Ben Cline

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Ben Cline
BornBenjamin Lee Cline
2/29/1972
BirthplaceStillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, lawyer
Known forU.S. Representative for Virginia's 6th congressional district
EducationBates College (BA)
University of Richmond (JD)
Children2
Websitehttps://cline.house.gov

Benjamin Lee Cline (born February 29, 1972) is an American politician and attorney who's served as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 6th congressional district since January 2019. He's a Republican who spent sixteen years in the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 24th district before moving to Congress. Born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Cline studied at Bates College in Maine and earned his law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law. He worked as an assistant commonwealth's attorney and congressional aide before entering elected office. When Bob Goodlatte retired from Congress, Cline won his seat and now represents a sprawling western Virginia district that includes Harrisonburg, Staunton, Lexington, Lynchburg, and Roanoke. His legislative work has centered on law enforcement, fiscal conservatism, infrastructure, and constitutional issues. Cline belongs to the House Freedom Caucus and has consistently aligned with the conservative wing of his party on spending, immigration, and government oversight matters.

Early Life

Benjamin Lee Cline was born on February 29, 1972, in Stillwater, Oklahoma.[1] Public records don't offer much detail about his parents or early years in Oklahoma. At some point he relocated to Virginia, where his political and legal career would take shape. Growing up as the conservative movement gained momentum in the Republican Party clearly influenced his later work, which emphasized limited government, fiscal discipline, and strong law enforcement support.

His leap day birthday makes him a rarity. It only rolls around every four years on the calendar.

Education

Cline got his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bates College, a private liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine.[2] He then went to the University of Richmond School of Law and earned his Juris Doctor degree.[3] That legal training set him up for work as a prosecutor and the legislative career that followed, both heavily focused on criminal justice and constitutional questions.

Career

Early Legal and Political Career

Before running for office, Cline worked in both law and politics. As an assistant commonwealth's attorney, he handled prosecutorial duties in Virginia's court system. He also spent time as a congressional aide, giving him direct exposure to how the federal legislative process actually works.[4] That combination positioned him well for Virginia state politics.

Virginia House of Delegates (2002–2018)

On November 26, 2002, Cline won election to the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 24th district, taking over the seat from Vance Wilkins, who'd previously been Speaker of the chamber.[5] He held that seat for sixteen years, winning reelection multiple times before heading to Congress in 2018.[6]

During those years in the House of Delegates, Cline became known as one of the more conservative members. He joined the Virginia Conservative Caucus, a group pushing for limited government and fiscal restraint within the General Assembly.[7]

He was prolific. Bills on criminal justice, public safety, property rights, and government transparency flowed from his office throughout his tenure.

Legislative Record

Cline introduced numerous bills across several policy areas. In the 2006 session alone, he sponsored House Bill 1130 and House Bill 1131, both addressing aspects of Virginia law.[8][9]

Early in his tenure, he sponsored House Bill 2231 during the 2003 session.[10] The 2007 session saw House Bill 2456.[11] In 2008 he introduced House Bill 1556.[12]

2009 brought House Bill 2285.[13] He followed that with House Bill 873 in 2010.[14] By 2012 he was introducing House Bill 836,[15] and a year later came House Bill 2103.[16]

Advocacy for Local Issues

Local concerns mattered to him. When the state threatened to close the Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center, Cline fought to keep it open. He gathered roughly 1,700 petition signatures, arguing that closure would hurt both the local economy and Virginia's juvenile justice system since the facility was a major employer in the region.[17]

Awards During State Service

His work on law enforcement issues earned him recognition. The Virginia Sheriffs' Association gave him a service award in acknowledgment of his legislative efforts on public safety and law enforcement.[18]

When Cline left for Congress in 2018, Ronnie Campbell succeeded him in the 24th district.[6]

U.S. House of Representatives (2019–present)

Election to Congress

Bob Goodlatte, who'd held Virginia's 6th district seat for years, announced in 2018 he wouldn't run again. Cline entered the Republican primary, won it, then won the general election. He took office January 3, 2019.[6]

Virginia's 6th district sprawls across western Virginia, covering parts of the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge country. It includes the independent cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Lexington, Lynchburg, and Roanoke, plus surrounding rural counties. Republicans have historically dominated here, and Cline's held the seat through subsequent reelection cycles.

Congressional Tenure

Cline's voting record puts him squarely on the conservative side of the Republican caucus. He's a House Freedom Caucus member pushing for fiscal conservatism, spending cuts, strong law enforcement, border security, and infrastructure improvements for his district.

Interstate 81 gets particular attention from him. That highway cuts straight through the 6th district and is both one of the region's busiest corridors and one of its most dangerous. In February 2026, Cline outlined his approach: widen the road from two lanes to three in critical sections.[19] Adding that third lane would help both freight traffic and commuters.

Redistricting Controversy (2026)

In early 2026, Cline got caught up in a legal battle over redistricting. Virginia Democrats were pushing a referendum scheduled for April 21, 2026. The Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, Cline, and fellow Virginia Republican Congressman Morgan Griffith all challenged it in court. On February 19, 2026, Judge Jack Hurley of Tazewell County issued a temporary restraining order blocking state officials from holding the vote.[20] That put the referendum on hold. The attorney general was expected to appeal. Questions remained about whether the Virginia Supreme Court would weigh in before early voting started.[21]

Immigration and Federal Enforcement Issues

Cline's been vocal about immigration enforcement. In December 2025, he defended federal operations against Venezuelan deportees, saying "the letter of the law" was being followed in boat strikes during enforcement actions.[22]

His stance on immigration generates strong reactions on both sides. In February 2026, protesters gathered outside his Harrisonburg office on Market and Mason streets for a "National Day of Direct Action," calling for the abolition of ICE and impeachment of Trump administration officials.[23] Constituents have also written letters to local papers expressing concerns about his positions on federal enforcement and civil liberties.[24]

2026 Election Cycle

The 2026 race is shaping up. In November 2025, Democratic candidates began announcing their campaigns. Author Beth Macy, who's written extensively about the opioid crisis and other social issues, entered the race, positioning herself as a Cline critic.[25] Multiple Democratic challengers are running.

Personal Life

Cline lives in Virginia's 6th district with his wife and two children.[26] Since he was born on February 29, he only gets a real birthday every four years on the actual calendar date.

Before focusing on elected office full-time, he practiced law in Virginia, drawing on his Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond. That legal background comes through in his legislative work, especially on criminal justice, constitutional law, and property rights.

Recognition

Various organizations have acknowledged his work. While in the Virginia House of Delegates, the Virginia Sheriffs' Association gave him a service award recognizing his efforts on law enforcement and public safety legislation.[27]

Public data on Cline's legislative record comes from the Virginia Public Access Project and the Richmond Sunlight project, both tracking Virginia legislators' activities.[28][6]

Through the Virginia Conservative Caucus and later the House Freedom Caucus, Cline's positioned himself among the more conservative voices in both the Virginia General Assembly and the U.S. House. That's earned him backing from conservative organizations and voters throughout his district.

References

  1. ↑ "Ben Cline Biography". 'Ben Cline official campaign site}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ "Ben Cline Biography". 'Ben Cline official campaign site}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ "Ben Cline Biography". 'Ben Cline official campaign site}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "Ben Cline — Member Biography". 'Virginia Division of Legislative Automated Systems}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Ben Cline — Virginia Public Access Project". 'Virginia Public Access Project}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Ben Cline — Virginia Public Access Project". 'Virginia Public Access Project}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Virginia Conservative Caucus". 'Virginia Conservative Caucus}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "HB 1130 — 2006 Session". 'Virginia Legislative Information System}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "HB 1131 — 2006 Session". 'Virginia Legislative Information System}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "HB 2231 — 2003 Session". 'Virginia Legislative Information System}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "HB 2456 — 2007 Session". 'Virginia Legislative Information System}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "HB 1556 — 2008 Session". 'Virginia Legislative Information System}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "HB 2285 — 2009 Session". 'Virginia Legislative Information System}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "HB 873 — 2010 Session". 'Virginia Legislative Information System}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "HB 836 — 2012 Session". 'Virginia Legislative Information System}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "HB 2103 — 2013 Session". 'Virginia Legislative Information System}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Del. Ben Cline says 1,700 sign petition to keep Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center open". 'WSLS}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Del. Ben Cline receives service award from Virginia Sheriffs' Association".The Daily Progress.http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/del-ben-cline-receives-service-award-from-virginia-sheriffs-association/article_8080bb4f-89b3-5267-aaaf-fa7b0c920881.html?mode=image&photo=0.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "U.S. Rep. Ben Cline talks I-81 improvements".WSLS.2026-02-06.https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2026/02/06/us-rep-ben-cline-talks-i-81-improvements/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Tazewell judge temporarily blocks Democrats' redistricting referendum".VPM.2026-02-19.https://www.vpm.org/generalassembly/2026-02-19/jack-hurley-tazewell-redistricting-restraining-order-rnc-nrcc-cline-griffith.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Republicans score another court win on redistricting. Will this one force Virginia Supreme Court to act faster?".Cardinal News.2026-02-20.https://cardinalnews.org/2026/02/20/republicans-score-another-court-win-on-redistricting-will-this-one-force-virginia-supreme-court-to-act-faster/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "GOP Congressman Ben Cline says the "letter of the law" being followed in Venezuelan boat strikes".WFIR News.2025-12-03.https://wfirnews.com/news/gop-congressman-ben-cline-says-the-letter-of-the-law-being-followed-in-venezuelan-boat-strikes.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Protesters flock to Rep. Cline's office to support abolition of ICE, impeachment of Trump admin officials".The Breeze.2026-02-19.https://www.breezejmu.org/news/protesters-flock-to-rep-cline-s-office-to-support-abolition-of-ice-impeachment-of-trump/article_6c2aa422-919f-4464-868c-d40a5773cf37.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Letter: Ben Cline fails as an American".Daily News-Record.2026-02-19.https://www.dnronline.com/opinion/letters/letter-ben-cline-fails-as-an-american/article_a57b925a-21ea-5828-a460-770b87fedec0.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ Roanoke Rambler Staff,"Beth Macy Enters Race for Congress Blasting Ben Cline and Saying Enough Is Enough".The Roanoke Rambler.2025-11-18.https://www.roanokerambler.com/beth-macy-enters-race-for-congress-blasting-ben-cline-and-saying-enough-is-enough/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Ben Cline Biography". 'Ben Cline official campaign site}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Del. Ben Cline receives service award from Virginia Sheriffs' Association".The Daily Progress.http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/del-ben-cline-receives-service-award-from-virginia-sheriffs-association/article_8080bb4f-89b3-5267-aaaf-fa7b0c920881.html?mode=image&photo=0.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  28. ↑ "Ben Cline — Richmond Sunlight". 'Richmond Sunlight}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
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