11 seats: 5R, 6D, 1I     R54

Virginia had another remarkably non-competitive year in U.S. House races – the most competitive of 22 races since 1994 was won by 22%. Due to a successful lawsuit against the state's black majority district, the legislature redrew legislative districts in 1998, but with an eye toward protecting all of the incumbents. The paucity of challengers — seven seats were uncontested — is evidence of their likely success. Things should be more eventful in 2000, particularly in Owen Pickett's open seat in District 2, which leans Republican (although potentially made more Democratic in the 1998 redistricting). Virgil Goode's conversion to an independent caucusing with Republicans may draw a vigorous challenge from a Democrat. Perhaps Goode saw the writing on the wall; with Republicans drawing district lines in 2001, it is possible that Democrats could be reduced to two seats by the end of the next decade. Four incumbents are uncontested this year. (NOTE: Because of the 1998 redistricting, projected partisan performance is uncertain, although the impact likely was insignificant in most districts.]
 

1. OPEN [Herbert Bateman (R), 1982]					Comfortable
	'98: 76 U	'96: 99 U	'94: 74	'92: 58		[R 59]
2. OPEN [Owen Pickett (D), 1986]					Vulnerable
	'98: 94	'96: 65	'94: 59	'92: 56		[R 55]
3. Robert Scott (D), 1992					Uncontested
	'98: 76 U	'96: 82	'94: 79	'92: 79		[D 73]
4. Norman Sisisky (D), 1992					Uncontested*
	'98: 97	'96: 79	'94: 62	'92: 68		[R 53]
5. Virgil Goode (I), 1996					Landslide*
	'98: 99	'96: 61	['94: D 53	'92: D 69]		[R 56]
6. Bob Goodlatte (R), 1992					Uncontested
	'98: 69	'96: 67	'94: 100	'92: 60		[R 58]
7. OPEN [Thomas Bliley (R), 1980]					Landslide
	'98: 79 U	'96: 75	'94: 84 U	'92: 83 U		[R 64]
8. James Moran (D), 1990					Landslide
	'98: 67	'96: 66	'94: 59	'92: 56		[D 56]
9. Rick Boucher (D), 1982					Landslide*
	'98: 61	'96: 65	'94: 59	'92: 63		[R 53]
10. Frank Wolf (R), 1980					Uncontested
	'98: 72	'96: 72	'94: 87 U	'92: 64		[R 61]
11. Tom Davis (R), 1994					Landslide*
	'98: 82 U	'96: 64	'94: 53	['92: D 50]		[R 51]