20. Brother of George Walker. David Walker (1806–1879), Member of Arkansas Territory Assembly 1835; Arkansas Senate 1840–44; Arkansas Supreme Court 1849–55 and 1866-68. Cousin to James D. Walker. James D. Walker (1830–1906), Circuit Court Judge in Arkansas, Solicitor General of Arkansas, U.S. Senator from Arkansas 1879–85. Grandson of David Walker (Kentucky) and cousin to David Walker (Arkansas).

NOTE: James D. Walker was also the nephew of U.S. Senator John McLean and U.S. Representative Finis McLean and cousin of U.S. Senator Wilkinson Call.

The Walkers of New York William Walker (1842–1916), New York Assemblyman 1892–93. Father of James J. Walker. James J. Walker (1881–1946), New York Assemblyman 1910–14, New York State Senator 1915–25, delegate to the Democratic National Convention 1924 1928 1932, Mayor of New York City 1926–32. Son of William Walker.

The Walkers of Virginia John Walker (1744–1809), Delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia 1780, U.S. Senator from Virginia 1790. Brother of Francis Walker. Francis Walker (1764–1806), member of the Virginia Legislature, Virginia State Court Judge, U.S. Representative from Virginia 1793–95. Brother of John Walker.

The Walkers of Wisconsin George H. Walker (1811–1866), member of the Wisconsin Territory Legislature 1842–45, Register of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Land Office 1845–49; Milwaukee, Wisconsin Alderman; Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1851 1853; Wisconsin Assemblyman 1851. Brother of Isaac P. Walker. Isaac P. Walker (1815–1872), Illinois State Representative, member of Wisconsin Legislature 1847–48, U.S. Senator from Wisconsin 1848–55. Brother of George H. Walker.

The Walls and Vrooms Garret D. Wall (1783–1850), New Jersey Assemblyman 1827, U.S. District Attorney of New Jersey 1829, U.S. Senator from New Jersey 1835–41, Judge of the New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals 1848–50. Father of James Walter Wall. James Walter Wall (1820–1872), Mayor of Burlington, New Jersey 1850; candidate for U.S. Representative from New Jersey 1854; U.S. Senator from New Jersey 1863. Son of Garret D. Wall. Peter Dumont Vroom (1791–1873), member of the New Jersey Legislature 1826–29, Governor of New Jersey 1829–32 1833–36, U.S. Representative from New Jersey 1839–41, delegate to the New Jersey Constitutional Convention 1844, U.S. Minister to Prussia 1853–57. Son-in-law of Garret D. Wall. Garrett D.W. Vroom, delegate to the Democratic National Convention 1876, Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey 1881–84. Son of Peter Dumont Vroom.

The Wallaces David Wallace (1799–1859), Indiana State Representative 1829–31, Lieutenant Governor of Indiana 1831–37, Governor of Indiana 1837–40, U.S. Representative from Indiana 1842–44, delegate to the Indiana Constitutional Convention 1850, Court of Common Pleas Judge in Indiana 1856–59. Brother of Benjamin Franklin Wallace and William H. Wallace. Benjamin Franklin Wallace (1804–1887), Indiana State Senator 1831–33, Iowa Territory Councilman, Iowa State Representative. Brother of David Wallace and William H. Wallace. William H. Wallace (1811–1879), candidate for U.S. Senate from Iowa 1848, Governor of Washington Territory 1861, U.S. Congressional Delegate from Washington Territory 1861–63, Governor of Idaho Territory 1863–64, U.S. Congressional Delegate from Idaho Territory 1864–65, Probate Court Judge in Washington Territory 1865–79. Brother of David Wallace and Benjamin Franklin Wallace. Lewis Wallace (1827–1905), Governor of New Mexico Territory 1878–81, U.S. Minister to Ottoman Empire 1881–85. Son of David Wallace.

NOTE: Lewis Wallace was also nephew of Indiana State Senator Charles H. Test.

The Wallaces and Cantwells Colonel James Cantwell (1810–1862): Ohio state legislator. Farmer and soldier, killed at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Grandfather of Henry Cantwell Wallace. Henry Cantwell Wallace (1866–1924): Secretary of Agriculture, 1921–24. Grandson of James Cantwell. Father of Henry Agard Wallace. Henry Agard Wallace (1888–1965): Secretary of Agriculture, 1933–40; Vice President of the United States, 1941–45; Secretary of Commerce, 1945–46; Progressive Party candidate for President in 1948. Son of Henry Cantwell Wallace.

The Wallers William L. Waller, Sr. (1926–2011), Governor of Mississippi 1972–76, candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate from Mississippi 1978, candidate for Governor of Mississippi 1987. Father of William L. Waller Jr. William L. Waller Jr. (born 1952), Municipal Judge in Jackson, Mississippi; Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court 1998–2019; Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court 2009–2019. Son of William L. Waller, Sr..

The Walshes William F. Walsh (1912–2011), Mayor of Syracuse, New York 1961–69; delegate to the Republican National Convention 1968; U.S. Representative from New York 1973–79. Father of James T. Walsh. James T. Walsh (born 1947), U.S. Representative from New York 1989–2009. Son of William F. Walsh. Ben Walsh (born 1979), Incumbent Mayor of Syracuse, New York.

The Waltons John Walton (1738–1783), delegate to the Continental Congress from Georgia 1778, Surveyor of Richmond County, Georgia. Brother of George Walton. George Walton (1749/1750–1804), Governor of Georgia 1775 1779–80 1789–90, Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court 1783–89, U.S. Senator from Georgia 1795–96. Brother of John Walton. Matthew Walton (1750–1819), delegate to the Kentucky Constitutional Convention 1792, Kentucky State Representative 1792 1795 1808, U.S. Representative from Kentucky 1803–07. Cousin of John Walton and George Walton.

The Waltons of Missouri