Rob Wittman

Rob Wittman
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives from Virginia's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 11, 2007

Robert Joseph Wittman ^[1] (born February 3, 1959)^{[ citation needed ]} is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 1st congressional district since 2007. The district contains portions of the Richmond suburbs and Hampton Roads area, as well as the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. ^[2] He is a member of the Republican Party. ^[3]

Early life, education and career

Wittman was born in Washington, D.C., the son of adoptive parents Regina C. (née Wood) and Frank Joseph Wittman. His father was of German descent and his mother's ancestors included immigrants from Ireland and Canada. ^[4] He grew up in Henrico County, Virginia. He attended the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) as a member of the Corps of Cadets and Army ROTC and studied biology. He did not subsequently serve in the military. While at Virginia Tech, he spent the summers working at a tomato cannery and on a fishing vessel. Also while in college, Wittman was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He earned a master's degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1990 and a Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002. ^[5] Wittman worked for 20 years with the Virginia Department of Health. He served as an environmental health specialist and was field director for the Division of Shellfish Sanitation. ^[6]

Wittman served on the Montross Town Council from 1986 to 1996 and as mayor of the Town of Montross from 1992 to 1996. Two of his major accomplishments in this office were the overhaul of the sewage system and the development of a computerized system for tax billing. From 1996 to 2005, Wittman served on the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors, the last two years as chair. He helped create new libraries and pushed for raises in teacher salaries.

Virginia House of Delegates

In 2005, Wittman was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 99th district. He served on the Agricultural; Chesapeake and Natural Resources; and Police and Public Safety Committees.

U.S. House of Representatives

Tenure

In October 2021, Business Insider reported that Wittman had violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012, a federal transparency and conflict-of-interest law, by failing to properly disclose up to $60,000 worth of stock trades in companies including Johnson & Johnson, Royal Gold Inc., and TJX Companies. ^[7]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Armed Services (Vice Chair) ^[8]
  • Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces (Chair)
  • Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs

Caucus memberships

• House Baltic Caucus ^[9]
• Congressional Constitution Caucus ^[10]
• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus ^[11]
• Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus ^[12]
• Congressional Public Health Caucus ^[13]
• Republican Study Committee ^[14]
• Congressional Blockchain Caucus ^[15]
• Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus ^[16]

Political positions

Wittman co-sponsored a personhood bill in Congress that defined life as beginning at conception. ^[17]

In 2012, Wittman said he would consider cutting pay and benefits for service members who join the military in the future in order to avoid closing bases or cutting the number of military personnel. ^[18]

Wittman authored the Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act, designed "to enhance coordination, flexibility and efficiency of restoration efforts," according to Wittman. ^[19] After several senators sponsored a bill to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Wittman introduced a version of the bill for House members to consider. ^[20] He proposed the Advancing Offshore Wind Production Act (H.R. 1398), which he said was designed to simplify the process companies must go through to test and develop offshore wind power. ^[21]

Health care

Wittman opposes the Affordable Care Act and has voted to repeal it. ^[22] He said that Congress should not merely be "anti-Obamacare" and that congressional Republicans are ready to provide alternatives if it is deemed unconstitutional. ^[23] In 2017, he voted for the American Health Care Act, which would have repealed and replaced the ACA. ^[23]

Texas v. Pennsylvania

In December 2020, Wittman was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania , a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated ^[24] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state. ^{[25] [26] [27]}

Certification of 2020 presidential election

On January 6, 2021, Wittman was one of the 147 Republican members of the U.S. Congress who objected to certifying the 2020 presidential election. ^[28] He voted against certifying Pennsylvania's electors after a day of violence as the U.S. Capitol was breached by Trump supporters who disrupted proceedings, despite no clear evidence of widespread voter fraud. ^[29]

Political campaigns

2005

Wittman was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates over Democrat Linda M. Crandell with 62% of the vote. ^[30]

2007

Wittman was reelected to the Virginia House of Delegates unopposed.

See also: 2007 Virginia's 1st congressional district special election

On December 11, 2007, Wittman was first elected to the United States Congress to succeed the late congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, who died in October 2007. He was heavily favored in the special election due to the 1st's heavy Republican bent; it has been in Republican hands since 1977. ^[31] The Independent candidate was Lucky Narain.

2008

See also: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 1

Wittman was elected to his first full term, defeating Democratic nominee Bill Day and Libertarian Nathan Larson. ^[32]

2010

See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 1

Wittman was reelected, defeating Democratic nominee Krystal Ball and Independent Green candidate Gail Parker.

2012

See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 1

Wittman was reelected, defeating Democratic nominee Adam Cook and Independent Green candidate Gail Parker. ^[23]

2014

See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 1

Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Norm Mosher, Libertarian Xavian Draper, and Independent Green Gail Parker. ^[33]

2016

See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 1

Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Matt Rowe and Independent Green candidate Gail Parker. ^[34]

2018

See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 1

Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Vangie Williams. ^[35] With the Republicans losing their remaining seat based in the Washington suburbs, as well as seats in Hampton Roads and the Richmond suburbs, Wittman was left as the only Republican holding a seat east of Charlottesville.

2020

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 1

Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Qasim Rashid. ^[36]

2022

See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 1

Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Herb Jones and Independent David Foster.^{[ citation needed ]}

2024

See also: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia § District 1

Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Leslie Mehta. ^[37]

Electoral history

Virginia's 1st congressional district : Results 2007–2024 ^{[38] [39] [40]}

Year		Republican	Votes	Pct		Democrat	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct
2007		Rob Wittman	42,772	61%		Philip Forgit	26,282	37%		Lucky Narain	Independent	1,253	2%
2008		Rob Wittman	203,839	57%		Bill Day	150,432	42%		Nathan Larson	Libertarian	5,265	1%
2010		Rob Wittman	135,564	64%		Krystal Ball	73,824	35%		Gail Parker	Independent Green	2,544	1%
2012		Rob Wittman	200,845	56%		Adam M. Cook	147,036	41%		Gail Parker	Independent Green	8,308	2%	[41]
2014		Rob Wittman	131,861	62.9%		Norm Mosher	72,059	34.4%		Gail Parker	Independent Green	5,097	2.4%	[42]
2016		Rob Wittman	230,213	59.8%		Matt Rowe	140,785	36.6%		Gail Parker	Independent Green	12,866	3.3%	[43]
2018		Rob Wittman	183,250	55.2%		Vangie A. Williams	148,464	44.7%						[44]
2020		Rob Wittman	260,614	58.2%		Qasim Rashid	186,923	41.7%						[45]
2022		Rob Wittman	197,789	56.7%		Herb Jones	148,884	42.5%		David Foster	Independent	3,391	1%
2024		Rob Wittman	269,657	56.31%		Leslie C. Mehta	208,445	43.53%		Write-in		804	0.17%	[46]

Personal life

Wittman is an Episcopalian ^[47] and a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Montross. ^[5]

References

1. "Virginia House of Delegates History: Robert Joseph "Rob" Wittman" . Retrieved 22 November 2023.
2. "Virginia First Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times. 2022-11-08. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-10-26.
3. "America's First District - U.S. House of Representatives". wittman.house.gov. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
4. "Rob Wittman ancestry". Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
5. "Rob Wittman". dela.state.va.us. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
6. "About Rob". Rob Wittman. Archived from the original on June 14, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
7. Leonard, Kimberly; Rojas, Warren; Levinthal, Dave (2021-10-21). "Rep. Mo Brooks is one of Congress' most vocal opponents of COVID-19 vaccine mandates — and he just violated a federal conflict-of-interest law on a Pfizer stock sale". Business Insider . Archived from the original on 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
8. "Wittman Named Vice Chairman of Armed Services Committee, Chairman of Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee for 118th Congress". January 25, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
9. "Members". House Baltic Caucus. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
10. "Members". Congressional Constitution Caucus. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
11. "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
12. "Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus | U.S. Representative Rob Wittman". Archived from the original on 2019-02-23. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
13. "Congressional Public Health Leadership | Commissioned Officers Association". Archived from the original on 2015-05-23.
14. "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
15. "Members". Congressional Blockchain Caucus. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
16. "Strengthening Conservation Advocacy: Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus Expansion & Reconstitution". National Wildlife Refuge Association. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
17. Davis, Chelyen (October 9, 2012). "Federal debt a focus of 1st District debate". fredericksburg.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
18. "GOP chairman on cutting future troops' benefits: 'I think that is a place we can go'". Military Times. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
19. "WITTMAN CHESAPEAKE BAY LEGISLATION PASSES THE HOUSE". wittman.house.gov. February 6, 2014. Archived from the original on June 13, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
20. "Senate Bill Pushes for Wetlands Conservation Act Reauthorization". floridasportsman.com. April 2, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
21. Wittman, Rob (March 26, 2013). "Wittman Introduces Renewable Energy Legislation". votesmart.org. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
22. Writer, James Ivancic Times Staff (25 March 2019). "Rep. Rob Wittman holds town hall in Nokesville". Prince William Times. Archived from the original on 2019-07-17. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
23. "Hope for Congress?". Fredericksburg. May 4, 2012. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
24. Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). "Biden officially secures enough electors to become president". AP News . Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
25. Liptak, Adam (2020-12-11). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
26. "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. 2020-12-11. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
27. Diaz, Daniella. "Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court". CNN . Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
28. Yourish, Karen; Buchanan, Larry; Lu, Denise (2021-01-07). "The 147 Republicans Who Voted to Overturn Election Results". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-01-09. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
29. Coghill Jr, Taft (2021-01-07). "Wittman votes against certifying Pennsylvania electors". The Free Lance-Star. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
30. "Virginia Elections Database » 2005 House of Delegates General Election District 99". Virginia Elections Database. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
31. Giroux, Greg (December 11, 2007). "Republican Wittman Wins Virginia House Seat in Special Election". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on November 29, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
32. "District Detail: VA-01". Congressional Quarterly. Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
33. "US Rep. Rob Wittman wins GOP primary in Virginia". WTOP. 10 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
34. "Rep. Rob Wittman wins re-election in 1st District". Richmond Times-Dispatch. 8 November 2016. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
35. "Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2018". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
36. "Virginia's 1st Congressional District election, 2020". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
37. "Virginia's 1st Congressional District Election Results, 2024". The New York Times. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
38. "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 2007-07-25. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
39. "Election results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
40. "Virginia House Election Results 2022: Live Map | Midterm Races by District". Politico .
41. Virginia State Board of Elections. "Election Results: Member of House of Representatives (01)". November 2012 General Election Official Results. Virginia.gov. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
42. Virginia State Board of Elections. "Election Results: Member of House of Representatives (01)". November 2014 General Election Official Results. Virginia.gov. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
43. Virginia State Board of Elections. "Election Results: Member of House of Representatives (01)". November 2016 General Election Official Results. Virginia.gov. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
44. Virginia State Board of Elections. "Election Results: Member of House of Representatives". Virginia.gov. Archived from the original on 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2019-05-05.
45. "2020 November General". results.elections.virginia.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
46. "2024 November General November 5, 2024 OFFICIAL RESULTS". enr.elections.virginia.gov. Archived from the original on February 8, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
47. "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. January 3, 2023.

External links

• Congressman Rob Wittman official U.S. House website
• Rob Wittman for Congress Archived 2008-06-19 at the Library of Congress Web Archives
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Jo Ann Davis	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 1st congressional district 2007–present	Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Bob Latta	United States representatives by seniority 65th	Succeeded by André Carson