1991 Virginia's 7th congressional district special election

none March 2026 March 2026 1991 Virginia's 7th congressional district special election Virginia by-election no 1990 United States House of Representatives elections#Virginia 1990 1992 1992 United States House of Representatives elections#Virginia VA 7 November 5, 1991 x150px George Allen.jpg George Allen Republican Party (United States) 106,745 62.04% 3x4.svg Kay Slaughter Democratic Party (United States) 59,655 34.67% U.S. Representative French Slaughter Republican Party (United States) George Allen Republican Party (United States) The 1991 Virginia's 7th congressional district special election was held on November 5, 1991, to succeed Republican Congressman French Slaughter, who resigned from the House following ill health. State Delegate George Allen won the Republican nomination and faced Charlottesville City Councilwoman Kay Slaughter, the Congressman's first cousin and the Democratic nominee. Allen defeated Slaughter in a landslide, winning 62 percent of the vote to her 35 percent.Official Election Results 1991 Brown Michael G. Commonwealth of Virginia State Board of Elections 1991 https://va2.elstats2.civera.com/eng/files/serve/579 March 26, 2026 Background Congressman French Slaughter was first elected to Congress from Virginia's 7th congressional district in 1984, and won re-election in 1986, 1988, and 1990. On July 2, 1991, Slaughter announced that he would resign from Congress, effective November 5, 1991, following a series of strokes.Jenkins Jr. Kent Rep. Slaughter Resigning Va. Congressional Seat Washington Post July 2, 1991 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1991/07/02/rep-slaughter-resigning-va-congressional-seat/bc9fb384-ea9b-4cc4-98e9-ce87a0f8a519/ March 25, 2026 Governor Douglas Wilder scheduled a special election for the date of Slaughter's resignation, and both political parties held conventions to select their nominees.Special election set for 7th district Daily Press July 6, 1991 Newport News, Virginia 7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press/194261526/ Newspapers.com March 26, 2026 Republican nomination The Republican nominating convention was held in Charlottesville on August 25, 1991, at the Charlottesville Performing Arts Center.Intress Ruth S. Allen nominated for Slaughter's seat Richmond Times-Dispatch August 26, 1991 B-6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch/194261759/ Newspapers.com March 26, 2026 Following Slaughter's announcement that he would resign, State Delegate George Allen and the Congressman's son, attorney French Slaughter III, announced that the would run in the Republican nominating convention.Gibson Bob Allen expected Slaughter aid The Daily Progress July 12, 1991 Charlottesville, Virginia B1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-progress/194263176/ Newspapers.com March 26, 2026Slaughter's son announces candidacy for father's seat Daily Press July 13, 1991 Newport News, Virginia C2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press/194263123/ Newspapers.com March 26, 2026 Slaughter endorsed his son as his successor, though Allen claimed that he had secured Slaughter's support for the seat in exchange for not running against him in 1984, which Slaughter denied. However, as the convention drew closer and Allen attracted more support from convention delegates, Slaughter dropped out of the race and endorsed Allen,Santos Carlos Slaughter ends bid to replace father Richmond Times-Dispatch August 10, 1991 B-3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch/194261699/ Newspapers.com March 26, 2026 allowing Allen to be nominated unanimously. Nominated George Allen, member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 58th district Dropped out D. French Slaughter III, Charlottesville attorney, son of Congressman Slaughter Democratic nomination The Democratic Party's nominating convention took place on September 7, 1991, at Culpeper County High School.Vala Vincent Democrats to choose 7th District candidate Culpeper Star-Exponent September 6, 1991 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/culpeper-star-exponent/194262541/ Newspapers.com March 26, 2026 In the lead-up to the convention, State Senator Edd Houck, whom Democrats considered their strongest candidate,Gibson Bob Democrat hinges decision to seek office on finances The Daily Progress July 18, 1991 Charlottesville, Virginia B1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-progress/194261982/ Newspapers.com March 26, 2026 opted not to run, and instead sought re-election to the legislature.Rayner Bob Another Slaughter relative enters race for seat in 7th Richmond Times-Dispatch July 24, 1991 B-4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch/194262764/ Newspapers.com March 26, 2026 Charlottesville City Councilwoman Kay Slaughter, the Congressman's first cousin, announced that she would run, and emerged as the frontrunner for the nomination when newspaper heiress Marie Ridder and David Smith, Slaughter's 1990 opponent, both declined to run.Santos Carlos Ridder won't seek seat in 7th Richmond Times-Dispatch August 6, 1991 B-1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch/194262256/ Newspapers.com March 26, 2026Slaughter's 1990 opponent won't run again Richmond Times-Dispatch July 25, 1991 B-6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch/194262115/ Newspapers.com March 26, 2026 At the nominating convention, Slaughter faced attorney Thomas Wilkinson Greene and public relations consultant T. Dean Reed, and won the nomination unopposed when Greene and Reed dropped out and moved to nominate Slaughter unanimously.Councilwoman named Democratic hopeful for House position Daily Press September 8, 1991 Newport News, Virginia C6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press/194262426/ Newspapers.com March 26, 2026 Nominated Kay Slaughter, Charlottesville City Councilwoman, first cousin of Congressman Slaughter Dropped out Thomas Wilkinson Greene, Winchester attorney T. Dean Reed, public relations consultant Declined Edd Houck, member of the Virginia Senate from the 17th district Marie Ridder, chairman of the Virginia Council on the Environment, Knight Ridder newspaper heiress David Smith, Winchester businessman and minister, 1990 Democratic nominee for Congress General election Candidates George Allen (Republican) Kay Slaughter (Democratic) John A. Torrice, Jr. (independent)Scully Sean Independent launches campaign with a message Orange County Review August 1, 1991 Orange, Virginia 14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/orange-county-review/194263561/ Newspapers.com March 26, 2026 Results 1991 Virginia's 7th congressional district special election George Allen Republican Party (United States) 106,745 62.04% Kay Slaughter Democratic Party (United States) 59,655 34.67% John A. Torrice, Jr. Independent (politician) 5,566 3.24% Write-ins 89 0.05% 172,055 100.00% Republican Party (United States) References 1991 07 Virginia 07 Virginia 1991 07 United States House of Representatives 07 United States House of Representatives 1991 07