List of United States senators from Virginia

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.

Current delegation

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 2006, 2012, and 2018. The next election is in 2024.

C

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 2008, 2014, and 2020. The next election is in 2026.

# Senator Party Dates in office Electoral history T T Electoral history Dates in office Party Senator #
1
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.

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

Retired.
3
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
2
3rd 2 Re-elected in 1793.

Resigned.
Vacant May 27, 1794 –
November 18, 1794
May 11, 1794 –
December 29, 1794
Vacant
4
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.

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 C. Nicholas
4
7th
Re-elected in 1803.

Died.
4 8th
Vacant May 10, 1803 –
June 4, 1803
5
John Taylor
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 the Bank of Virginia.
May 22, 1804 –
August 11, 1804
Vacant
Vacant June 7, 1804 –
August 11, 1804
7
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

Andrew Moore
5
8
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 B. Giles
6
9th 4 Re-elected in 1804.
10th
9
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
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 T. Mason
7
15th 6 Elected December 9, 1816.

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

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
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
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

Littleton Tazewell
11
Jacksonian 19th Jacksonian
Vacant March 7, 1825 –
December 26, 1825
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
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
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 W. Leigh
13
24th 9 Re-elected in 1835.

Resigned.
Vacant February 29, 1836 –
March 3, 1836
13
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
14
Democratic 25th 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
10 26th

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
William S. Archer
16
28th
Vacant March 4, 1845 –
December 3, 1845
11 29th
14
Isaac S. Pennybacker
Democratic December 3, 1845 –
January 12, 1847
Elected to finish the vacancy.

Died.
Vacant January 12, 1847 –
January 21, 1847
15
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
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
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
John S. Carlile
18
17
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
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 15 March 4, 1871 –
March 15, 1871
Vacant
Re-elected late in 1871. March 15, 1871 –
March 3, 1883
Democratic
John W. Johnston
43rd
19
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
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
20
49th
21
John W. Daniel
Democratic March 4, 1887 –
June 29, 1910
Elected in 1887. 18 50th
51st 18 Elected December 20, 1887 for the term beginning in 1889.

Died.
March 4, 1889 –
May 14, 1892
Democratic
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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 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 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
John Warner
29
96th 33 Elected in 1978.
97th
25
Paul Trible
Republican January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1989
Elected in 1982.

Retired.
34 98th
99th 34 Re-elected in 1984.
100th
26
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
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
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
30
112th
29
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

Superlatives (top 5)

Longest service

Senator First served Last served Length of service
Harry F. ByrdMarch 4, 1933November 10, 196532 years, 8 months, 6 days
John W. WarnerJanuary 2, 1979January 3, 200930 years, 1 day
E. Carter GlassFebruary 20, 1920May 28, 194626 years, 3 months, 8 days
Thomas S. MartinMarch 4, 1895November 12, 191924 years, 8 months, 8 days
John W. DanielMarch 4, 1887June 29, 191023 years, 3 months, 25 days

Shortest service

Senator First served Last served Length of service
Richard E. ParkerDecember 15, 1836February 13, 18371 month, 29 days
Thomas G. BurchMay 31, 1946November 5, 19465 months, 5 days
Abraham B. VenableDecember 7, 1803June 7, 18046 months
John WalkerMarch 31, 1790November 9, 17907 months, 9 days
Lemuel J. BowdenMarch 4, 1863January 2, 18649 months, 29 days

Youngest at beginning of service

Senator Date of birth First served Age
Armistead T. MasonAugust 4, 1787January 3, 181628 years, 4 months, 30 days
James MonroeApril 28, 1758November 9, 179032 years, 6 months, 9 days
Stevens T. MasonDecember 29, 1760November 17, 179433 years, 10 months, 19 days
Paul S. Trible, Jr.December 29, 1946January 3, 198336 years, 5 days
John TylerMarch 29, 1790March 4, 182736 years, 11 months, 3 days

Oldest at end of service

Senator Date of birth Last served Age
E. Carter GlassJanuary 4, 1858May 28, 194688 years, 4 months, 24 days
John W. WarnerFebruary 18, 1927January 3, 200981 years, 10 months, 20 days
A. Willis RobertsonMay 27, 1887December 30, 196679 years, 7 months, 3 days
Harry F. ByrdJune 10, 1887November 10, 196578 years, 5 months
Thomas G. BurchJuly 3, 1869May 31, 194676 years, 10 months, 28 days

Living former U.S. senators from Virginia

As of February 2021, there are five living former U.S. senators from Virginia. The most recent and most recently serving senator to die was Harry F. Byrd Jr. (served 1965–1983) on July 30, 2013.

Senator Term of office Date of birth (and age)
John Warner 1979–2009 (1927-02-18) February 18, 1927
Paul S. Trible Jr. 1983–1989 (1946-12-29) December 29, 1946
Chuck Robb 1989–2001 (1939-06-26) June 26, 1939
George Allen 2001–2007 (1952-03-08) March 8, 1952
Jim Webb 2007–2013 (1946-02-09) February 9, 1946

See also

References

  1. 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. "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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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