Barbara Comstock

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Barbara Comstock
Image of Barbara Comstock

Republican Party

Prior offices
Virginia House of Delegates District 34
U.S. House Virginia District 10
Successor: Jennifer Wexton
Predecessor: Frank Wolf
Elections and appointments
Last election

November 6, 2018

Education

Bachelor's

Middlebury College, 1981

Law

Georgetown University Law Center, 1986

Personal
Religion
Christian: Catholic
Profession
Attorney & Founding Partner, Corallo Comstock
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal website

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter 

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Barbara Comstock (Republican Party) was a member of the U.S. House, representing Virginia's 10th Congressional District. She assumed office on January 3, 2015. She left office on January 3, 2019.

Comstock (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Virginia's 10th Congressional District. She lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.

Comstock was first elected to the U.S. House in 2014. Before that, she served in the Virginia State Senate.

Biography

Comstock earned her B.A. in political science from Middlebury College in 1981 and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1986. Comstock is a founding partner of Corallo Comstock. She previously worked as a Blank Rome, LLP and Blank Rome Government Relations, LLC.[1]

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Comstock's academic, professional, and political career:[2]

  • 2015-Present: U.S. Representative from Virginia's 10th Congressional District
  • 2010-2015: Member of the Virginia House of Delegates, District 34
  • 2002-2003: Staff, United States Justice Department
  • 1993-1996: McLean Community Center Governing Board
  • 1995-1999: Staff, United States House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee
  • 1991-1995: Staff, United States Representative Frank Wolf of Virginia
  • Staff, United States Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts
  • 1986: Graduated from Georgetown University with a J.D.
  • 1981: Graduated from Middlebury College with a B.A.

Elections

2018

See also: Virginia's 10th Congressional District election, 2018
See also: Virginia's 10th Congressional District election (June 12, 2018 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 10

Jennifer Wexton defeated incumbent Barbara Comstock in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 10 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jennifer Wexton
Jennifer Wexton (D)
 
56.1
 
206,356
Image of Barbara Comstock
Barbara Comstock (R)
 
43.7
 
160,841
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
598

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 367,795
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 10

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 10 on June 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jennifer Wexton
Jennifer Wexton
 
41.9
 
22,405
Image of Alison Kiehl Friedman
Alison Kiehl Friedman
 
23.0
 
12,283
Image of Lindsey Davis Stover
Lindsey Davis Stover
 
16.0
 
8,567
Image of Dan Helmer
Dan Helmer
 
12.5
 
6,712
Image of Paul Pelletier
Paul Pelletier
 
3.8
 
2,010
Image of Julia Biggins
Julia Biggins
 
2.8
 
1,513

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 53,490
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 10

Incumbent Barbara Comstock defeated Shak Hill in the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 10 on June 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Barbara Comstock
Barbara Comstock
 
60.7
 
28,287
Image of Shak Hill
Shak Hill
 
39.3
 
18,311

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 46,598
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Virginia's 10th Congressional District election, 2016

Virginia's 10th Congressional District was a battleground district in 2016. Incumbent Barbara Comstock (R) defeated LuAnn Bennett (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Neither candidate faced an opponent at the party nominating conventions.[3]

U.S. House, Virginia District 10 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBarbara Comstock Incumbent 52.7% 210,791
     Democratic LuAnn Bennett 46.9% 187,712
     N/A Write-in 0.4% 1,580
Total Votes 400,083
Source: Virginia Department of Elections

2014

See also: Virginia's 10th Congressional District elections, 2014
U.S. House, Virginia District 10 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic John Foust 40.4% 89,957
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBarbara Comstock 56.5% 125,914
     Libertarian Bill Redpath 1.5% 3,393
     Green Dianne Blais 0.4% 946
     Independent Brad Eickholt 1.1% 2,442
     N/A Write-in 0.1% 258
Total Votes 222,910
Source: Virginia Department of Elections
U.S. House, Virginia District 10 Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngBarbara Comstock 53.9% 7,337
Bob Marshall 28.1% 3,829
Howie Lind 8.1% 1,108
Stephen Hollingshead 6% 816
Rob Wasinger 2.2% 301
Marc Savitt 1.6% 218
Total Votes 13,609
Source: VAGOP10.org, "Recapping the 2014 Party Canvass," accessed July 1, 2014

2013

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2013
Virginia House of Delegates, District 34 General Election, 2013
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBarbara Comstock Incumbent 50.6% 14,962
     Democratic Kathleen Murphy 49.2% 14,540
     Other Write-in 0.2% 51
Total Votes 29,553

2011

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2011
Virginia House of Delegates, District 34 General Election, 2011
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBarbara Comstock Incumbent 54.8% 11,628
     Democratic Pamela Danner 45.2% 9,573
Total Votes 21,201

2009

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2009
Virginia House of Delegates General Election, District 34 (2009)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Barbara Comstock (R) 12,636
Margaret Vanderhye (D) 12,214

Campaign themes

2018

Campaign website

Comstock's campaign website stated the following:

“

21ST CENTURY SOLUTIONS FOR TODAY’S CHALLENGES

A LEADER FOR THE 10th DISTRICT’S PRIORITIES:

For over 30 years, Congresswoman Barbara Comstock has been a leader in the 10th District. She is a principled, solutions oriented leader who has worked tirelessly to tackle our region’s challenges. In the public and private sector she has produced bipartisan results on creating a healthy economy, advanced 21st Century jobs, expanded and promoted our technology community, provided long term transportation solutions without raising taxes, promoted 21st Century healthcare solutions, cracked down on drugs, crime, and human trafficking, and reduced the tax burden on families and businesses.

In the Virginia General Assembly she wrote the law for competitive bidding for Phase 2 of Dulles Rail, wrote the law to expand the billion dollar Data Center industry, advanced the law to allow for offshore energy exploration and drilling in Virginia, wrote anti-human trafficking laws, and worked to get more in-state college spots for Virginia students.

Congresswoman Comstock was the leader in Pro-Jobs and Right to Work legislation in the General Assembly including guaranteeing the right to a secret ballot in the workplace as well as protecting worker’s personal information.

In Congress, she continued her bipartisan success and hit the ground running fighting for Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley including –

  • Stopping dangerous national security and defense sequester cuts, restoring national security and defense funding and defending us from terrorist threats here and abroad;
  • Fighting for tax relief for our families and our small businesses;
  • Passing a landmark 5-year transportation bill;
  • Advancing Northern Virginia’s innovative technology sector and research and development;
  • Helping to pass bipartisan human trafficking legislation;
  • Working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to fight the heroin epidemic that is in our community and working with task forces throughout the District to tackle the problem;
  • Working with our district’s wide-ranging agriculture businesses.
  • Congresswoman Comstock serves on three Committees in the House and was selected to lead as Chairwoman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee where she advocates for Northern Virginia’s innovative high technology sector.

CONGRESSWOMAN COMSTOCK WORKING FOR US IN CONGRESS

LEADING ON TAX RELIEF: $600 BILLION IN TAX RELIEF FOR FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES

Congresswoman Comstock supported the $600 billion tax relief package that was signed into law which helps middle class families and makes the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit permanent. This important bill also makes the Research and Development Tax Credit permanent, which will help fuel the technology, defense and healthcare jobs of the 21st Century that helps our region grow.

LEADING ON NATIONAL SECURITY

We live in a very unpredictable world where ISIS and other terrorist groups continue to be on the march against the freedoms America stands for. That is why we need leaders who recognize the threat and understand what it will take to defeat the enemy. Congresswoman Comstock has consistently voted for our men and women in uniform and has supported the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and a budget that would increase defense spending by $40 billion and ease the devastating defense sequester cuts. The NDAA also prevents President Obama from transferring Guantanamo terrorist detainees to American soil, and requires President Obama to develop a clear strategy to defeat ISIS. The Congresswoman has also taken a stand in support of human rights and cosponsored a resolution passed in the House that declares what ISIS has done to Christians and other religious minorities in the areas it currently occupies as “genocide”.

LEADING ON HEALTHCARE MEASURES TO FIGHT CHRONIC DISEASES AND TO DEVELOP 21ST CENTURY CURES

The House of Representatives passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which Congresswoman Comstock has strongly advocated and worked for as well as cosponsored. This legislation puts our country on a path toward working on earlier detection, better treatment, and faster cures for chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and more. The 21st Century Cures Act was signed into law on December 13th, 2016.

LEADING ON LONG TERM TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS

Congresswoman Comstock cosponsored the bipartisan five-year transportation bill that was signed into law and provides for more funding for infrastructure without raising taxes and has provisions written by the Congresswoman focusing on relieving traffic congestion and using technology for better traffic solutions. This legislation also includes reforms demanding more accountability and transparency from Metro.

WORKING FOR OUR MANY SMALL BUSINESSES

As a former small business owner, Congresswoman Comstock understands what it means to sign the front of a paycheck. In Congress she has been a champion for small businesses earning a 100% from the National Federation of Independent Businesses and a 100% from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for her votes in the 114th Congress. Virginia’s 10th Congressional District is home to many small businesses that are the foundation of our economy and Congresswoman Comstock will continue to work to make sure our small businesses prosper.

LEADING ON THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Congresswoman Comstock has cosponsored a variety of legislation on this topic including the recent bill signed into law by the President in April 2018, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA). This important legislation allows victims to take action against heinous websites that permit and assist predators to sell children online. Other legislation the Congresswoman has cosponsored includes provisions to equip airline employees with the skills and knowledge to root out human trafficking in the sky. As a member of the Human Trafficking Caucus, Representative Comstock has joined on multiple efforts to encourage the appropriations committee to properly equip Anti-Human Trafficking Regional Task Forces and to fund anti-human trafficking programs. These efforts have resulted in securing funds for Fiscal Year 2018. As budget negotiations for Fiscal Year 2019 continues, Representative Comstock remains steadfast in securing these funds. She has met with law enforcement agents in Virginia’s 10 th District and participated in many forums to find best practices, discover deficits, and educate on the dangers of this growing crime that exploits and abuses the most vulnerable women and children in our communities.

LEADING FOR OUR VETERANS

The first piece of legislation Congresswoman Comstock cosponsored was the Hire More Heroes Act. This legislation, which was signed into law, brings down barriers for veterans to find good-paying jobs while at the same time gives small businesses relief from Obamacare. The Hire More Heroes Act is one of many pieces of veteran legislation that helps those who have served their country. America must fulfill its commitment to our veterans and Congresswoman Comstock understands that their sacrifice and service must be honored.

Congresswoman Comstock understands that even though our veterans are home the battle scars remain and voted for the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act. This important legislation for our veterans was signed into law by the President and requires the Veterans Administration to make mental health information easily accessible for our returning veterans. The legislation also helps the Veterans Administration to recruit and retain psychiatrists and requires an annual and independent review of mental healthcare and suicide prevention programs at the Veterans Administrations.

Congresswoman Comstock has also cosponsored and voted for the bipartisan Border Jobs for Veterans Act which has been signed by the President. This legislation streamlines the process of hiring veterans who acquired the necessary skill set while they were serving in the military to serve as a Customs and Border Protection officer.

Congresswoman Comstock has made it a priority to help those who have served their nation both through legislation and constituent service and looks forward to continuing to work with our nation’s veterans.

LEADING ON THE FIGHT AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT

The #MeToo movement has shed light on sexual harassment in the film and entertainment industry. However, we have found that sexual harassment does not elude Congress, and in fact, there was a need for new rules and regulations regarding these issues to better support victims. For this reason, Representative Comstock introduced legislation that requires all Members and employees in the House of Representatives to undergo sexual harassment training each session of Congress. Furthermore, this bill changed and reinvigorated this training to bring a more interactive and comprehensive approach to Members and staff. It changed the reporting process to help victims take action when they could otherwise be confused or fearful of repercussions. Additionally, the Congresswoman is a cosponsor of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act, which creates a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination in Congress. It also prohibits the use of taxpayer money to be used in these cases. As part of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Women’s Issues, the Congresswoman looked for how she could work to mitigate this behavior in other economic sectors. She worked with colleagues to hold hearings, including a hearing on sexual harassment in the service industry, and she chaired the organization’s hearing on sexual harassment in the tech industry. She will continue to work to find ways to promote women across all sectors regarding this pivotal issue.

LEADING FOR OUR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

Congresswoman Comstock has been a federal employee – working for ten years on Capitol Hill for Congressman Frank Wolf and a congressional committee and then working at the Department of Justice after September 11th. When Barbara worked for Congressman Wolf, she was privileged to be his aide who handled federal employee issues and Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan issues.

In the 10th District our federal employees work at the Air Traffic Control Center in Leesburg, VA Hospitals, and as NASA Engineers and astronauts. Some are serving in dangerous areas and work for the FBI, CIA, State Department, and Department of Defense. Our federal employees defend our homeland, protect our borders, prosecute those who would do us harm, find 21st century cures and treatments for disease, facilitate trade, excel in scientific and education achievements and so much more.

Having worked on behalf of and with federal employees, Congresswoman Comstock understands and shares the passion of these dedicated public servants. It is the work of public service and it is vital to all of the important functions of our government and it has its sacrifices as well as rewards and the satisfaction of protecting and serving our country. Congresswoman Comstock has traveled throughout the District to speak to different chapters of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) where she talks about how the federal government can best serve its employees and what she has done to support the federal workforce such as:

  • Working on a bipartisan basis to avert costly government shutdowns which create havoc within the federal workforce;
  • Supporting pay increases for federal employees;
  • Supporting paid family leave for federal employees as a cosponsor of the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act which provides six weeks of paid parental leave to federal employees for birth, adoption, or the fostering of a child and will not increase costs within agencies;
  • Protecting federal employees whose personal and tax information has been compromised because of numerous data breaches;
  • Working for telecommuting solutions for our federal workforce to provide a more flexible schedule as well as save on the cost and time of commuting. In the Virginia General Assembly, she passed the first telework bills in Virginia.

FIGHTING TO SECURE OUR BORDERS

America is a welcoming nation…and we are also a nation of laws. That is why Congresswoman Comstock has fought for and supported smart policies that would keep America safe through reforming the refugee program and the visa waiver program and measures to protect our borders. The FBI has active ISIS investigations in all fifty states and we as a nation must be vigilant to a terrorist threat that is constantly changing.

TACKLING THE HEROIN AND ADDICTION CRISIS FACING OUR COMMUNITY

In 2014, more people died from heroin and other opioid prescription drug overdoses than car accidents within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Congresswoman Comstock recognizes the heroin problem in our community and has worked with federal, state, and local officials on the regional Heroin Operations Team with Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman and the Shenandoah Valley Opioid Taskforce with Winchester Police Chief Kevin Sanzenbacher. Congresswoman Comstock is also a member of The Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic in the U.S. House of Representatives. To combat heroin we must have a community-focused approach from authorities on all levels of government as well as cooperation from the medical community on curbing the prescription of opioid-based pain relief medications, which in many cases begins the cycle of abuse. Congresswoman Comstock has held community forums addressing these issues and educating our young and vulnerable about the perils of drug use and addiction. We face serious challenges in ending this epidemic and have reached the point for congressional action.

The House passed Congresswoman Comstock’s amendment to increase funding for the important High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program this year that helps coordinate local, state, and federal law enforcement authority drug interdiction efforts. Congresswoman Comstock has also cosponsored a number of bills that will help marshal the resources we need from protecting the very young in a neonatal unit to helping get opioid reversing drugs into the hands of first responders. Congresswoman Comstock supported the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act that was signed into law earlier this year. This sweeping legislation brings the necessary resources to help fight addiction to heroin and other opioid prescription drugs, and views the heroin epidemic as the disease it is.

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG WOMEN

Congresswoman Comstock’s introduced the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act by an overwhelming bipartisan majority. This legislation focuses on STEM education for young women and girls that will put them on a path to compete for 21st Century jobs by directing NASA to encourage women and girls to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), pursue aerospace careers, and further advance the nation’s space science and exploration efforts through a variety of initiatives including NASA GIRLS. This legislation was signed into law by the President on February 28th, 2017.

Congresswoman Comstock has also brought her Young Women Leadership Program from Richmond to Capitol Hill. Inspired by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In, the program’s aim is to foster confidence among young women through talks from non-partisan female leaders in various industries including business, technology, education, and philanthropy. Founded in 2013 with 150 young women in the inaugural mentor program, the 10th District Young Women Leadership Program now hosts over 400 young women each summer.

LEADING ON EDUCATION

Congresswoman Comstock comes from a family of educators. Her mother was a teacher and school administrator, her sister was a librarian, and her husband, Chip, worked in Fairfax County schools for three decades as a teacher and Assistant Principal. Chip continues to teach today at an alternative high school for disadvantaged students.

Education is the key to building future leaders for our nation’s 21st Century economy and Congresswoman Comstock has worked both in the Virginia House of Delegates and now in Congress to create a better educational environment for our children. As a Delegate, Congresswoman Comstock worked with parents and school leaders to bring all-day kindergarten to all of Fairfax County and will continue to work with Loudoun leaders do the same. She also worked to get more in-state spots for our children at Virginia colleges and universities.

In Congress, Representative Comstock has worked with her colleagues in the 114th and 115th Congress to put our children on a path toward success:

  • Congresswoman Comstock is the Co-Chair of the DoD STARBASE Caucus which brings STEM education to students in elementary school who are often underrepresented in these fields. She has worked in a bipartisan manner to increase funding for this important program hosted in Winchester and other localities across our nation.
  • In the 115th Congress, Comstock introduced The Student Loan Relief Act of 2017. If enacted, this bill will help students refinance their loans through the Department of Education and the private marketplace. In the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Congresswoman worked to secure student loan interest deductions in the final version of the bill.
  • Voted for the bipartisan Every Child Achieves Act that was signed into law and gives more local control to educators.
  • In the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Congresswoman supported the expansion of the 529 savings plans to allow parents to better finance for their child’s education. In the same breadth, the Congresswoman has cosponsored the Enhancing Educational Opportunities for all Students Act, which affords students who are home schooled the same advantages.[4]
 ”
—Comstock for Congress[5]

Campaign advertisements

The following is an example of an ad from Comstock's 2018 election campaign.

"I Sent Barbara" - Comstock campaign ad, released September 8, 2018

2016

Campaign website

The following issues were listed on Comstock's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“
  • Leading on Tax Relief: $600 Billion in Tax Relief for Families and Businesses: Congresswoman Comstock supported the $600 billion tax relief package that was signed into law which helps middle class families and makes the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit permanent. This important bill also makes the Research and Development Tax Credit permanent, which will help fuel the technology, defense and healthcare jobs of the 21st Century that helps our region grow.
  • Leading on National Security: We live in a very unpredictable world where ISIS and other terrorist groups continue to be on the march against the freedoms America stands for. That is why we need leaders who recognize the threat and understand what it will take to defeat the enemy. Congresswoman Comstock has consistently voted for our men and women in uniform and has supported the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and a budget that would increase defense spending by $40 billion and ease the devastating defense sequester cuts.
  • Leading on Healthcare Measures to Fight Chronic Diseases and to Develop 21st Century Cures: The House of Representatives passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which Congresswoman Comstock has strongly advocated and worked for as well as cosponsored. This legislation puts our country on a path toward working on earlier detection, better treatment, and faster cures for chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and more.
  • Leading on Long Term Transportation Solutions: Congresswoman Comstock cosponsored the bipartisan five-year transportation bill that was signed into law and provides for more funding for infrastructure without raising taxes and has provisions written by the Congresswoman focusing on relieving traffic congestion and using technology for better traffic solutions. This legislation also includes reforms demanding more accountability and transparency from Metro.
  • Working for our Many Small Businesses: As a former small business owner, Congresswoman Comstock understands what it means to sign the front of a paycheck. In Congress she has been a champion for small businesses earning a 100% from the National Federation of Independent Businesses and a 100% from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for her votes in the 114th Congress. Virginia’s 10th Congressional District is home to many small businesses that are the foundation of our economy and Congresswoman Comstock will continue to work to make sure our small businesses prosper.

[4]

”
—Barbara Comstock's campaign website

2014

Campaign website

Comstock listed the following priorities on her website:

“ AS YOUR CONGRESSWOMAN, I WILL . . .

Work to repeal and replace ObamaCare which already has caused millions of hardworking Americans to lose their health insurance and have their wellbeing and financial health threatened.

Pass meaningful tax relief for families and small businesses to keep more of your hard earned dollars in your hands and encourage job creation in Northern Virginia.

Protect our national security and protect our defense and national security infrastructure as well as the salaries and retirement of our dedicated military

Protect the U.S. Constitution and stand up for our shared common sense conservative values.[4]

”
—Barbara Comstock, https://web.archive.org/web/20141103191331/http://www.barbaracomstockforcongress.com/issues/

2013

Campaign website

Comstock’s website highlighted the following campaign themes:[6]

  • Creating Jobs = Job #1

Excerpt: "Since being elected in 2009, Delegate Comstock has made Jobs her #1 priority. She has worked with her colleagues to turn a $6 billion deficit into a surplus, without raising taxes. With her help and hard work, Virginia is now one of the best states in the nation to do business- based on factors like average income, cost of living (based on the ACCRA Cost of Living Index), state income take rate and unemployment rate."

  • Transportation: Let's Get Virginia Moving

Excerpt: "Comstock co-patroned the transportation plan which passed the 2011 General Assembly Session. The plan will provide over $4 billion in much needed transportation infrastructure funding over the next three years without raising taxes. This multi-faceted transportation package, which is the single largest infusion of funding in decades, will fund over 900 projects across the Commonwealth, including work on widening Route 7 in Fairfax County and Loudoun County."

  • Education: A Passion For Excellence In Education

Excerpt: "Barbara’s family is a family of educators. ...She understands the sacrifice and commitment made by our teachers and educators who have had their salaries frozen while their classroom sizes and workloads increase."

  • Helping The Disabled Community

Excerpt: "The General Assembly passed legislation to fund the transition of people with serious mental and developmental disabilities from centralized hospital-type settings into community-based care centers. ...However, it is also clear that many families still will need services in an institutional setting. Delegate Comstock believes it is important that families and individuals have these choices to provide for some of the most vulnerable citizens in our community."

  • Quality Of Life

Excerpt: "Delegate Comstock passed a resolution to permanently designate May as Lyme Disease awareness month in Virginia. The resolution was passed by both the House of Delegates and the Senate unanimously and will help to raise awareness about this debilitating disease. Delegate Comstock is committed to helping to ensure that people living in high risk areas know how to protect themselves and their children and get the medical treatments they need."

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2017-2018

At the beginning of the 115th Congress, Comstock was assigned to the following committees:[7]

2015-2016

Comstock served on the following committees:[8]

Virginia House

2014-2015

At the beginning of the 2014 legislative session, Comstock served on the following committees:

Virginia committee assignments, 2014
• Commerce and Labor
• Science and Technology, Chair
• Transportation

2012-2013

During the 2012-2013 legislative session, Comstock served on the following committees:

2010-2011

During the 2010-2011 legislative session, Comstock served on the following committees:

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 115th Congress, 2017-2018

For detailed information about each vote, click here.

Key votes: Previous sessions of Congress

Presidential preference

2016 presidential endorsement

✓ Comstock endorsed Marco Rubio for the Republican primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[90]

See also: Endorsements for Marco Rubio
  • On October 8, 2016, after The Washington Post released a 2005 video of Donald Trump making comments about women that the Post described as "extremely lewd," Comstock called on Trump to step aside as the 2016 Republican nominee for president.[91][92]
See also: Republican reactions to 2005 Trump tape


2012

See also: Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election

Barbara Comstock endorsed Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election.[93]

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Barbara Comstock campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2018U.S. House Virginia District 10Lost general$6,426,218 $6,456,797
2016U.S. House, Virginia District 10Won $5,256,693 N/A**
2014U.S. House (Virginia District 10)Won $3,464,538 N/A**
Grand total$15,147,449 $6,456,797
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Analysis

Lifetime voting record

See also: Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives

According to the website GovTrack, Comstock missed 5 of 532 roll call votes from January 2015 to September 2015. This amounted to 0.9 percent, which was lower than the median of 2.2 percent among representatives as of September 2015.[94]

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Virginia

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Virginia scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].











2013

In 2013, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 9 to February 25.

Legislators are scored based on their voting record on the issue of equality.
Legislators are scored based on their voting record on reproductive issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Legislators are scored by the Family Foundation on their votes on bills related to "principles of life, marriage, parental authority, constitutional government and religious liberty."
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the Second Amendment.
Legislators are scored based on legislation related to business and industry issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental and conservation issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on fifteen bills chosen by the Virginia Tea Party Patriots.


2012

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Barbara and her husband, Elwyn Charles "Chip," have three children, Daniel, Peter and Catharine.[1]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 General Assembly.gov, "Personal Info," accessed March 24, 2014
  2. ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "Barbara Comstock," accessed January 28, 2015
  3. ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "List of Candidates," accessed September 8, 2016
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  5. ↑ Comstock for Congress, "Issues," accessed September 26, 2018
  6. ↑ Comstock for Delegate, "Barbara On The Issues," accessed August 29, 2013
  7. ↑ U.S. House Clerk, "Official Alphabetical List of the House of Representatives of the United States One Hundred Fifteenth Congress," accessed February 2, 2017
  8. ↑ U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Clerk, "Committee Information," accessed February 20, 2015
  9. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 434," accessed December 13, 2018
  10. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 284," June 21, 2018
  11. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 282," June 21, 2018
  12. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 434," accessed March 12, 2019
  13. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 549," October 3, 2017
  14. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 344," June 29, 2017
  15. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 342," June 29, 2017
  16. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 256," May 4, 2017
  17. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 405," September 26, 2018
  18. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 399," September 13, 2018
  19. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 313," June 28, 2018
  20. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 257," June 8, 2018
  21. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 216," May 22, 2018
  22. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 127," March 22, 2018
  23. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 69," February 9, 2018
  24. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 60," February 6, 2018
  25. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 44," January 22, 2018
  26. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 33," January 18, 2018
  27. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 708," December 21, 2017
  28. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 692," December 19, 2017
  29. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 670," December 7, 2017
  30. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 637," November 16, 2017
  31. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 589," October 26, 2017
  32. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 557," October 5, 2017
  33. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 528," September 14, 2017
  34. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 480," September 8, 2017
  35. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 441," September 6, 2017
  36. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 299," June 8, 2017
  37. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 249," May 3, 2017
  38. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 230," May 24, 2018
  39. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 49," January 30, 2018
  40. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 631," November 14, 2017
  41. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 435," July 27, 2017
  42. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 413," July 25, 2017
  43. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 437," July 28, 2017
  44. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 407," July 24, 2017
  45. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 378," July 14, 2017
  46. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 136," March 8, 2017
  47. ↑ Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, First Session of the 113th Congress," accessed April 29, 2015
  48. ↑ Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, Second Session of the 114th Congress," accessed January 5, 2017
  49. ↑ Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, First Session of the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress," April 13, 2015
  50. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 361," June 12, 2015
  51. ↑ Roll Call, "Deadline for TAA Do-Over Vote Extended to July 30 (Updated)," June 15, 2015
  52. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 362," June 12, 2015
  53. ↑ Roll Call, "Deadline for TAA Do-Over Vote Extended to July 30 (Updated)," June 15, 2015
  54. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 374," June 18, 2015
  55. ↑ Politico, "Trade turnaround: House backs new power for Obama," June 18, 2015
  56. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 388," June 24, 2015
  57. ↑ The Hill, "Obama signs trade bills," June 29, 2015
  58. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 239," accessed May 27, 2015
  59. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R. 1735," accessed May 27, 2015
  60. ↑ The Hill, "Redone defense policy bill sails through House," accessed November 12, 2015
  61. ↑ Congress.gov, "S. 1356," accessed November 12, 2015
  62. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 618," accessed November 12, 2015
  63. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to S. 1356)," accessed November 12, 2015
  64. ↑ Congress.gov, "S.Con.Res.11," accessed May 5, 2015
  65. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 183," accessed May 5, 2015
  66. ↑ The Hill, "Republicans pass a budget, flexing power of majority," accessed May 5, 2015
  67. ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 1314 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015," accessed November 1, 2015
  68. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 579," accessed November 1, 2015
  69. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1314)," accessed November 1, 2015
  70. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1191 - Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015," accessed May 16, 2015
  71. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 226," accessed May 16, 2015
  72. ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 3461," accessed September 11, 2015
  73. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 493," accessed September 11, 2015
  74. ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 3460," accessed September 10, 2015
  75. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 494," accessed September 11, 2015
  76. ↑ Congress.gov, "H Res 411," accessed September 10, 2015
  77. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 492," accessed September 10, 2015
  78. ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 597," accessed November 2, 2015
  79. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 576," accessed November 2, 2015
  80. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2048," accessed May 26, 2015
  81. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 224," accessed May 26, 2015
  82. ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 36 - the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," accessed May 16, 2015
  83. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "HR 36," accessed May 16, 2015
  84. ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 1731," accessed November 2, 2015
  85. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 173," accessed November 2, 2015
  86. ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 1560 - Protecting Cyber Networks Act," accessed November 1, 2015
  87. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 170," accessed November 1, 2015
  88. ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 4038 - the American SAFE Act of 2015," accessed November 20, 2015
  89. ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 643," accessed November 20, 2015
  90. ↑ The Washington Post, "Barbara Comstock endorses Marco Rubio," December 16, 2015
  91. ↑ Twitter, "Barbara Comstock," October 8, 2016
  92. ↑ The Washington Post, "Trump recorded having extremely lewd conversation about women in 2005," October 8, 2016
  93. ↑ Mitt Romney for President, "Mitt Romney Announces Virginia Leadership Team," December 29, 2011
  94. ↑ GovTrack, "Rep. Barbara Comstock [R," accessed October 2, 2015]
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