Rob Wittman
Rob Wittman, a Republican who has represented Virginia's 1st congressional district since 2007, seeks re-election in 2026 against Democrat Shannon Taylor, the commonwealth's attorney for Henrico County.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
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- Born
- February 3, 1959
- Birthplace
- Washington, D.C.
- Education
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (biology)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (master's degree in public health, 1990)
Virginia Commonwealth University (Ph.D., 2002)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Rob Wittman, whose full name is Robert Joseph Wittman, was born on February 3, 1959, in Washington, D.C., the son of adoptive parents Regina C. (née Wood) and Frank Joseph Wittman, and he grew up in Henrico County, Virginia.
He studied biology at Virginia Tech as a member of the Corps of Cadets and Army ROTC, spending his summers working at a tomato cannery and on a fishing vessel.
He later 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.
Wittman worked for 20 years with the Virginia Department of Health as an environmental health specialist and as field director for the Division of Shellfish Sanitation. He is married and has two children.
Career
Wittman began in local government on the Montross Town Council, where he served from 1986 to 1996, including service as mayor from 1992 to 1996. He then served on the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors from 1996 to 2005, chairing it for his last two years. In 2005 he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from the 99th district with 62% of the vote over Democrat Linda M. Crandell.
After U.S. Representative Jo Ann Davis died in October 2007, Wittman won the special election to succeed her on December 11, 2007. He has been re-elected in every cycle since, most recently defeating Democrat Leslie Mehta in 2024 with 56.3% of the vote. Wittman is vice chair of the House Committee on Armed Services and chair of its Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, and he also serves on the Committee on Natural Resources.
2026 race
Rob Wittman is the Republican nominee in Virginia's 1st congressional district, which is based in the western Chesapeake Bay and includes portions of suburban Richmond.
Donald Trump narrowly carried the district in the 2024 presidential election, and Democrat Abigail Spanberger won it in the 2025 gubernatorial election, after which seven Democrats filed to challenge Wittman.
In the November 3, 2026, general election he faces Shannon Taylor, the Henrico County commonwealth's attorney, who won the Democratic primary with 52.8% of the vote.