Kilgore Chosen to Lead Virginia House GOP as Gilbert Prepares for Possible Exit

House Republicans on Sunday tapped Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, as their new caucus leader, handing the reins to a seasoned strategist from Southwest Virginia just as the party gears up for a high-stakes election year when each of the chamber’s 100 seats are on the ballot.

Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, succeeds House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, as the head of the GOP caucus. (Photo by Ned Oliver/ Virginia Mercury)

Kilgore’s election comes on the heels of Minority Leader Todd Gilbert’s recent announcement that he was prepared to step aside amid his pursuit of a federal appointment. A former House Speaker and longtime power broker in the General Assembly, Gilbert is under consideration for the U.S. attorney post in Virginia’s Western District.

“I’m honored by the trust my colleagues have placed in me,” Kilgore said following the vote. “We need disciplined leadership, a unified message, and a clear strategy to take back the House. I’m ready to get to work.”

Kilgore, 63, has represented the far southwestern corner of Virginia since 1993 and served as House Majority Leader when Republicans controlled the chamber from 2022 to 2024. He currently serves on the Commerce and Labor, Courts of Justice and Rules committees. His ascent to the caucus’ top job marks a return to frontline leadership, with a mission focused squarely on retaking the House majority later this year.

“We have no time to waste,” he added. “The 2025 elections are around the corner, and we need to operate like a team ready to win. That starts now.”

The vote followed weeks of speculation after Gilbert, 54, told colleagues in May that he might need to step away from elected office “on short notice” if nominated for the federal role. In a statement at the time, he stressed the importance of continuity. “This mission is bigger than any one person — and we’re going to make sure it stays on course,” he said.

On Sunday, Gilbert endorsed Kilgore in a message posted to X, formerly Twitter: “Leading our caucus in various capacities has been the honor of my lifetime. I wish Leader Kilgore all the best and look forward to helping in any way I can.”

House Minority Leader Del. Todd Gilbert at the Virginia State Capitol. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)

Gilbert has represented  what currently is Virginia’s 33rd House District in the Shenandoah Valley since 2006. As Speaker from 2022 to 2024, he helped steer House Republicans through a period of divided government under Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Democratic control of the Senate.

In a statement posted on X Sunday, Youngkin applauded both men.

“Thank you to @cToddGilbert for your years of principled leadership as Speaker and Republican Leader. Your strong voice for common sense has made a lasting positive impact. Big Congratulations to @DelTerryKilgore… Your deep experience will serve Virginians incredibly well as House Republicans lock arms to win and lead.”

Virginia Scope reported that Sunday’s vote followed behind-the-scenes lobbying by several potential contenders, including Dels. Joe McNamara, R-Roanoke County; Kilgore; and Michael Webert, R-Fauquier. Ultimately, only Kilgore and Webert formally pitched their cases to fellow Republicans before the vote. A spokesman for the caucus declined to comment on “internal caucus affairs.”

Though he fell short, Webert expressed support for the outcome, writing on X: “Virginia’s House Republicans are strong with @delterrykilgore at the helm! I’ll be forever grateful for @cToddGilbert leadership and mentorship, but our team is ready to work together and win!”

Kilgore, who holds degrees from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and William & Mary Law School, played a key role in avoiding a leadership clash after the 2021 election by stepping aside in favor of Gilbert, who was elected Speaker and then backed Kilgore’s bid for majority leader. Their mutual support helped maintain internal unity, a dynamic Kilgore now hopes to build on as he charts the GOP’s next steps.

With federal confirmation still pending for Gilbert’s potential nomination, the timeline for his departure remains uncertain. But with Sunday’s vote, Republicans have made clear they’re preparing for every possibility — and positioning themselves for an uphill battle to win back the House majority in November.

by Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury

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