Robert Wittman

HRBT backup

On Monday, I left my son’s home in Norfolk at 1 p.m. for what should have been a 20-minute, 10-mile drive to my home in Hampton. Traffic was backed up to Tidewater Drive in Norfolk. When I finally got near the westbound tunnel of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, traffic was being directed into the left lane. Traffic cones blocked the use of the right lane for the entire 1-mile length of the tunnel with no one working on the right lane. Imagine my frustration and irritation for my trip taking more than two-and-a-half hours.

Jack Miller, Hampton

Results

When was the last time you saw a congressman deliver a bridge, a water system and a national defense win in the same year? U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman has.

Since 2007, Wittman has represented Virginia’s 1st District, and his record shows steady, tangible results. He has worked to include $4.4 million in federal funding for the Urbanna Marina Bridge and $3.96 million for the Jamestown Water Mitigation Project in the 2027 fiscal year budget, both approved by the House Appropriations Committee. In Chesterfield County, he helped to deliver $8 million for the Powhite Parkway Extension. As co-chairman of the House Defense Modernization Caucus, he has worked to strengthen the nation’s defense innovation ecosystem through the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act.

Wittman’s work extends beyond infrastructure and defense. He sponsored the House bill that secured federal recognition for six Virginia Native American tribes, and he has spent his career working to protect the Chesapeake Bay. As co-chairman of the House Rural Broadband Caucus, he has pushed to bring high-speed internet to unserved parts of the district. This year, he was named a 2026 Champion of Science by the Science Coalition, jointly nominated by VCU and Old Dominion University. Wittman received a District Excellence Award along with an A+ rating for his voting record in Congress, according to his office.

After nearly two decades in office, I believe Wittman is still bringing home results for the 1st District, from local bridges to national defense priorities.

Virginia’s 1st District deserves a proven, effective voice in Congress.

Marvin Franz, Williamsburg

Silent Rob

As constituents of Virginia’s 1st District, we expect our representative to serve as an independent voice in Washington, putting local needs above party loyalty. Unfortunately, U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman’s record shows a clear pattern of prioritizing party fealty over his constitutional duties and the needs of the people he represents.

Wittman has consistently failed to execute his constitutional obligation to act as a check on both the executive and judicial branches. Article I of the Constitution entrusts Congress with the vital responsibility of oversight.

This lack of conviction is equally evident in his handling of healthcare. Wittman expressed vocal concern about affordable care, yet voted for the “big beautiful bill” that threatened health coverage for thousands. Only after facing intense public backlash did he backpedal, suddenly supporting Affordable Care Act subsidies. Constituents deserve principled representation, not political maneuvering.

​Furthermore, his silence regarding the full release of the Epstein files is deeply concerning. His refusal to speak out on such a critical matter raises serious questions about who he is actually protecting.

​Perhaps most revealing is his absence back home. Wittman has largely avoided holding open, in-person town halls where he must answer directly to unscripted questions from the public. Hiding behind controlled telephone calls and scripted statements is not representation.

Wittman was elected to represent the people of Virginia’s 1st District, not to serve as a rubber stamp for party leadership. It is time for him to step up, face his constituents and fulfill his oath to the Constitution.

Christopher P. Stolz, James City County