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Barry Knight
2024 - Present
2026
1
Barry Knight (Republican Party) is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 98. He assumed office on January 10, 2024. His current term ends on January 14, 2026.
Knight (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 98. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source] The Republican primary for this office on June 17, 2025, was canceled.
Biography
Barry Knight was born in Arlington, Virginia. He graduated from Kempsville High School. Knight's career experience includes working as a farmer.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Knight was assigned to the following committees:
2020-2021
Knight was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Knight was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee
- Appropriations Committee
- General Laws Committee
- House Rules Committee
2016 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2016 legislative session, Knight served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2016 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Appropriations |
| • General laws |
| • Rules |
2015 legislative session
In the 2015 legislative session, Knight served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Appropriations |
| • General laws |
| • Rules |
2014 legislative session
In the 2014 legislative session, Knight served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2014 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Appropriations |
| • General laws |
| • Rules |
2012-2013
In the 2012-2013 legislative session, Knight served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2012 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Counties, Cities and Towns |
| • General laws |
| • Rules |
2010-2011
In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Knight served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2010 |
|---|
| • Counties, Cities and Towns |
| • Transportation |
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2025
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2025
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 98
Incumbent Barry Knight and Cheryl Smith are running in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 98 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Barry Knight (R) | |
 | Cheryl Smith (D) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Cheryl Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 98.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Barry Knight advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 98.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2023
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2023
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 98
Incumbent Barry Knight won election in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 98 on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barry Knight (R) | 89.4 | 17,426 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 10.6 | 2,063 | ||
| Total votes: 19,489 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Zachary Coltrain (D)
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Zachary Coltrain advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 98.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Barry Knight advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 98.
Endorsements
Knight received the following endorsements.
2021
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2021
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 81
Incumbent Barry Knight defeated Jeffrey Feld in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 81 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barry Knight (R) | 57.7 | 17,271 |
 | Jeffrey Feld (D) | 41.8 | 12,503 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 161 | ||
| Total votes: 29,935 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jeff Staples (Independent)
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Jeffrey Feld advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 81.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Barry Knight advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 81.
Campaign finance
2019
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2019
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 81
Incumbent Barry Knight defeated Lenard Myers in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 81 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barry Knight (R) | 52.1 | 11,577 |
 | Lenard Myers (D) | 47.7 | 10,607 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 31 | ||
| Total votes: 22,215 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2017
General election
Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2017. All 100 house seats were up for election. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 13, 2017. The filing deadline for primary election candidates was March 30, 2017. The filing deadline for non-party candidates and candidates nominated by methods other than a primary was June 13, 2017.[2] Incumbent Barry Knight (R) defeated Kimberly Tucker (D) in the Virginia House of Delegates District 81 general election.[3]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 81 General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Barry Knight Incumbent |
59.05% | 13,162 | |
| Democratic | Kimberly Tucker | 40.95% | 9,127 | |
| Total Votes | 22,289 | |||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections | ||||
Democratic primary election
Kimberly Tucker defeated Nancy Carothers in the Virginia House of Delegates District 81 Democratic primary.[4]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 81 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Kimberly Tucker |
68.54% | 2,309 |
| Nancy Carothers | 31.46% | 1,060 |
| Total Votes | 3,369 | |
Republican primary election
Incumbent Barry Knight ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 81 Republican primary.[5]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 81 Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Barry Knight Incumbent | ||
2015
Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2015. A primary election was held on June 9, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 26, 2015.[6] Incumbent Barry Knight was unopposed in the Republican primary. Jeff Staples ran as a Green Party candidate. Knight defeated Staples in the general election.[7][8]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 81 General Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Barry Knight Incumbent |
69.6% | 5,429 | |
| Green | Jeff Staples | 30.4% | 2,367 | |
| Total Votes | 7,796 | |||
2013
Knight won re-election in the 2013 election for Virginia House of Delegates District 81. Knight ran unopposed in the June 11th Republican Primary. He was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 5, 2013.[9]
2011
On November 8, 2011, Knight won re-election to District 81 of the Virginia House of Delegates. He was uncontested in the August 23 primary and ran unopposed in the November 8 general election.[10]
2009
In 2009, Knight was re-elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.[11]
| Virginia House of Delegates General Election, District 81 (2009) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Barry Knight (R)
|
12,476 | |||
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2023
Barry Knight did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2021
Barry Knight did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
2019
Barry Knight did not complete Ballotpedia's 2019 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
As of August 2017, Knight's website highlighted the following themes:[12]
| “ |
The Virginia Way If you’re like me, you’re fed up with Washington politics and unelected Washington bureaucrats negatively affecting your way of life. I will put the 81st District ahead of all else. My family arrived on the second set of ships in Virginia, and I’m honored to continue being in the long line of Virginians as my ancestors were. I will do my best to rein in unnecessary regulations and make sure we keep Washington style politics out of Richmond! “I firmly believe the best way to uplift a fellow Virginian is for them to have the ability to have a job, which will solve many of our Commonwealth’s problems.” Agriculture The southern part of the 81st District is home to a vast amount of farmland and rural Virginians. As a hog farmer, I know firsthand the challenges to the community and how to be helpful in Richmond by advocating good legislation and stopping bad legislation. Farmers are the lifeblood of Virginia and I will work hard to ensure the voices of the 81st District are heard in Richmond. The Second Amendment As a gun owner and sportsman, I am a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, and will fight to ensure our rights to bear arms is not infringed on in Richmond. I will oppose any legislation that diminishes these rights and makes you and your family less capable of protecting yourselves. Taxes A rising tide raises all ships! Low taxes allow Virginians to have more money in their pockets to stimulate and grow the economy. I believe the citizens know how to spend their money better than the state, and I will work to lower taxes for the Commonwealth. It is our responsibility to all Virginians to balance the budget and be fiscally responsible. Education Education for our youth is an investment in the future, and it is necessary to have a public education system that is set up for the student. Teachers must be held accountable in the classroom, and I encourage parental involvement in the entire process. I will make sure more tax dollars will be spent in the classroom and not on things that do not provide a learning atmosphere. Parents should have a say in the process, and a way to place their child in a prosperous school, not being forced to attend a failing school because of the zip code they live in. I will make sure college education is affordable, and also provide vocational paths for those that do not want to attend college and want to learn a trade. Students must be career ready when leaving the educational field. [13] |
” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Virginia scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 10 to March 9. Special sessions occurred May 13, 2024; June 18 to July 1; and July 18, 2024.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 11 to February 25.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 12 to March 12.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 13 to February 8.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 12. A special session was held from August 18 to November 9.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 9 through February 24.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 10 through March 10. Special sessions were held from April 11 to May 30 and from August 30 to October 30.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 11 through February 25.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 13 through March 11.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 14 to February 28, 2015.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 8 through March 10.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 9 to February 25.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Virginia General Assembly was in regular session from January 11 to March 10.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Knight and his wife, Paula, have three children.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
|
Officeholder Virginia House of Delegates District 98 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Virginia General Assembly, "Delegate Barry D. Knight," accessed January 8, 2024
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Candidacy Requirements for the November 7, 2017 General Election," accessed March 21, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 November General Unofficial Results," accessed November 7, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 June Democratic Primary," accessed July 6, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 June Republican Primary," accessed July 6, 2017
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, "2015 Primary election results," accessed September 1, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, "2015 General election candidates," accessed September 1, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, “Official Results - 2013 General Election," accessed December 2, 2013
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "November 2011 General Election Official Results," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Virginia House of Delegates 2009 General Election Results," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ barrydknight.com, "Issues," accessed August 30, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Keith Hodges (R) |
Virginia House of Delegates District 98 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Virginia House of Delegates District 81 2010-2024 |
Succeeded by Delores McQuinn (D) |
