The Story

VIDEO: Democrats Nominate Forgit ('89) to Run for Congress

Nov. 16, 2007 | By Jake Robert Nelson, DSJ Staff Reporter

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Philip Forgit ('89) of Williamsburg, an Iraq naval veteran and local school teacher, won the Democratic nomination for the December 11 special election to fill former First Congressional District Representative Jo Ann Davis' spot in the House of Representatives.

Forgit beat Ted Hontz of Stafford County by 15 delegates at a nominating convention held on Nov. 10 in Williamsburg.

Recent electoral victories for Democratic candidates leave many local Democrats hopeful about the possibility of a Democratic Representative in the First Congressional District. If he wins, Forgit will be the first Democrat in over 20 years to represent the district, which stretches from Hampton and Newport News to Fredericksburg and Fauquier County.
Following Davis' death, a long list of Republican candidates materialized, including her husband, who purportedly wished to finish Davis' work in Congress. As of Oct. 29, the Daily Press reported 22 candidates interested in running under the GOP flag. The Republican party held their convention on the weekend of the 10 and chose Rob Wittman, who has been a delegate to the Virginia General Assembly since 2005.