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, 04:07, August 21, 2020
{{Officeholder
|name=Barbara Comstock
|image=
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Chip Comstock
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]<ref>[https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/01/19161723/Member-affiliations-for-web.pdf Religious affiliation of members of 115th Congress]</ref>
|offices=
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=Virginia
|district=7th
|terms=January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019
|preceded=Frank Wolf
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Jennifer Wexton]]
}}
{{Officeholder/misc
|office=Member of the [[Virginia]] House of Delegates from the 34th District
|terms=January 13, 2010 – November 10, 2014
|preceded=Margaret Vanderhye
|former=y
|succeeded=Kathleen Murphy
}}
}}
'''Barbara Jean Comstock''' (born June 30, 1959 in Springfield, [[Massachusetts]] (age {{age|1959|6|30}})) is a lobbyist, attorney, and mostly [[conservative]] [[Republican]] who served as a United States representative from 2015 to 2019, representing [[Virginia]]'s 10th congressional district, a mostly urban and affluent area neighboring the [[swamp]]. Comstock previously served in the state's House of Delegates from 2010 to 2014, representing the 34th district.
==Virginia House of Delegates==
In early February 2010, Comstock voted in favor of legislation to expand the application of the [[death penalty]] to accomplices in capital murder sentencings.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/10753/28701/112252/expanding-death-penalty-eligibility-to-accomplices#28701 HB 502 - Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices - Virginia Key Vote]</ref>
In mid-February 2010, Rep. Comstock voted for a bill that would prohibit the government from forcing individuals to buy insurance.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/10746/28657/112252/prohibiting-federal-individual-health-insurance-mandate#28657 SB 283 - Prohibiting Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate - Virginia Key Vote]</ref>
Rep. Comstock voted in late April 2010 to cut funding for public media.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/11428/30559/112252/reducing-funding-for-public-media#30559 HB 1112 - Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement - Virginia Key Vote]</ref>
In early January 2012, Comstock voted to repeal an [[HPV vaccine]] mandate.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/14491/37894/112252/repeals-hpv-vaccine-requirement#37894 HB 1112 - Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement - Virginia Key Vote]</ref>
Comstock voted in early February 2012 to prohibit [[Medicaid]] from funding [[abortion]]s.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/14563/38041/112252/prohibits-state-funding-for-abortion#38041 HB 62 - Prohibits State Funding for Abortion - Virginia Key Vote]</ref> She also voted in mid-February that year in favor of a bill to define human life as beginning from conception.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/14626/38192/112252/defines-life-as-beginning-at-conception#38192 HB 1 - Defines Life as Beginning at Conception - Virginia Key Vote]</ref> In addition, Comstock voted in favor of legislation on March 1, 2012 to require an [[ultrasound]] 24 hours prior to performing abortions.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/14623/38527/112252/requires-an-ultrasound-prior-to-an-abortion#38527 HB 462 - Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion - Virginia Key Vote]</ref>
On March 8, 2012, Rep. Comstock voted in favor of a [[voter ID legislation]].<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/14581/38920/112252/requires-photo-identification-to-vote#38920 SB 1 - Requires Photo Identification to Vote - Virginia Key Vote]</ref>
Comstock co-sponsored legislation in January 2013 that would impose fines for texting while driving.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/16189/42649/112252/increases-fines-for-texting-while-driving#42649 HB 1907 - Increases Fines for Texting While Driving - Virginia Key Vote]</ref>
==U.S. House of Representatives==
===2014 election===
Comstock ran for [[United States House of Representatives]] in the [[2014 Midterm Elections]], defeating [[Democrat]] opponent John Foust by sixteen points in a red wave year despite the race being rated as a "toss up".<ref>[https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2014/house/va/virginia_10th_district_comstock_vs_foust-5132.html Virginia 10th District - Comstock vs. Foust - RealClearPolitics]</ref>
===Obama era===
Rep. Comstock voted in early January 2015 in favor of the [[Keystone XL]].<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/19354/50797/112252/keystone-xl-pipeline-act#50797 HR 3 - Keystone XL Pipeline Act - National Key Vote]</ref>
Comstock co-sponsored legislation in late February 2015 to repeal the [[death tax]].<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/20603/54351/112252/death-tax-repeal-act-of-2015#54351 HR 1105 - Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015 - National Key Vote]</ref>
Rep. Comstock voted in September 2015 to de-fund [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/20434/53875/112252/defund-planned-parenthood-act-of-2015#53875 HR 3134 - Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015 - National Key Vote]</ref>
In early October 2015, Rep. Comstock voted in favor of the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act, legislation that would block the removal of sanctions on [[Iran]] unless the country pays fines over terrorism.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/20470/54004/112252/justice-for-victims-of-iranian-terrorism-act#54004 HR 3457 - Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act - National Key Vote]</ref>
Comstock voted in favor of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/19826/54240/112252/bipartisan-budget-act-of-2015#54240 HR 1314 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 - National Key Vote]</ref>
In early January 2017, Rep. Comstock introduced the INSPIRE Women Act, legislation that would encourage women to pursue [[STEM]] careers.<ref>Two references:
*[https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/321 H.R.321 | Library of Congress]
*[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr321 INSPIRE Women Act - GovTrack.us]</ref> The bill was signed by President Trump into law in late February that year.<ref>[https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-signs-h-r-255-h-r-321-h-j-res-40/ President Donald J. Trump Signs H.R. 255, H.R. 321 and H.J.Res. 40]</ref>
===2016 election===
Comstock endorsed [[Marco Rubio]] for president in December 2015.<ref>[https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/comstock-throws-support-behind-rubio-2016-bid Comstock throws support behind Rubio 2016 bid]</ref> Later in October 2016 by the time [[Donald Trump]] had become the Republican nominee for president, she announced her opposition to him following the release of the Access Hollywood tapes.<ref>https://twitter.com/BarbaraComstock/status/784630360835489792</ref> Despite the fact that Trump lost in [[Virginia]]'s 10th congressional district by ten percentage points in the [[United States presidential election, 2016|presidential election]],{{fact}} Comstock managed to win re-election by just under 6% of the vote.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/map/house/virginia/ 2016 Virginia House Election Results]</ref>
===Trump era===
In late June 2017, Comstock voted in favor of toughening penalties for illegal aliens who commit crimes<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/23129/60053/112252/kates-law#60053 HR 3004 - Kate's Law - National Key Vote]</ref> as well as federally de-funding [[sanctuary cities]].<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/23224/60153/112252/no-sanctuary-for-criminals-act#60153 HR 3003 - No Sanctuary for Criminals Act - National Key Vote]</ref>
Rep. Comstock sponsored a bill on September 7, 2017 to authorize the deportations of any immigrant suspected of gang membership.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/23547/61029/112252/criminal-alien-gang-member-removal-act#61029 HR 3697 - Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act - National Key Vote]</ref>
In early October 2017, Comstock voted for the [[Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act]].<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/23562/61077/112252/pain-capable-unborn-child-protection-act#61077 HR 36 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act - National Key Vote]</ref>
Comstock voted in early November 2017 to repeal the bureaucratic, [[Obamacare]]-installed [[Independent Payment Advisory Board]] (IPAB).<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/24081/61674/112252/protecting-seniors-access-to-medicare-act#61674 HR 849 - Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act - National Key Vote]</ref>
A [[RINO Backer]], Comstock joined the GOP [[establishment]] in opposing [[movement conservative]] [[Roy Moore]] over the 2017 Senate special election in [[Alabama]].<ref>Multiple references:
*[https://time.com/5019681/barbara-comstock-roy-moore-senate/ 'Beyond Disturbing.' Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock Denounces Roy Moore]
*[https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/359840-comstock-calls-on-roy-moore-to-drop-out-of-senate-race Comstock calls on Roy Moore to drop out of Senate race]
*[https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/barbara-comstock-trump-and-rnc-support-for-roy-moore-doesnt-represent-me Barbara Comstock: Trump and RNC support for Roy Moore 'doesn't represent me']
*[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/comstock-opposes-gop-support-for-moore-suggests-hell-face-hill-ethics-probe Comstock opposes GOP support for Moore, suggests he'll face Hill ethics probe]</ref>
Rep. Comstock voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/24168/62174/112252/tax-cuts-and-jobs-act#62174 HR 1 - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act - National Key Vote]</ref>
Comstock has been noted for leading bipartisan efforts to end wasteful, taxpayer-funded torturous animal testing.<ref>[https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/12/republicans-lead-way-ending-taxpayer-funded-animal-torture/ Republicans Lead the Way on Ending Taxpayer-Funded Animal Torture]</ref>
In mid-January 2018, Comstock voted along with all House Republicans as well as six Democrats in favor of the [[Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act]].<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/24356/62250/112252/born-alive-abortion-survivors-protection-act#62250 HR 4712 - Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act - National Key Vote]</ref>
In early February 2018, Comstock voted in favor of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/24370/62287/112252/bipartisan-budget-act-of-2018#62287 HR 1892 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 - National Key Vote]</ref>
In mid-April 2018, Rep. Comstock voted in favor of a resolution to propose a Balanced Budget Amendment to the [[U.S. Constitution]].<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/24510/62659/112252/proposing-a-balanced-budget-amendment-to-the-constitution-of-the-united-states#62659 H J Res 2 - Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution of the United States - National Key Vote]</ref>
Rep. Comstock voted for the First Step Act in late May 2018.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/24637/63047/112252/first-step-act#63047 HR 5682 - FIRST STEP Act - National Key Vote]</ref>
Comstock voted in late June 2018 in favor of bipartisan legislation to appropriate funds related to the [[opioid]] crisis.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/25268/64228/112252/opioid-crisis-response-act-of-2018#64228 HR 6 - Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 - National Key Vote]</ref>
Comstock voted on June 27, 2018 for legislation that would both enact immigration reform and appropriate funds for a southern [[border wall]].<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/24758/63301/112252/border-security-and-immigration-reform-act-of-2018#63301 HR 6136 - Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018 - National Key Vote]</ref>
===2018 election===
Representing an increasingly [[liberal]] district in the D.C. [[swamp]] area, Rep. Comstock faced an uphill battle in her 2018 re-election fight. She ultimately lost the general election to [[Democrat]] opponent [[Jennifer Wexton]] by over 10 percentage points;<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/virginia-house-district-10 Virginia Election Results: 10th House District]</ref> [[President Trump]] noted her lack of embrace towards him as possibly what had led to her defeat.<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/midterm-election/2018/11/07/trump-pins-down-8-republicans-who-resisted-his-help-lost-2018/ Trump Pins Down 8 Republicans Who Resisted His Help and Lost in 2018]</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/15032409529 Comstock, Barbara J. | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives]
*[https://ballotpedia.org/Barbara_Comstock Barbara Comstock - Ballotpedia]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Comstock, Barbara}}
[[Category:Virginia]]
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Moderate Republicans]]
[[Category:RINO Backers]]
[[Category:State Representatives]]
[[Category:114th United States Congress]]
[[Category:115th United States Congress]]