Robert Lee Ware Jr. (born August 20, 1952) is an American politician representing Virginia's 72nd House of Delegates district. He was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1998, representing the 65th district. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Life, education, and career Ware was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He received a B.A. degree in history and literature from Wheaton College in 1974 and pursued graduate studies in the same subjects at Harvard University, Asbury Seminary, Northeastern University, Longwood University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Ware moved to Powhatan, Virginia as editor of the weekly newspaper the Powhatan Gazette, where he worked between 1981-1984.

Starting in 1984, Ware taught history and government at Powhatan High School for 15 years. He later taught at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Academy. In 2012 he became academic dean of Benedictine College Preparatory School until his retirement in 2014. Ware is a Roman Catholic and has four children: Karen, Rob, Thomas, and Jeb.

Ware has also served on numerous commissions as well as state-level boards, notably including the Virginia State Board of Education and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees.

Positions and appointments

Ware has served on the House committees on: Agriculture (1998–2001) Chesapeake and Natural Resources (2002–present) Claims (1998–1999) Commerce and Labor (2002–present) Conservation and Natural Resources (1998–2001) Corporations Insurance and Banking (1998–2001) Finance (2001–present), formerly as Chair Militia and Police (2000–2001) Militia Police and Public Safety (2002–2003) Mining and Mineral Resources (1998–2000) Rules (2010–present)

Opposition to selective ban on Sunday hunting Ware has historically opposed efforts to lift Virginia's selective ban on Sunday hunting. In 2014, the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed legislation to permit hunting on Sunday allowing private property owners to choose for their own property, not within 200 yards of church, and no use of hunting deer with hounds. This victory was passed by large margin of 71 in favor and the minority at 27 against.

Electoral history Ware served two terms on the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors, 1988–1996. He was board chairman for one year. (campaign website)

On December 17, 1997, state Senator Joseph B. Benedetti resigned his seat to accept Governor-elect Jim Gilmore's offer to become head of the state Department of Criminal Justice Services. 65th district Delegate John Watkins was chosen to succeed Benedetti in a special election on January 6, 1998. On January 13, the day before the Virginia General Assembly convened, Ware won a special election to replace Watkins. He was sworn in three days later.

He has retained the delegate position since 1998, receiving greater than 70% of the vote in each election until 2013 (including multiple uncontested elections), when Michael P. "Mike" Asip won a over third of the votes in the 2019 general election. After another uncontested election in 2015, Ware has faced similar opposition each election, though he has still enjoyed a margin of victory of at least 25 percentage points each time. Date Election Candidate Party Votes % Virginia House of Delegates, 65th district January 13, 1998 Special R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 7,479 65.42 Edward B. Barber Democratic 3,550 31.05 Jeffrey M. Keegan Independent 396 3.46 Write Ins 8 0.07 November 2, 1999 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 10,183 77.07 Timothy R. Belton Independent 3,016 22.83 Write Ins 13 0.10 November 6, 2001 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 18,851 74.93 Christine K. Lowrie Democratic 5,802 23.06 John H. Girardeau III Libertarian 498 1.98 Write Ins 7 0.03 November 4, 2003 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 10,131 75.12 Robert E. Williams Democratic 3,351 24.85 Write Ins 4 0.03 November 8, 2005 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 23,851 96.88 Write Ins 768 3.12 November 6, 2007 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 14,944 98.02 Write Ins 301 1.97 November 3, 2009 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 21,887 71.46Gary R. Reinhardt Independent 8,682 28.34 Write Ins 56 0.18 November 8, 2011 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 14,991 97.59 Write Ins 369 2.40 November 5, 2013 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 19,839 67.60 William E. Quarles Jr. Democratic 9,431 32.14 Write Ins 76 0.26 November 3, 2015 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 19,842 97.31 Write Ins 548 2.69 November 7, 2017 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 22,394 64.01 Francis M. Stevens Democratic 12,530 35.82 Write Ins 59 0.17 November 5, 2019 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 24,710 65.07 Michael P. "Mike" Asip Democratic 13,247 34.89 Write Ins 16 0.04 November 7, 2023 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 22,684 68.05 Bilal Z. Raychouni Democratic 10,585 31.76 Write Ins 64 0.19 November 4, 2025 General R. Lee Ware Jr. Republican 27,963 61.53 Randolph T. Critzer, Jr. Democratic 16,380 36.08 Kristin A. Farry Forward 853 1.88 Write Ins 203 0.48

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