 In 1993, when Democrat Joan Munford retired from the House of Delegates 12th district seat after six terms, Shuler became the Democratic nominee, and won the seat.The Republican majority substantially redrew the 12th district during the 2001 redistricting.The district, which had been based in Giles and Montgomery Counties, expanded northward to include all of Alleghany, Bath and Craig Counties, as well as the independent cities of Covington and Clifton Forge (which reverted to town status within Alleghany County in 2002); this put 18th district incumbent and fellow Democrat Creigh Deeds in the 12th with Shuler.