Terry Kilgore

Terry Gene Kilgore (born August 23, 1961) is an American attorney and politician. A Republican, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1993, and became chair of the Commerce and Labor committee in 2008. He currently represents the 45th district in the far southwestern corner of the state, near Cumberland Gap.^[update][1]

Terry Kilgore
Kilgore in 2023
Minority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates
Incumbent
Assumed office June 1, 2025
Preceded by	Todd Gilbert
Majority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office January 12, 2022 – January 10, 2024
Preceded by	Charniele Herring
Succeeded by	Charniele Herring
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Incumbent
Assumed office January 12, 1994
Preceded by	Ford C. Quillen
Constituency	1st district (1994–2024) 45th district (2024–present)
Personal details
Born	Terry Gene Kilgore (1961-08-23) August 23, 1961 (age 63) Kingsport, Tennessee, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Debbie Wright
Relations	Jerry Kilgore (brother)
Education	Clinch Valley College (BA) College of William and Mary (JD)

Early life and education

Kilgore graduated with a B.A. from the University of Virginia's College at Wise, previously named Clinch Valley College, and a J.D. from the College of William & Mary's School of Law.

Kilgore with Governor Glenn Youngkin and his wife, Suzanne

Political career

Following the 2019 elections in which Republicans lost their majority in the Virginia House of Delegates, Kilgore sought the minority leader position. Republicans regained control of the House of Delegates in 2021.^[2]

Kilgore was elected as minority leader in June 2025.^[3]

Personal life

Kilgore's twin brother, Jerry, was Attorney General of Virginia 2002–2005, and was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia in 2005, losing to Tim Kaine. Kilgore's mother, Willie Mae Kilgore, was the registrar of voters in Kilgore's home jurisdiction, Scott County, until December 2008.^[4] He has two children.

Electoral history

Date	Election	Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Virginia House of Delegates, 1st district
Nov 2, 1993[5]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	10,882	57.13
		George F. Cridlin	Democratic	8,162	42.85
		Write Ins		3	0.02
		Ford C. Quillen retired; seat switched from Democratic to Republican
Nov 7, 1995[6]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	13,909	99.91
		Write Ins		12	0.09
Nov 4, 1997[7]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	12,130	72.06
		Jerry D. Taylor	Democratic	4,703	27.94
Nov 2, 1999[8]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	13,983	99.91
		Write Ins		13	0.09
Nov 6, 2001[9]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	12,777	99.87
		Write Ins		16	0.13
Nov 4, 2003[10]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	14,279	99.91
		Write Ins		13	0.09
Nov 8, 2005[11]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	14,194	68.74
		Rex E. McCarty	Democratic	6,445	31.21
		Write Ins		9	0.04
Nov 6, 2007[12]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	14,374	72.30
		Jerry D. Taylor	Democratic	5,491	27.62
		Write Ins		14	0.07
Nov 3, 2009[13]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	13,098	98.92
		Write Ins		142	1.07
Nov 8, 2011[14]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	16,465	98.64
		Write Ins		226	1.35
Nov 5, 2013[15]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	14,330	98.3
		Write Ins		253	1.7
Nov 3, 2015[16]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	16,716	98.4
		Write Ins		271	1.6
Nov 7, 2017[17]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	14,848	76
		Alicia D. Kallen	Democratic	4,639	23.8
		Write Ins		42	0.2
Nov 5, 2019[18]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	16,747	96.41
		Write Ins		623	3.59
Nov 2, 2021[19]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	21,910	97.3
		Write Ins		602	2.7
Virginia House of Delegates, 45th district
Nov 7, 2023[20]	General	Terry G. Kilgore	Republican	14,815	97.7
		Write Ins		353	2.3