Morgan Griffith

Morgan Griffith
Born	Howard Morgan Griffith 15 3, 1958
Birthplace	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	U.S. Representative for Virginia's 9th congressional district; Majority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates
Education	Washington and Lee University (BA, JD)
Spouse(s)	Hilary Davis
Children	3
Website	[[morgangriffith.house.gov morgangriffith.house.gov] Official site]

Howard Morgan Griffith (born March 15, 1958) is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 9th congressional district since 2011. A member of the Republican Party and the Freedom Caucus, Griffith represents a large swath of rural Southwest Virginia, encompassing the New River Valley and the Virginia portion of the Tri-Cities region. Before entering Congress, he built a lengthy career in the Virginia House of Delegates, where he represented the 8th district from 1994 to 2011 and rose to the position of Majority Leader, a role he held for a decade. Griffith first gained national attention in 2010 when he defeated fourteen-term Democratic incumbent Rick Boucher in a race that reflected broader Republican gains during that election cycle. In Congress, he has focused on energy policy, health care, and issues affecting the rural communities of his district. As of the 119th Congress, Griffith serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Early Life

Howard Morgan Griffith was born on March 15, 1958, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Details regarding his parents and upbringing in Philadelphia are limited in publicly available sources. Griffith eventually relocated to Virginia, where he would build both his legal and political careers. He settled in the city of Salem, situated in the Roanoke Valley of western Virginia, which became his long-term home and the base of his political constituency.

Education

Griffith attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he earned both his undergraduate degree and his Juris Doctor (JD) from the Washington and Lee University School of Law. Washington and Lee, one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States, provided Griffith with a foundation in law that would underpin his subsequent career as a practicing attorney and legislator.

Career

Legal Career

Before entering politics full-time, Griffith practiced law in the Salem and Roanoke area of Virginia. He was associated with the law firm Albo & Oblon, LLP, a patent law and intellectual property firm. His legal background, particularly his experience with regulatory and business law, informed his later legislative work on issues related to economic development, health care regulation, and energy policy. Reports indicated that H. Morgan Griffith joined the firm Albo & Oblon in a professional capacity during his career.

Virginia House of Delegates (1994–2011)

Griffith began his political career with his election to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1993, taking office in January 1994. He represented the 8th district, which was centered on his hometown of Salem and included portions of surrounding Roanoke County. He succeeded G. Steven Agee, who went on to a career in the judiciary. Griffith quickly established himself within the Republican caucus of the House of Delegates and earned a reputation as a reliable conservative legislator.

During his tenure in the state legislature, Griffith compiled a voting record that reflected conservative positions on a range of issues. Records from Project Vote Smart document his votes on numerous key issues during his time in the Virginia House of Delegates, including matters related to taxation, social policy, and government regulation. He also introduced legislation at the state level, including House Bill 79 during the 2004 session of the Virginia General Assembly. Legislative records show his participation in floor votes on matters including Senate Bill 660 during the 2004 session.

Majority Leader

In January 2000, Griffith was elected Majority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates, succeeding Richard Cranwell. This position made him one of the most influential Republicans in the state legislature, responsible for managing the legislative agenda and coordinating the Republican caucus on the House floor. He held the Majority Leader position for over a decade, from January 12, 2000, until December 5, 2010, when he resigned to take his seat in the U.S. Congress. He was succeeded as Majority Leader by Kirk Cox, who later served as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Griffith's long tenure as Majority Leader gave him significant influence over the legislative process in Virginia during a period of Republican control of the House of Delegates. His role involved negotiating with the Virginia Senate and governors of both parties, shepherding priority legislation through committee and floor votes, and serving as a public spokesperson for the House Republican caucus. His voting record during this period continued to reflect conservative positions on fiscal, social, and regulatory issues.

The 2007 Virginia House of Delegates elections were a notable test for Griffith's leadership, as Democrats sought to challenge Republican control of the chamber. Griffith and the Republican caucus retained their majority during that cycle.

Upon leaving the House of Delegates, Griffith was succeeded in the 8th district by Greg Habeeb.

U.S. House of Representatives (2011–present)

2010 Election

In 2010, Griffith challenged Rick Boucher, a fourteen-term Democratic incumbent who had represented Virginia's 9th congressional district since 1983. The 9th district covers a vast, predominantly rural area of Southwest Virginia, including coal-producing communities, the New River Valley, and the Virginia side of the Tri-Cities metropolitan area. Boucher had long been considered a strong incumbent, but the 2010 election cycle saw significant Republican gains nationally, driven in part by opposition to the Affordable Care Act and energy policies that were unpopular in coal-dependent regions.

Griffith's campaign focused heavily on energy issues, particularly his opposition to proposed cap-and-trade legislation and environmental regulations that he argued would harm the coal industry and the local economy. He also criticized Boucher's vote in favor of the Affordable Care Act. On election night, Griffith defeated Boucher, ending one of the longest-serving Democratic tenures in the district's history. The result was part of a broader wave that gave Republicans control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Election results for Griffith's races have been documented by the Virginia State Board of Elections.

Tenure in Congress

Griffith took office on January 3, 2011, succeeding Boucher. He became a member of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republican members known for advocating fiscal conservatism and limited government. His committee assignments have included the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, one of the most influential committees in the House, which has jurisdiction over energy policy, health care, telecommunications, and commerce.

Throughout his congressional tenure, Griffith has focused on several policy areas of particular relevance to his district. Energy policy, especially the coal industry and its regulation, has been a central theme of his legislative work. Southwest Virginia's economy has historically been tied to coal mining, and Griffith has been a consistent advocate for policies he argues protect the industry and the jobs it supports. In February 2026, Griffith attended a White House event where he was recognized as a "Champion of Coal," underscoring his long-standing advocacy on energy issues affecting his constituents.

Health care policy has been another area of sustained focus for Griffith, particularly issues affecting rural health care delivery. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health within the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he has presided over hearings on a range of health-related topics. In early 2026, he chaired a hearing examining the prescription drug supply chain, focusing on the roles of various intermediaries in the pharmaceutical distribution system. He also chaired a hearing on improving Medicare payment policies for seniors, a topic of particular concern in his district, which has a significant elderly population and faces challenges in rural health care access.

In February 2026, Griffith invited Marcus Stone, described as a rural health advocate, to accompany him to the State of the Union address, highlighting his focus on rural health care issues.

Legislative Activity

Griffith has introduced legislation on a variety of topics during his time in Congress. In February 2026, he introduced the HEMP Act, a bill aimed at regulating the sale of hemp products. The legislation addressed the growing market for hemp-derived products following the broader legalization of hemp at the federal level and sought to establish regulatory standards for their sale.

Griffith has also been involved in securing federal funding for institutions in his district. In February 2026, he announced $844,824 in grants from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to Virginia Tech for biological chemistry research. He separately announced an additional $419,741 HHS grant to Virginia Tech for biomolecule research.

Redistricting

As a representative of a rural district, Griffith has been affected by and involved in discussions surrounding congressional redistricting in Virginia. In February 2026, a judge in Tazewell County temporarily blocked a redistricting referendum proposed by Democratic legislators. The ruling, issued by Judge Jack Hurley, placed on hold a vote that had been scheduled for April 21, 2026. The case involved legal challenges brought in connection with redistricting efforts, and Griffith was among the Virginia Republican congressmen whose districts were affected by the proposed changes.

Personal Life

Griffith is married to Hilary Davis. The couple has three children. The family resides in Salem, Virginia, which has been Griffith's home base throughout his political career. Griffith has maintained his connection to the Roanoke Valley and wider Southwest Virginia community during his years in both state and federal office.

Recognition

Griffith's long career in Virginia politics has brought him various forms of recognition. His decade-long tenure as Majority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates was one of the longest in recent Virginia history, reflecting his standing within the state Republican Party. His 2010 victory over Rick Boucher, a heavily entrenched incumbent, was noted as one of the significant congressional upsets of that election cycle.

In February 2026, Griffith was invited to the White House for a "Champion of Coal" event, where he was recognized for his advocacy on behalf of the coal industry and coal-producing communities. His elevation to the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Health within the House Energy and Commerce Committee represented a significant advancement in his congressional career, placing him in a position to shape national health care policy.