Democratic Party primaries in Virginia, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 15
- Early voting: N/A
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
| Democratic Party primaries, 2018 |
 |
| Primary Date |
| June 12, 2018 |
| Federal elections |
| Democratic primary for U.S. Senate |
| Democratic primaries for U.S. House |
| State elections |
| Democratic primaries for Virginia legislature |
| State party |
| Democratic Party of Virginia |
| State political party revenue |
Primary elections—in which registered voters select a candidate whom they believe should run on their party's ticket in the general election—can reflect internal conflict over the direction of a party.
Heading into the 2018 election, the Democratic Party sought to increase its power at the state and federal levels under the Trump administration. Its membership, however, disagreed on several major policy areas, including healthcare, free trade, education funding, a federal job guarantee, and a proposal to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).[1][2]
Candidates endorsed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee won 31 of 33 primaries in 2018.[3] Democratic Socialists of America member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D) primary victory over incumbent Joseph Crowley (D) in New York's 14th Congressional District was a notable victory for progressive activists.[4][5][6]
Democrats also won a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama for the first time in 30 years and flipped longtime Republican seats in the Wisconsin state Senate and Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District. A record number of Republican congressional retirements also led to large Democratic fields for typically non-competitive seats.[7]
This page focuses on the Democratic primaries that took place in Virginia on June 12, 2018. In addition, the page provides context for understanding the state party apparatus.
Battleground primaries
Battleground elections are those that Ballotpedia expected would either be more competitive than other races or attract significant national attention.
Federal elections
U.S. Senate
Democratic primary candidates- Tim Kaine (Incumbent) ✔
U.S. House
District 1
Democratic primary candidatesDistrict 2
Democratic primary candidatesDistrict 3
Democratic primary candidatesThis primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:
- Robert C. Scott (Incumbent) ✔
District 4
Democratic primary candidates- Aston Donald McEachin (Incumbent) ✔
District 5
Democratic primary candidatesThis primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:
District 6
Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection surveyDistrict 7
Democratic primary candidatesDistrict 8
Democratic primary candidatesThis primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:
- Donald Sternoff Beyer Jr. (Incumbent) ✔
District 9
Democratic primary candidates
District 10
Democratic primary candidatesDistrict 11
Democratic primary candidates- Gerald Edward Connolly (Incumbent) ✔
State elections
Virginia Party Control: 1992-2025
Four years of Democratic trifectas • Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | S | S | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | S | S | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | D | D |
State party overview
- See also: Democratic Party of Virginia
State political party revenue
State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws. The following table displays the Democratic Party of Virginia's revenue over a six-year period from 2011 to 2016. Revenue totals are broken down by account type and year. The data was compiled through publicly available state and federal campaign finance reports.
| Democratic Party of Virginia revenue, 2011 to 2016[9][10] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Federal account | State account(s) | Total |
| 2011 | $1,328,552.29 | $5,408,391.42 | |
| 2012 | $18,623,629.22 | $1,997,302.97 | $20,620,932.19 |
| 2013 | $2,284,936.23 | $9,903,876.69 | $12,188,812.92 |
| 2014 | $4,046,974.89 | $2,335,371.25 | $6,382,346.14 |
| 2015 | $563,203.61 | $9,145,124.58 | $9,708,328.19 |
| 2016 | $11,068,543.20 | $1,956,161.13 | $13,024,704.33 |
Virginia compared to other states
The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following maps display total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican state party affiliates from 2011 to 2016. The blue map displays Democratic state parties and the red map displays Republican state parties. Click on a state below to view the state party's revenue per capita totals:
Total Democratic and Republican state political party revenue per capita in the United States, 2011-2016
Primary election scheduling
Virginia was one of five states to hold a primary election on June 12, 2018.
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Virginia utilizes an open primary process in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[11][12]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Virginia, all polls open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[13]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Virginia, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of Virginia, and at least 18 years of age.[14]
Registration can be completed online, in person at a local voter registration office, or by mail. Voters can also register at the following locations:[14]
| “ |
|
” |
| —Virginia Department of Elections | ||
The deadline to register is the 11th day before a primary or general election, but a voter may register to voter after this deadline through the state's same-day registration system and vote a provisional ballot.[14][16]
Automatic registration
On April 12, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam (D) signed SB219 into law, establishing automatic voter registration for individuals conducting business with the Department of Motor Vehicles.[17]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Virginia has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Virginia allows same-day voter registration in-person at local registrars' offices, satellite early voting sites during the early voting period, and at the precinct on Election Day.[14]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Virginia, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.
Verification of citizenship
Virginia does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who makes a materially false statement may be "sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, or up to 12 months in jail and/or fined up to $2,500."[18]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[19] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
This page, run by the Virginia Department of elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
According to the Virginia Department of Elections website, voters must present identification or sign a statement, subject to felony penalties, that they are the named registered voter who they claim to be. Voters who do not have identification and do not sign a statement must vote a provisional ballot.[20]
The following documents were considered acceptable identification for voting as of October 2025. Click here for the Virginia Department of Elections' page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
- Virginia driver's license, current or expired
- Virginia DMV-issued ID card, current or expired. An electronic version is accepted only if it is through the "Virginia mID" app
- Valid employee ID, containing a photo, issued by the voter's employer (public or private) in ordinary course of business
- U.S. Military ID
- Valid student ID issued by a public or private high school or institution of higher education in Virginia, with or without a photograph. Accepted in electronic form only if it is an officially adopted method of issuing a student ID by the institution.
- Valid U.S. passport or passport card
- ID card issued by the federal government or a state or local government body.
- Voter ID card issued by the Department of Elections
- Voter confirmation documents
- Valid tribal enrollment or ID issued by one of the 11 tribes recognized by Virginia
- Government nursing home resident ID
- Current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck containing the name and address of the voter. The document cannot be more than 12 months old and is acceptable in physical or electronic form.
- Any other current government document containing the name and address of the voter
- Signed ID Confirmation Statement
Early voting
Virginia permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website. Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
All Virginia voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail. There are no special requirements to be eligible to vote absentee/by mail. Voters may request an absentee ballot online or complete a paper absentee ballot request form and return it to their local voter registration office by mail, fax, or email. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. at least 11 days before Election Day.[21][22]
Completed ballots must be returned to the local registrar's office or an official drop off location by 7 p.m. on Election Day. If mailed, completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within three days of the election in order to be counted.[21]
On April 12, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam (D) signed HB1 and SB111 into law, establishing no-excuse absentee voting 45 days prior to an election. The legislation was in effect for the November 3, 2020 election.[17]
On the same day, Northam also signed HB238 and SB455, providing for absentee ballots postmarked on or before the date of an election to be counted if received by noon on the third day after the election.[17]
See also
- Virginia elections, 2018
- Democratic Party of Virginia
- United States Senate election in Virginia (June 12, 2018 Democratic primary)
- United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2018
Footnotes
- ↑ CNN, "Why a 'federal jobs guarantee' is gaining steam with Democrats," April 26, 2018
- ↑ The Atlantic, "What ‘Abolish ICE’ Actually Means," July 11, 2018
- ↑ CNBC, "Despite Ocasio-Cortez upset, Democratic primaries have not gone as far left as some argue," June 28, 2018
- ↑ New York Times, "There Is a Revolution on the Left. Democrats Are Bracing." July 21, 2018
- ↑ New York Times, "Democrats Are Moving Left. Don’t Panic," July 23, 2018
- ↑ Time, "How Democrats in Congress Responded to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Surprise Win," June 28, 2018
- ↑ CNN, "9 Democratic primaries to watch in 2018," October 26, 2017
- ↑ Inside NOVA, "Kaine raises nearly $1.8M over three months in Senate re-election bid," October 6, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Campaign Finance Reports," accessed May 2016 (Search terms Republican Party of Virginia, Inc. and Virginia Democratic Party)
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Candidate and Committee Viewer," accessed May 2016 (Search terms Republican Party of Virginia Inc and Democratic Party of Virginia)
- ↑ NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections,"Casting a Ballot," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Election and Voter FAQ," accessed October 9, 2025
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Virginia Department of Elections, "How to Register," accessed May 3, 2023 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "vareg" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Same-Day Voter Registration," accessed May 12, 2025
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Office of the Governor of Virginia, "Governor Northam Signs Sweeping New Laws to Expand Access to Voting," April 12, 2020
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Virginia Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Voting on Election Day," accessed October 9, 2025
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Virginia Department of Elections, "Absentee and Early Voting," accessed October 4, 2024
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Virginia Absentee Ballot Application Form,"accessed October 7, 2024
