The 9th is Virginia's second-largest district in area, covering 9,113.87[4][5] square miles (slightly larger than the whole state of New Jersey).

[3] The Ninth was the most competitive Virginia congressional district in the early 20th century, when the state was part of the Solid South.

The 9th is the only district in Virginia that cast more votes for Hillary Clinton than Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary.

Voters in the 9th district supported McCain over Obama in the general election, despite reelecting Democratic Congressman Rick Boucher.

Boucher's support for the American Clean Energy and Security Act, or Cap and Trade was unpopular in the district.