List of United States Senators from Virginia

Virginia ratified the Constitution on June 25, 1788. 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 1863. Virginia's Senate seats were again filled from January 1870.

List of Senators

Class 1

Class 1 U.S. Senators belong to the electoral cycle that were elected for only one U.S. Congress in the first election of 1788, and the seat was contested again for the 2nd, 5th, and every three Congresses (six years) thereafter. The seat in recent years has been contested in 2000, 2006, and 2012. The next election is in 2018.

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Class 2

Class 2 U.S. Senators belong to the electoral cycle that were elected for the first two United States Congresses in the first election of 1788, and the seat was contested again for the 3rd, 6th, and every three Congresses (six years) thereafter. The seat in recent years has been contested in 2002, 2008, and 2014. The next election is in 2020.

# Senator Party Years in office Electoral history T
e
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m
T
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Electoral history Years in office Party Senator #
1
William Grayson
Anti-
Administration
March 4, 1789 –
March 12, 1790
Elected in 1788.

Died.
1 1st Congress 1 Elected in 1788.

Resigned.
March 4, 1789 –
October 8, 1792
Anti-
Administration

Richard H. Lee
1
Vacant March 12, 1790 –
March 31, 1790
Vacant
2
John Walker
Pro-
Administration
March 31, 1790 –
November 9, 1790
Appointed to continue Grayson's term.

Retired.
3
James Monroe
Anti-
Administration
November 9, 1790 –
March 27, 1794
Elected to finish Grayson's term.
Re-elected in 1791.

Resigned to become U.S. Minister Plenipotentiary to France.
2 2nd Congress
Vacant October 8, 1792 –
October 18, 1792
Vacant
Elected to finish Lee's term. October 18, 1792 –
May 11, 1794
Anti-
Administration

John Taylor of Caroline
2
3rd Congress 2 Re-elected in 1793.

Resigned.
Vacant March 27, 1794 –
November 18, 1794
Vacant
Vacant May 11, 1794 –
December 29, 1794
Vacant
4
Stevens T. Mason
Anti-
Administration
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-
Administration

Henry Tazewell
3
Democratic-
Republican
4th Congress Democratic-
Republican
Re-elected in 1797. 3 5th Congress
Vacant January 24, 1799 –
December 5, 1799
Vacant
6th Congress 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 C. Nicholas
4
7th Congress
Re-elected in 1803.

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

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

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

Resigned when elected to finish Wilson 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

Andrew Moore
5
8
Andrew Moore
Democratic-
Republican
December 4, 1804 –
March 3, 1809
Elected to finish Venable's term.[1]

[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
Elected to finish Nicholas's term. December 4, 1804 –
March 3, 1815
Democratic-
Republican

William B. Giles
6
9th Congress 4 Re-elected in 1804.
10th Congress
9
Richard Brent
Democratic-
Republican
March 4, 1809 –
December 30, 1814
[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]

Died.
5 11th Congress
12th Congress 5 Re-elected in 1811.

Resigned.
13th Congress
Vacant December 30, 1814 –
January 2, 1815
Vacant
10
James Barbour
Democratic-
Republican
January 2, 1815 –
March 7, 1825
Elected to finish Brent's term.
Re-elected in 1815. 6 14th Congress Vacant 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 T. Mason
7
15th Congress 6 Elected in 1817.

Resigned because of ill health.
March 4, 1817 –
December 4, 1819
Democratic-
Republican

John W. Eppes
8
16th Congress
Vacant December 4, 1819 –
December 14, 1819
Vacant
Elected to finish Eppes's term.

Resigned.
December 14, 1819 –
December 15, 1822
Democratic-
Republican

James Pleasants
9
Re-elected in 1821.

Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of War.
7 17th Congress
Vacant December 15, 1822 –
December 18, 1822
Vacant
Elected to finish Pleasants's term. December 18, 1822 –
August 21, 1824
Democratic-
Republican

John Taylor of Caroline
10
Crawford
Republican
18th Congress 7 Re-elected in 1823.

Died.
Crawford
Republican
Vacant August 21, 1824 –
December 7, 1824
Vacant
Elected to finish Taylor's term. December 7, 1824 –
July 16, 1832
Jackson
Republican

Littleton Tazewell
11
Jacksonian 19th Congress Jacksonian
Vacant March 7, 1825 –
December 26, 1825
Vacant
11
John Randolph
Jacksonian December 26, 1825 –
March 3, 1827
Appointed to continue Barbour's term.

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

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

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

Resigned.
9 23rd Congress
Vacant February 22, 1834 –
February 26, 1834
Vacant
Elected to finish Rives's term. February 26, 1834 –
July 4, 1836
Anti-
Jacksonian

Benjamin W. Leigh
13
24th Congress 9 Re-elected in 1835.

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

Legislature failed to elect in 1839.
Vacant 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
14
Democratic 25th Congress Democratic
Elected to finish Parker's term.

Lost re-election.
March 14, 1837 –
March 3, 1841
Democratic
William H. Roane
15
Vacant March 3, 1839 –
January 18, 1841
Vacant 10 26th Congress

William C. Rives
Whig January 18, 1841 –
March 3, 1845
Re-elected late in 1841.

[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
27th Congress 10 Elected in 1840.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1847
Whig
William S. Archer
16
28th Congress
Vacant March 4, 1845 –
December 3, 1845
[Data unknown/missing. You can help!] 11 29th Congress
14
Isaac S. Pennybacker
Democratic December 3, 1845 –
January 12, 1847
Elected to finish the vacancy.

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

Expelled for his support of the Confederacy.[2][3]
13 35th Congress
36th Congress 13 Re-elected in 1858.

Expelled for his support of the Confederacy.[2][3]
37th Congress
Vacant July 11, 1861 –
July 13, 1861
Vacant Vacant July 11, 1861 –
July 13, 1861
Vacant
16
Waitman T. Willey
Unionist July 13, 1861 –
March 3, 1863[4]
Elected to finish Mason's term.

Retired.
Elected to finish Hunter's term.[3]

[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
July 13, 1861 –
March 3, 1865
Unionist
John S. Carlile
18
17
Lemuel J. Bowden
Unionist March 4, 1863 –
January 2, 1864
Elected in 1863.

Died.
14 38th Congress
Vacant January 2, 1864 –
January 26, 1870
Joseph Segar (U) presented his credentials on February 17, 1865, but was not seated.[4][5]

Civil War and Reconstruction
39th Congress 14 John Underwood (U) presented his credentials on March 9, 1865, but was not seated.[5]

Civil War and Reconstruction
March 4, 1865 –
January 26, 1870
Vacant
40th Congress
15 41st Congress
18
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
19
42nd Congress 15 Vacant March 4, 1871 –
March 15, 1871
Re-elected late in 1871. March 15, 1871 –
March 3, 1883
Democratic
John W. Johnston
43rd Congress
19
Robert E. Withers
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1881
Elected in 1875.

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

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

Lost re-election.
17 47th Congress
48th Congress 17 Elected in 1883.

Retired.
March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1889
Readjuster
Harrison H. Riddleberger
20
49th Congress
21
John W. Daniel
Democratic March 4, 1887 –
June 29, 1910
Elected in 1887. 18 50th Congress
51st Congress 18 Elected in 1889.

Died.
March 4, 1889 –
May 14, 1892
Democratic
John S. Barbour, Jr.
21
52nd Congress
Vacant May 14, 1892 –
May 28, 1892
Vacant
Appointed to continue Barbour's term.

Elected to finish Barbour's term.

Retired.
May 28, 1892 –
March 3, 1895
Democratic
Eppa Hunton
22
Re-elected in 1893. 19 53rd Congress
54th Congress 19 Elected in 1894. March 4, 1895 –
November 12, 1919
Democratic
Thomas S. Martin
23
55th Congress
Re-elected in 1899. 20 56th Congress
57th Congress 20 Re-elected in 1900.
58th Congress
Re-elected in 1904.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Elected 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, Jr.
27
90th Congress 31 Elected in 1966.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Retired.[6]
38 110th Congress
111th Congress 38 Elected in 2008. January 3, 2009 –
Present
Democratic
Mark Warner
30
112th Congress
29
Tim Kaine
Democratic January 3, 2013 –
Present
Elected in 2012. 39 113th Congress
114th Congress 39 Re-elected in 2014.
115th Congress
To be determined in the 2018 election. 40 116th Congress
117th Congress 40 To be determined in the 2020 election.
# Senator Party Years in office Electoral history T
e
r
m
  T
e
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m
Electoral history Years in office Party Senator #
Class 1 Class 2

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 W. Warner January 2, 1979 January 3, 2009 30 years, 1 day
E. 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 0 years, 1 month, 29 days
Thomas G. Burch May 31, 1946 November 5, 1946 0 years, 5 months, 5 days
Abraham B. Venable December 7, 1803 June 7, 1804 0 years, 6 months, 0 days
John Walker March 31, 1790 November 9, 1790 0 years, 7 months, 9 days
Lemuel J. Bowden March 4, 1863 January 2, 1864 0 years, 9 months, 29 days

Youngest at beginning of service

Senator Date of birth First served Age
Armistead T. 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 S. Trible, Jr. December 29, 1946 January 3, 1983 36 years, 0 months, 5 days
John Tyler, Jr. March 29, 1790 March 4, 1827 36 years, 11 months, 3 days

Oldest at end of service

Senator Date of birth Last served Age
E. Carter Glass January 4, 1858 May 28, 1946 88 years, 4 months, 24 days
John W. Warner February 18, 1927 January 3, 2009 81 years, 10 months, 20 days
A. 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, 0 days
Thomas G. Burch July 3, 1869 May 31, 1946 76 years, 10 months, 28 days

Living former U.S. Senators from Virginia

As of April 2015, there are four former U.S. Senators who are currently living, three from Class 1 and one from Class 2.

Senator Term of office Class Date of birth (and age)
John Warner 1979–2009 2 February 18, 1927
Chuck Robb 1989–2001 1 June 26, 1939
George Allen 2001–2007 1 March 8, 1952
Jim Webb 2007–2013 1 February 9, 1946

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 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.
  3. 1 2 3 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".
  4. 1 2 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".
  5. 1 2 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.
  6. Sen. Jim Webb announces retirement plans Washington Post. February 9, 2011.
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