List of United States senators from Virginia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Current delegation
Warner
Mark Warner (D)
Kaine
Tim Kaine (D)

Virginia has sent senators to the U.S. Senate since 1789. Its Senate seats were declared vacant in March 1861, due to its secession from the Union, but Senators representing its western counties continued to sit until March 1865. Virginia's Senate seats were again filled from January 1870. Virginia's current Senators are Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Harry F. Byrd was Virginia's longest-serving senator (1933–1965).

List of senators[]

Class 1

Class 1 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018. The next election will be in 2024.

C

Class 2

Class 2 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020. The next election will be in 2026.

# Senator Party Dates in office Electoral history T T Electoral history Dates in office Party Senator #
1 William Grayson (1740-1790).jpg
William Grayson
Anti-
Admin.
March 4, 1789 –
March 12, 1790
Elected November 8, 1788.

Died.
1 1st 1 Elected November 8, 1788.

Resigned.
March 4, 1789 –
October 8, 1792
Anti-
Admin.
RichardHenryLee.jpg
Richard H. Lee
1
Vacant March 12, 1790 –
March 31, 1790
2 John Walker congress.jpg
John Walker
Pro-
Admin.
March 31, 1790 –
November 9, 1790
Appointed to continue Grayson's term.

Retired.
3 James Monroe (1758-1831).jpg
James Monroe
Anti-
Admin.
November 9, 1790 –
May 27, 1794
Elected to finish Grayson's term.
Re-elected in 1791.

Resigned to become U.S. Minister Plenipotentiary to France.
2 2nd
October 8, 1792 –
October 18, 1792
Vacant
Elected to finish Lee's term. October 18, 1792 –
May 11, 1794
Anti-
Admin.
John Taylor of Caroline.jpg
John Taylor
2
3rd 2 Re-elected in 1793.

Resigned.
Vacant May 27, 1794 –
November 18, 1794
May 11, 1794 –
December 29, 1794
Vacant
4 Sthmason.jpg
Stevens T. Mason
Anti-
Admin.
November 18, 1794 –
May 10, 1803
Elected to finish Monroe's term.
Elected to finish Taylor's term.

Re-elected in 1798, but died before new term began.
December 29, 1794 –
January 24, 1799
Anti-
Admin.
Henrytazewell.jpg
Henry Tazewell
3
Democratic-
Republican
4th Democratic-
Republican
Re-elected in 1796. 3 5th
January 24, 1799 –
December 5, 1799
Vacant
6th 3
Elected to finish Tazewell's term.

Resigned to become collector of the port of Norfolk.
December 5, 1799 –
May 22, 1804
Democratic-
Republican
Wilson Cary Nicholas 2.jpg
Wilson C. Nicholas
4
7th
Re-elected in 1803.

Died.
4 8th
Vacant May 10, 1803 –
June 4, 1803
5 John Taylor of Caroline.jpg
John Taylor
Democratic-
Republican
June 4, 1803 –
December 7, 1803
Appointed to continue Mason's term.

Retired.
6 A-Bedford-Venable.jpg
Abraham B. Venable
Democratic-
Republican
December 7, 1803 –
June 7, 1804
Elected to finish Mason's term.

Resigned to become President of the Bank of Virginia.
May 22, 1804 –
August 11, 1804
Vacant
Vacant June 7, 1804 –
August 11, 1804
7 William Branch Giles.jpg
William B. Giles
Democratic-
Republican
August 11, 1804 –
December 3, 1804
Appointed to continue Venable's term.

Resigned when elected to finish Wilson Cary Nicholas's Class 2 term.[1]
Appointed to continue Nicholas's term.

Resigned when elected to finish Abraham B. Venable's Class 1 term.[1]
August 11, 1804 –
December 3, 1804
Democratic-
Republican
Senator Andrew Moore.jpg
Andrew Moore
5
8 Senator Andrew Moore.jpg
Andrew Moore
Democratic-
Republican
December 4, 1804 –
March 3, 1809
Elected to finish Venable's term.[1]

Retired.[2]
Elected to finish Nicholas's term. December 4, 1804 –
March 3, 1815
Democratic-
Republican
William Branch Giles.jpg
William B. Giles
6
9th 4 Re-elected in 1804.
10th
9 Richard Brent.jpg
Richard Brent
Democratic-
Republican
March 4, 1809 –
December 30, 1814
Elected in 1809.[2]

Died.
5 11th
12th 5 Re-elected January 2, 1811.

Resigned.
13th
Vacant December 30, 1814 –
January 2, 1815
10 BarbourT.jpg
James Barbour
Democratic-
Republican
January 2, 1815 –
March 7, 1825
Elected to finish Brent's term, having already been elected to the next term.
Elected November 19, 1814. 6 14th John Eppes (DR) was elected December 7, 1815, but declined to serve. March 4, 1815 –
January 3, 1816
Vacant
Elected to finish Giles's term.

Lost re-election.
January 3, 1816 –
March 3, 1817
Democratic-
Republican
Armistead Thompson Mason.jpg
Armistead T. Mason
7
15th 6 Elected December 9, 1816.

Resigned because of ill health.
March 4, 1817 –
December 4, 1819
Democratic-
Republican
John w eppes.jpg
John Eppes
8
16th
December 4, 1819 –
December 14, 1819
Vacant
Elected December 10, 1819 to finish Eppes's term and qualified December 14, 1819.

Resigned.
December 14, 1819 –
December 15, 1822
Democratic-
Republican
James Pleasants bioguide.jpg
James Pleasants
9
Re-elected in 1821.

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of War.
7 17th
December 15, 1822 –
December 18, 1822
Vacant
Elected to finish Pleasants' term. December 18, 1822 –
August 21, 1824
Democratic-
Republican
John Taylor of Caroline.jpg
John Taylor
10
18th 7 Re-elected in 1823.

Died.
August 21, 1824 –
December 7, 1824
Vacant
Elected to finish Taylor's term. December 7, 1824 –
July 16, 1832
Democratic–
Republican
LWTzw.jpg
Littleton Tazewell
11
Jacksonian 19th Jacksonian
Vacant March 7, 1825 –
December 26, 1825
11 StuartGilbertJohnRandolph.jpg
John Randolph
Jacksonian December 26, 1825 –
March 3, 1827
Appointed to continue Barbour's term.

Lost election to next term.
12 John Tyler.png
John Tyler
Jacksonian March 4, 1827 –
February 29, 1836
Elected in 1827. 8 20th
21st 8 Re-elected in 1829.

Resigned.
22nd
July 16, 1832 –
December 10, 1832
Vacant
Elected to finish Tazewell's term.

Resigned.
December 10, 1832 –
February 22, 1834
Jacksonian Rives, William Cabell.jpg
William C. Rives
12
Anti-
Jacksonian
Re-elected in 1833.

Resigned.
9 23rd
February 22, 1834 –
February 26, 1834
Vacant
Elected to finish Rives's term. February 26, 1834 –
July 4, 1836
Anti-
Jacksonian
Benjamin Leigh.jpg
Benjamin W. Leigh
13
24th 9 Re-elected in 1835.

Resigned.
Vacant February 29, 1836 –
March 3, 1836
13 Rives, William Cabell.jpg
William C. Rives
Jacksonian March 4, 1836 –
March 3, 1839
Elected to finish Tyler's term.

Legislature failed to elect in 1839.
July 4, 1836 –
December 12, 1836
Vacant
Elected to finish Leigh's term.

Resigned to become judge of the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
December 12, 1836 –
March 13, 1837
Jacksonian Richard E. Parker.jpg
Richard E. Parker
14
Democratic 25th Democratic
Elected to finish Parker's term.

Lost re-election.
March 14, 1837 –
March 3, 1841
Democratic WmRoane.jpg
William H. Roane
15
Vacant March 3, 1839 –
January 18, 1841
10 26th
Rives, William Cabell.jpg
William C. Rives
Whig January 18, 1841 –
March 3, 1845
Re-elected late in 1841.
27th 10 Elected in 1840.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1847
Whig WSArcher.jpg
William S. Archer
16
28th
Vacant March 4, 1845 –
December 3, 1845
11 29th
14 Isaac S. Pennybacker.jpg
Isaac S. Pennybacker
Democratic December 3, 1845 –
January 12, 1847
Elected to finish the vacancy.

Died.
Vacant January 12, 1847 –
January 21, 1847
15 JMMason.jpg
James M. Mason
Democratic January 21, 1847 –
July 11, 1861[3][4]
Elected to finish Pennybacker's term.
30th 11 Elected in 1846. March 4, 1847 –
July 11, 1861[3][4]
Democratic RbrtMTHntr.jpg
Robert M. T. Hunter
17
31st
Re-elected in 1850. 12 32nd
33rd 12 Re-elected in 1852.
34th
Re-elected in 1856.

Expelled for his support of the Confederacy.
13 35th
36th 13 Re-elected in 1858.

Expelled for his support of the Confederacy.
37th
Vacant July 11, 1861 –
July 13, 1861
July 11, 1861 –
July 13, 1861
Vacant
16 Waitman T. Willey - Brady-Handy.jpg
Waitman T. Willey
Unionist July 13, 1861 –
March 3, 1863[5]
Elected to finish Mason's term.

Retired.
Elected to finish Hunter's term.[4] July 13, 1861 –
March 3, 1865
Unionist JCarlile.jpg
John S. Carlile
18
17 Lemuel Jackson Bowden.jpg
Lemuel J. Bowden
Unionist March 4, 1863 –
January 2, 1864
Elected in 1863.

Died.
14 38th
Vacant January 2, 1864 –
January 26, 1870
Joseph Segar (U) presented his credentials on February 17, 1865, but was not seated.[5][6]

Civil War and Reconstruction.
39th 14 John Underwood (U) presented his credentials on March 9, 1865, but was not seated.[6]

Civil War and Reconstruction.
March 4, 1865 –
January 26, 1870
Vacant
40th
15 41st
18 John F. Lewis - Brady-Handy.jpg
John F. Lewis
Republican January 26, 1870 –
March 3, 1875
Elected to finish the vacant term.

Retired.
Elected to finish the vacant term. January 26, 1870 –
March 3, 1871
Democratic John W. Johnston.jpg
John W. Johnston
19
42nd 15 March 4, 1871 –
March 15, 1871
Vacant
Re-elected late in 1871. March 15, 1871 –
March 3, 1883
Democratic John W. Johnston.jpg
John W. Johnston
43rd
19 Robert E. Withers - Brady-Handy.jpg
Robert E. Withers
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1881
Elected in 1875.

Lost re-election.
16 44th
45th 16 Re-elected in 1877.

Lost re-election.
46th
20 William Mahone.jpg
William Mahone
Readjuster March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1887
Elected in 1881.

Lost re-election.
17 47th
48th 17 Elected December 21, 1881 for the term beginning in 1883.

Retired.
March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1889
Readjuster Harrison H. Riddleberger - Brady-Handy.jpg
Harrison H. Riddleberger
20
49th
21 John W. Daniel - Brady-Handy.jpg
John W. Daniel
Democratic March 4, 1887 –
June 29, 1910
. 18 50th
51st 18 Elected December 20, 1887 for the term beginning in 1889.

Died.
March 4, 1889 –
May 14, 1892
Democratic BARBOUR, John S (BEP engraved portrait).jpg
John S. Barbour Jr.
21
52nd
May 14, 1892 –
May 28, 1892
Vacant
Appointed to continue Barbour's term.

Elected December 20, 1893 to finish Barbour's term.[7]

Retired.
May 28, 1892 –
March 3, 1895
Democratic Eppa Hunton, photo portrait seated.jpg
Eppa Hunton
22
Re-elected early December 16, 1891. 19 53rd
54th 19 Elected early December 19, 1893.[8] March 4, 1895 –
November 12, 1919
Democratic Thomas Staples Martin.jpg
Thomas S. Martin
23
55th
Re-elected December 19, 1899. 20 56th
57th 20 Re-elected early December 19, 1899.
58th
Re-elected in 1904.

Re-elected in 1910, but died before that term began.
21 59th
60th 21 Re-elected in 1906.
61st
Vacant June 29, 1910 –
August 1, 1910
Vacant
22 CASwanson.jpg
Claude A. Swanson
Democratic August 1, 1910 –
March 3, 1933
Appointed to finish Daniel's last term.
Re-appointed February 28, 1911 to begin Daniel's next term.

Elected January 23, 1912 to finish Daniel's next term.
22 62nd
63rd 22 Re-elected January 24, 1912.
64th
Re-elected in 1916. 23 65th
66th 23 Re-elected in 1918.

Died.
November 12, 1919 –
February 2, 1920
Vacant
Appointed November 18, 1919 to continue Martin's term, but did not immediately qualify, preferring to remain as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

Elected November 3, 1920 to finish Martin's term.
February 2, 1920 –
May 28, 1946
Democratic Senator Carter Glass of Virginia.jpg
Carter Glass
24
67th
Re-elected in 1922. 24 68th
69th 24 Re-elected in 1924.
70th
Re-elected in 1928.

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Navy.
25 71st
72nd 25 Re-elected in 1930.
23 Harry F. Byrd headshot.jpg
Harry F. Byrd
Democratic March 4, 1933 –
November 10, 1965
Appointed to continue Swanson's term.

Elected November 7, 1933 to finish Swanson's term.
73rd
Re-elected in 1934. 26 74th
75th 26 Re-elected in 1936.
76th
Re-elected in 1940. 27 77th
78th 27 Re-elected in 1942.

Died.
79th
May 28, 1946 –
May 31, 1946
Vacant
Appointed to continue Glass's term.

Retired.
May 31, 1946 –
November 5, 1946
Democratic Thomas Granville Burch.jpg
Thomas G. Burch
25
Elected to finish Glass's term. November 5, 1946 –
December 30, 1966
Democratic Absalom Willis Robertson.jpg
A. Willis Robertson
26
Re-elected in 1946. 28 80th
81st 28 Re-elected in 1948.
82nd
Re-elected in 1952. 29 83rd
84th 29 Re-elected in 1954.
85th
Re-elected in 1958. 30 86th
87th 30 Re-elected in 1960.

Lost re-nomination, retired early to give his successor preferential seniority.
88th
Re-elected in 1964.

Resigned for health reasons.
31 89th
Vacant November 10, 1965 –
November 12, 1965
24 Hbyrdjr.jpg
Harry F. Byrd Jr.
Democratic November 12, 1965 –
January 3, 1983
Appointed to continue his father's term.

Elected November 8, 1966 to finish his father's term.
Appointed to finish Robertson's term, having already been elected to the next term. December 31, 1966 –
January 3, 1973
Democratic William B Spong.jpg
William B. Spong Jr.
27
90th 31 Elected in 1966.

Lost re-election.
91st
Independent Re-elected in 1970. 32 92nd
93rd 32 Elected in 1972.

Retired and resigned early to give his successor preferential seniority.
January 3, 1973 –
January 1, 1979
Republican William Lloyd Scott.jpg
William L. Scott
28
94th
Re-elected in 1976.

Retired.
33 95th
Appointed to finish Scott's term, having already been elected to the next term. January 2, 1979 –
January 3, 2009
Republican Senator John Warner portrait.JPG
John Warner
29
96th 33 Elected in 1978.
97th
25 PaulSTrible.jpg
Paul Trible
Republican January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1989
Elected in 1982.

Retired.
34 98th
99th 34 Re-elected in 1984.
100th
26 Charles robb.jpg
Chuck Robb
Democratic January 3, 1989 –
January 3, 2001
Elected in 1988. 35 101st
102nd 35 Re-elected in 1990.
103rd
Re-elected in 1994.

Lost re-election.
36 104th
105th 36 Re-elected in 1996.
106th
27 George Allen official portrait.jpg
George Allen
Republican January 3, 2001 –
January 3, 2007
Elected in 2000.

Lost re-election.
37 107th
108th 37 Re-elected in 2002.

Retired.
109th
28 Jim Webb official 110th Congress photo.jpg
Jim Webb
Democratic January 3, 2007 –
January 3, 2013
Elected in 2006.

Retired.[9]
38 110th
111th 38 Elected in 2008. January 3, 2009 –
Present
Democratic Mark Warner, official 111th Congress photo portrait.jpg
Mark Warner
30
112th
29 Tim Kaine 116th official portrait.jpg
Tim Kaine
Democratic January 3, 2013 –
Present
Elected in 2012. 39 113th
114th 39 Re-elected in 2014.
115th
Re-elected in 2018. 40 116th
117th 40 Re-elected in 2020.
118th
To be determined in the 2024 election. 41 119th
120th 41 To be determined in the 2026 election.
# Senator Party Years in office Electoral history T   T Electoral history Years in office Party Senator #
Class 1 Class 2

Living former U.S. senators[]

As of August 2021, there are four living former U.S. senators from Virginia. The most recent and most recently serving senator to die was John Warner (served 1979–2009) on May 25, 2021.

Senator Term of office Date of birth (and age)
Paul S. Trible Jr. 1983–1989 (1946-12-29) December 29, 1946 (age 74)
Chuck Robb 1989–2001 (1939-06-26) June 26, 1939 (age 82)
George Allen 2001–2007 (1952-03-08) March 8, 1952 (age 69)
Jim Webb 2007–2013 (1946-02-09) February 9, 1946 (age 75)

Superlatives (top 5)[]

Longest service[]

Senator First served Last served Length of service
Harry F. Byrd March 4, 1933 November 10, 1965 32 years, 8 months, 6 days
John Warner January 2, 1979 January 3, 2009 30 years, 1 day
Carter Glass February 20, 1920 May 28, 1946 26 years, 3 months, 8 days
Thomas S. Martin March 4, 1895 November 12, 1919 24 years, 8 months, 8 days
John W. Daniel March 4, 1887 June 29, 1910 23 years, 3 months, 25 days

Shortest service[]

Senator First served Last served Length of service
Richard E. Parker December 15, 1836 February 13, 1837 1 month, 29 days
Thomas G. Burch May 31, 1946 November 5, 1946 5 months, 5 days
Abraham B. Venable December 7, 1803 June 7, 1804 6 months
John Walker March 31, 1790 November 9, 1790 7 months, 9 days
Lemuel J. Bowden March 4, 1863 January 2, 1864 9 months, 29 days

Youngest at beginning of service[]

Senator Date of birth First served Age
Armistead Thomson Mason August 4, 1787 January 3, 1816 28 years, 4 months, 30 days
James Monroe April 28, 1758 November 9, 1790 32 years, 6 months, 9 days
Stevens T. Mason December 29, 1760 November 17, 1794 33 years, 10 months, 19 days
Paul Trible December 29, 1946 January 3, 1983 36 years, 5 days
John Tyler March 29, 1790 March 4, 1827 36 years, 11 months, 3 days

Oldest at end of service[]

Senator Date of birth Last served Age
Carter Glass January 4, 1858 May 28, 1946 88 years, 4 months, 24 days
John Warner February 18, 1927 January 3, 2009 81 years, 10 months, 20 days
Absalom Willis Robertson May 27, 1887 December 30, 1966 79 years, 7 months, 3 days
Harry F. Byrd June 10, 1887 November 10, 1965 78 years, 5 months
Thomas G. Burch July 3, 1869 May 31, 1946 76 years, 10 months, 28 days

See also[]

  • United States congressional delegations from Virginia
  • List of United States representatives from Virginia

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c On August 11, 1804, the Governor of Virginia appointed William Giles to the Class 1 vacancy and Andrew Moore to the Class 2 vacancy. Before either had taken the oath of office, the legislature elected Giles to fill the Class 2 vacancy and Moore to the Class 1 vacancy, thus reversing who would take which seat.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Virginia 1809 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 18, 2018., citing United States' Gazette (Philadelphia, PA). January 16, 1809.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b James M. Mason and Robert M. T. Hunter "withdrew" from the Senate on March 28, 1861, with other senators sympathetic to the Confederacy. They were both expelled by a resolution of July 11, 1861.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, (1774–2005), "Official Annotated Membership Roster by State with Vacancy and Special Election Information for the 37th Congress Archived June 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine".
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, (1774–2005), "Official Annotated Membership Roster by State with Vacancy and Special Election Information for the 38th Congress Archived June 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine".
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Segar and Underwood were not seated on the premise that the Union-friendly legislature was illegitimate despite having seated Bowden and Carlile based credentials from the same legislature. In reality, the Senate refused because it did not want to set a precedent for easing reentry of Confederate states. See "Musical Chairs (1861–1869)". United States Senate. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  7. ^ Byrd, p. 180.
  8. ^ ""TWO VIRGINIA SENATORS ELECTED"". The New York Times. December 20, 1893.
  9. ^ Sen. Jim Webb announces retirement plans Washington Post. February 9, 2011.
Retrieved from ""