Representative Victor F. Snyder

Victor Frederick Snyder (born September 27, 1947) is an American physician, lawyer, and politician who represented Arkansas’s 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1997, to January 3, 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he served seven consecutive terms in Congress and contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in modern American history. Before entering public office, Snyder served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of corporal, and later built professional careers in both medicine and law.

Snyder was born in Medford, Oregon, and came of age during the era of the Vietnam War. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served on active duty during that conflict, an experience that would later inform his views on military and veterans’ issues. Following his military service, he returned to civilian life and pursued higher education, laying the groundwork for his subsequent work in the medical and legal professions as well as in public service.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Snyder attended medical school and trained as a physician. He later earned a law degree, adding legal expertise to his medical background. This dual professional training as a physician and lawyer gave him a distinctive perspective on health care policy, regulatory issues, and the intersection of law and medicine. Prior to his election to Congress, Snyder practiced medicine and law, experiences that helped shape his approach to constituent services and legislative priorities once he entered elective office.

Snyder was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996 as a Democrat from Arkansas’s 2nd congressional district, which includes the state capital of Little Rock and surrounding areas. He took office on January 3, 1997, and was subsequently reelected in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008, serving a total of seven terms. During his tenure, he participated actively in the democratic process, representing the interests of his constituents in central Arkansas and engaging in national debates on domestic and foreign policy. His service in Congress coincided with major events such as the late-1990s economic expansion, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the financial crisis of 2008, placing him at the center of consequential legislative decisions.

As a member of the House of Representatives, Snyder worked within the Democratic caucus on issues that reflected both his professional background and the needs of his district. His experience as a Marine veteran informed his attention to military and veterans’ affairs, while his medical training contributed to his engagement with health care policy and public health matters. He also took part in broader party activities; during the 2008 presidential campaign, in keeping with many Arkansas Democrats, Snyder endorsed former U.S. Senator and former First Lady of Arkansas Hillary Clinton of New York for President, underscoring his ties to the state’s Democratic establishment.

On January 15, 2010, Snyder announced that he would retire from Congress at the conclusion of his term, which ended in January 2011. His decision came during a challenging political climate for Democrats nationally and in Arkansas. That same day, a SurveyUSA poll was released showing Snyder trailing his Republican challenger, Tim Griffin, by 17 points, although the poll was conducted early in the election cycle. Snyder chose not to seek reelection, thereby concluding fourteen years of continuous service in the House of Representatives.

Following his departure from Congress, Snyder remained recognized for his combined record of military service, professional achievement in medicine and law, and long tenure in public office. His career has been noted in various public and professional forums, including listings among Kappa Sigma’s notable alumni and appearances on C‑SPAN, as well as profiles in nonpartisan political information resources. Through his years in the Marine Corps, his work as a physician and lawyer, and his seven terms representing Arkansas’s 2nd congressional district, Victor F. Snyder established a multifaceted record of service in both civilian and public life.