Thomas C. Wright

Thomas C. "Tommy" Wright Jr. (born April 27, 1948) is an American politician and grocer. Since 2001 he has served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 50th district in the Southside Virginia counties of Amelia, Cumberland, Mecklenburg and Nottoway, plus part of Lunenburg County. He is a member of the Republican Party.^[1]

Thomas C. Wright
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2001
Preceded by	Frank Ruff
Constituency	61st district (2001–2024) 50th district (2024–present)
Personal details
Born	(1948-04-27) April 27, 1948 (age 77) Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Frances Rose Abernathy
Children	Thomas III, Briggs
Residence	Victoria, Virginia
Alma mater	Old Dominion University
Occupation	Grocer
Committees	Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources; General Laws; Militia, Police and Public Safety

Wright has served on the House committees on Agriculture (2001), Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (2002–), Claims (2001), Conservation and Natural Resources (2001), Counties, Cities and Towns (2001), General Laws (2002–), Militia and Police (2001), and Militia, Police and Public Safety (2002–).^[2]

Early life, education

Wright was born in Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from Victoria High School in 1966, and received a B.A. degree in political science from Old Dominion University in 1970.^[1]

Electoral history

Wright was elected to the Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors in 1993 and 1997. He served as chairman 1995–1997.^[1]

State Senator Richard J. Holland died on April 16, 2000.^[3] He was succeeded in office by 61st district Delegate Frank Ruff, who won a special election on November 7, 2000.^[4] Wright received the Republican nomination to replace Ruff, and won the seat in another special election on December 19.^[5]

Wright voted against a bill to eliminate a law banning sexual intercourse before marriage in the 2020 legislative session. The bill passed 91–5 with bipartisan support in the house.^[6]

Date	Election	Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Virginia House of Delegates, 61st district
Dec 19, 2000[5]	Special	T C Wright Jr	Republican	5,097	54.77
		F W Bacon	Democratic	4,205	45.18
		Write Ins		5	0.05
		Frank Ruff was elected to the Senate; seat stayed Republican
Nov 6, 2001[7]	General	T C Wright Jr	Republican	10,529	59.64
		W E Keel	Democratic	7,118	40.32
		Write Ins		8	0.05
Nov 4, 2003[8]	General	T C Wright Jr	Republican	9,975	99.65
		Write Ins		35	0.35
Nov 8, 2005[9]	General	T C Wright Jr	Republican	12,542	99.39
		Write Ins		77	0.61
Nov 6, 2007[10]	General	Thomas C. Wright Jr.	Republican	14,279	99.58
		Write Ins		60	0.41
Nov 3, 2009[11]	General	Thomas C. Wright Jr.	Republican	14,766	99.26
		Write Ins		109	0.73
Nov 8, 2011[12]	General	Thomas C. Wright Jr.	Republican	15,578	99.31
		Write Ins		107	0.68