1988Final results
1988 election for Virginia's 1st District
U.S. House · Virginia
Herbert Bateman (R) won with 73.3% of the vote, defeating James S. Ellenson (D) by 46.5 points.
Herbert BatemanRepublican · winner
73.3%135,937
James S. EllensonDemocrat
26.7%49,614
185,573 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1988
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
James S. EllensonHerbert Bateman
$30.5K
Raised by the campaign
$293.1K
$30.3K
Spent by the campaign
$284.7K
$151
Cash on hand
$39.5K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 28, 1988; FEC, through Dec 31, 1988.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1988