Rob Wittman | |
|---|---|
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromVirginia's1st district | |
| Assumed office December 11, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Jo Ann Davis |
| Member of theVirginia House of Delegates from the99th district | |
| In office January 13, 2006 – December 11, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Albert C. Pollard |
| Succeeded by | Albert C. Pollard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Joseph Wittman (1959-02-03)February 3, 1959 (age 66) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Virginia Tech (BS) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (MPH) Virginia Commonwealth University (PhD) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Robert Joseph Wittman[1] (born February 3, 1959)[2] is an American politician and environmental health specialist serving as theU.S. representative forVirginia's 1st congressional district since 2007. A member of theRepublican Party, his district contains portions of theRichmond suburbs andHampton Roads area, as well as theNorthern Neck andMiddle Peninsula.[3][4][5]
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.[6] He grew up inHenrico County, Virginia. He attended the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) as a member of theCorps of Cadets andArmy 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 theDelta Tau Delta fraternity. He earned a master's degree in public health from theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1990 and a Ph.D. fromVirginia Commonwealth University in 2002.[7] Wittman worked for 20 years with theVirginia Department of Health. He served as an environmental health specialist and was field director for the Division ofShellfish Sanitation.[8]
Wittman served on theMontross 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 theWestmoreland County Board of Supervisors, the last two years as chair. He helped createnew libraries and pushed for raises in teacher salaries.
In 2005, Wittman was elected to theVirginia House of Delegates, representing the 99th district. He served on the Agricultural; Chesapeake and Natural Resources; and Police and Public Safety Committees.
In May 2025, Wittman voted for the RepublicanOne Big Beautiful Bill Act that significantly cutMedicaid, despite previously signing a letter opposing such reductions. The legislation included an expansion of Section 199A—a tax provision set to expire at the end of the year—which would raise the pass-through income deduction rate from 20% to 23% and could personally benefit Wittman, who reported over $105,000 in pass-through rental income. The expanded deduction was estimated to cost $730 billion over the next decade, with the proposed changes having added an additional $50 billion.[9]
Wittman co-sponsored a personhood bill in Congress that defined life as beginning at conception.[22]
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.[23]
Wittman authored the Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act, designed "to enhance coordination, flexibility and efficiency of restoration efforts," according to Wittman.[24] After several senators sponsored a bill to reauthorize theNorth American Wetlands Conservation Act, Wittman introduced a version of the bill for House members to consider.[25] 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.[26]
Wittman opposes theAffordable Care Act and has voted to repeal it.[27] He said that Congress should not merely be "anti-Obamacare" and that congressional Republicans are ready to provide alternatives if it is deemed unconstitutional.[28] In 2017, he voted for theAmerican Health Care Act, which would have repealed and replaced the ACA.[28]
In December 2020, Wittman was one of 126 Republican members of theHouse of Representatives to sign anamicus brief in support ofTexas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at theUnited States Supreme Court contesting the results of the2020 presidential election, in whichJoe Biden defeated[29] incumbentDonald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lackedstanding underArticle III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[30][31][32]
On January 6, 2021, Wittman was one of the 147 Republican members of the U.S. Congress whoobjected to certifying the2020 presidential election.[33] He voted against certifying Pennsylvania's electors after a day of violence as theU.S. Capitol was breached by Trump supporters who disrupted proceedings, despite no clear evidence of widespread voter fraud.[34]
Wittman was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates over Democrat Linda M. Crandell with 62% of the vote.[35]
Wittman was reelected to the Virginia House of Delegates unopposed.
On December 11, 2007, Wittman was first elected to the United States Congress to succeed the late congresswomanJo 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.[36] The Independent candidate was Lucky Narain.
Wittman was elected to his first full term, defeating Democratic nominee Bill Day andLibertarianNathan Larson.[37]
Wittman was reelected, defeating Democratic nomineeKrystal Ball and Independent Green candidate Gail Parker.
Wittman was reelected, defeating Democratic nominee Adam Cook and Independent Green candidate Gail Parker.[28]
Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Norm Mosher, Libertarian Xavian Draper, and Independent Green Gail Parker.[38]
Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Matt Rowe and Independent Green candidate Gail Parker.[39]
Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Vangie Williams.[40] 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 ofCharlottesville.
Wittman defeated Democratic nomineeQasim Rashid.[41]
Wittman defeated Democratic nominee Herb Jones and Independent David Foster.[42]
Wittman defeated Democratic nomineeLeslie Mehta.[43]
| 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% | [47] | ||||
| 2014 | Rob Wittman | 131,861 | 62.9% | Norm Mosher | 72,059 | 34.4% | Gail Parker | Independent Green | 5,097 | 2.4% | [48] | ||||
| 2016 | Rob Wittman | 230,213 | 59.8% | Matt Rowe | 140,785 | 36.6% | Gail Parker | Independent Green | 12,866 | 3.3% | [49] | ||||
| 2018 | Rob Wittman | 183,250 | 55.2% | Vangie A. Williams | 148,464 | 44.7% | [50] | ||||||||
| 2020 | Rob Wittman | 260,614 | 58.2% | Qasim Rashid | 186,923 | 41.7% | [51] | ||||||||
| 2022 | Rob Wittman | 191,828 | 56.0% | Herb Jones | 147,229 | 43.0% | David Foster | Independent | 3,388 | 1.0% | |||||
| 2024 | Rob Wittman | 269,657 | 56.31% | Leslie C. Mehta | 208,445 | 43.53% | Write-in | 804 | 0.17% | [52] | |||||
Wittman is anEpiscopalian[53] and a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Montross.[7] He is married and has two children.[54]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromVirginia's 1st congressional district 2007–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 64th | Succeeded by |
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