Virgil Goode Biography Quotes 21 Report mistakes

Early Life and Education
Virgil Hamlin Goode Jr. was born on October 17, 1946, in Richmond, Virginia, and grew up in Franklin County, where the culture of small-town courthouses and civic duty shaped his outlook. His father, Virgil H. Goode Sr., a longtime Commonwealth's Attorney in Franklin County, was an influential presence, modeling a blend of legal rigor and community service that the son would carry into his own career. Goode attended the University of Virginia, earning a bachelor's degree in 1969, and completed a law degree at the University of Virginia School of Law in 1973. After admission to the bar, he practiced law in Rocky Mount, developing the local ties and constituent focus that would later become hallmarks of his public life.

Entry into Public Service
Goode's path into politics grew naturally from his legal practice and his father's example. He won election to the Virginia State Senate in 1973, beginning a long tenure that placed him among the most recognizable legislators from Southside and central Virginia. Early on, he cultivated a reputation as an attentive advocate for farmers, small businesses, and courthouse communities. He was a socially conservative Democrat at a time when party coalitions in Virginia were in flux, and he became known for independence on high-profile votes, a trait that would later define his congressional career.

Virginia State Senate (1973–1997)
During nearly a quarter century in the Virginia Senate, Goode developed deep relationships with local officials and civic leaders while working with governors of both parties. He prioritized issues closely tied to his region: agricultural and tobacco policy, economic development in rural areas, transportation links for small towns, and law-and-order measures. Even as statewide politics changed, he maintained a solid base among constituents who valued his accessibility and his insistence on representing their preferences, whether or not they aligned with party leadership.

U.S. House of Representatives (1997–2009)
In 1996, Goode won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th Congressional District, succeeding L. F. Payne. He arrived in Washington as a Democrat but quickly distinguished himself with votes and positions that frequently crossed party lines. He supported the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1998, a decision that drew national attention and underscored his willingness to diverge from his caucus. By 2000 he had left the Democratic Party to sit as an independent, and in 2002 he became a Republican. Over multiple terms, he focused on constituent services and regional needs, frequently emphasizing infrastructure, water and sewer upgrades, veterans services, and economic initiatives to stabilize communities affected by shifts in manufacturing and tobacco. He served on the House Appropriations Committee, leveraging that position to advocate for projects across his district.

Political Positions and Style
Goode's record reflected a blend of regional pragmatism and social conservatism. He consistently supported gun rights and was outspokenly anti-abortion. He emphasized fiscal restraint and was a strong critic of illegal immigration, aligning himself with legislative efforts to tighten enforcement and promote workplace verification. He also supported the idea of English as a unifying official language. While he forged alliances with Republican leaders and supported many priorities of President George W. Bush, he retained a characteristic emphasis on localized problem-solving. Constituents encountered a hands-on lawmaker who placed casework and district visits at the center of his approach, even as his national profile rose through contentious votes.

Elections and the 2008 Defeat
Goode won reelection repeatedly through the early and mid-2000s, often with comfortable margins rooted in his personal popularity. In 2008, however, amid shifting national currents and a strong challenge, he faced Democrat Tom Perriello. The contest turned into one of the closest in the country, with heavy attention from both parties. After the canvass and recount process, Goode conceded a narrow defeat. The outcome ended his twelve-year tenure in Congress and marked a generational and partisan shift in a district long accustomed to his name on the ballot.

2012 Presidential Campaign
After leaving Congress, Goode gravitated toward a third-party platform that reflected the issues he had emphasized for years, particularly immigration enforcement, balanced budgets, and congressional term limits. In 2012 he sought and won the Constitution Party's presidential nomination. He selected Jim Clymer, a longtime Constitution Party leader, as his running mate. On ballots alongside President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney, Goode ran a campaign centered on strict constitutionalism, reduced federal spending, and limits on executive power. While he received a small share of the national vote, his candidacy showcased the depth of his convictions and his willingness to depart from major-party orthodoxy.

Later Activities and Legacy
In the years following the 2012 race, Goode remained active in public debates, particularly on immigration and federal spending. He engaged with grassroots groups, spoke at conservative and constitutionalist gatherings, and maintained an active presence in Virginia civic life. Though party labels defined different chapters of his career, Democrat, independent, Republican, and third-party nominee, his trajectory reveals a consistent thread: a focus on the priorities of rural and small-town constituents who expected him to reflect their views in Richmond and Washington.

Personal Context and Influences
The enduring influence of Virgil H. Goode Sr. framed much of the son's orientation to public service: law as a civic calling, and elected office as a means to solve local problems. Along the way, key figures shaped the course of Virgil Goode Jr.'s career. L. F. Payne's retirement opened the door to his congressional service; President Bill Clinton's impeachment vote tested and revealed his independence; President George W. Bush's agenda provided areas of alignment as he settled into the Republican caucus; Tom Perriello's 2008 campaign marked a definitive turning point; and Jim Clymer's partnership in 2012 symbolized his full embrace of an outsider platform. Through these chapters, Goode's biography reflects late-20th- and early-21st-century realignments in Southern politics and the persistence of place-based representation as a guiding force in American public life.

Our collection contains 21 quotes who is written by Virgil, under the main topics: Justice - Freedom - Military & Soldier - Honesty & Integrity - Human Rights.