Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2021
 |
Governor • Lt. Gov • Attorney General • State executive offices • State House • Special state legislative • Local ballot measures • Municipal • How to run for office |
 |
|
2023 →
← 2019
|
|
| 2021 Virginia House Elections | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | November 2, 2021 |
| Past Election Results |
| 2019・2017・2015・2013 2011・2009・2007 |
| 2021 Elections | |
|---|---|
| Choose a chamber below: | |
Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2021. The primary was on June 8, 2021, and the general election was on November 2. Party committees could also choose to hold conventions instead of primaries. Those conventions were held throughout the spring of 2021. The filing deadline for primary candidates was March 25, 2021.[1]
Republicans won 52 races and Democrats won 48. Republicans flipped seven seats, one more than the six needed to give them control of the chamber. Democrats would have needed to hold at least 51 seats to maintain their majority. On November 16, Alex Askew (D) in District 85 and Martha Mugler (D) in District 91 announced they would request a recount, and both filed court petitions for recounts on November 17.[2][3] Officials declared Karen Greenhalgh (R) the District 85 winner on December 3, and Aijalon Cordoza (R) the District 91 winner on December 8.[4][5] With the recounts completed, Republicans secured a 52-48 majority in the House after the 2021 election.
All 100 seats were up for election, and, heading into the election, Democrats held a 55-seat majority to Republicans' 45 seats. This was the first election cycle since 1999 with Democrats defending a majority in the House. Democrats won control in the 2019 elections after Republicans had controlled the chamber since 2000.
The outcome of these elections, in addition to the state's gubernatorial election, also determined Virginia's trifecta status. Virginia became a Democratic trifecta in 2019 for the first time since 1994. Republicans won control of the House and the governorship in 2021, ending Democrats' trifecta control of the state.
Five of the ten preceding elections in the chamber saw net shifts of six seats or more: twice in Republicans' favor and three times in Democrats'. On average, 6.6 seats shifted control per election cycle during that same time frame. During Donald Trump's (R) presidency, Republicans lost 21 net seats (21% of the chamber) in the House, the most in any state legislative chamber in the country.[6]
Ballotpedia identified 25 of the races as battlegrounds. Democrats held 19 of the battleground districts and Republicans held six. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could possibly lead to shifts in a chamber's partisan balance.
Commentators described the House of Delegates elections as a gauge of political sentiment following Joe Biden's (D) election as president in 2020.[7][6][8][9] The presidential election winner's party lost seats in the House of Delegates in five of the seven state election years following a presidential election between 1993 and 2017.
The House of Delegates was one of three state legislative chambers with elections in 2021. Redistricting in Virginia after the 2020 census will not affect this election, which will be held using districts drawn after the 2010 census.
On this page you will find:
- A list of candidates by district
- A list of incumbents who did not advance to the general election
- The process to become a candidate in Virginia
- Campaign finance information by district
- Virginia's political history
- Voter information, including poll times and registration requirements
- Major events regarding redistricting in Virginia following the 2020 census
Election updates
- 8:00 p.m. E.T. December 8: A panel of three circuit court judges declared Aijalon Cordoza (R) the winner in the District 91, meaning that Republicans won a 52-48 majority in the House.
- 2:00 p.m. E.T. December 3: Karen Greenhalgh (R) was declared the winner in the District 85 race.
- 8:00 p.m. E.T. November 30: Virginia Beach Deputy Registrar Christine Lewis said the recount for District 85 would begin December 2.
- 6:00 p.m. E.T. November 17: Alex Askew (D) in District 85 and Martha Mugler (D) in District 91 filed court petitions requesting recounts.
- 6:00 p.m. E.T. November 16: Certified results showed Republicans winning 52 seats, but Democratic candidates in District 85 and District 91 announced they would request a recount.
- 4:00 p.m. E.T. November 15: Forty-eight seats called for Democrats, 50 called for Republicans. Two races remain uncalled in the following districts: District 85 and District 91.
- 2:00 p.m. E.T. November 11: Forty-eight seats called for Democrats, 50 called for Republicans.
- 2:00 p.m. E.T. November 10: Forty-seven seats called for Democrats, 50 called for Republicans. Three races remain uncalled in the following districts: District 21, District 85, and District 91.
- 4:00 p.m. E.T. November 8: Forty-seven seats called for Democrats, 50 called for Republicans.
- 4:00 p.m. E.T. November 3: Forty-six seats called for Democrats, 50 called for Republicans.
- 5:00 a.m. E.T. November 3: Forty-five seats called for Democrats, 45 called for Republicans.
- 4:00 a.m. E.T. November 3: Forty-five seats called for Democrats, 45 called for Republicans.
- 3:00 a.m. E.T. November 3: Forty-five seats called for Democrats, 45 called for Republicans.
- 2:00 a.m. E.T. November 3: Forty-two seats called for Democrats, 44 called for Republicans.
- 1:00 a.m. E.T. November 3: Thirty-seven seats called for Democrats, 38 called for Republicans.
- 12:00 a.m. E.T. November 3: Thirty-four seats called for Democrats, 36 called for Republicans.
- 11:00 p.m. E.T. November 2: Twenty-seven seats called for Democrats, 33 called for Republicans.
- 10:00 p.m. E.T. November 2: Nineteen seats called for Democrats, 32 called for Republicans.
- 7:00 p.m. E.T. November 2: Polls closed.
What happens if the Virginia House is split 50-50?
In the event of a tied chamber, the House would vote on a power-sharing agreement and the Clerk of the House would preside over the vote for a speaker. Any tie vote in the chamber would reject any agreement, speaker, or legislation.[10]
In 1998, the chamber was split 50-50. Delegates adopted a power-sharing agreement by a 90-2 vote. This agreement left a Democrat as speaker but required the speaker to consult Republican leadership for committee assignments and committee membership was expanded. Committees had co-chairs from each party that rotated chair duties.[10]
Recount laws in Virginia
An election recount is a process by which votes cast in an election are re-tabulated to verify the accuracy of the original results. Recounts typically occur in the event of a close margin of victory, following accusations of election fraud, or due to the possibility of administrative errors. Recounts can either occur automatically or be requested by a candidate or voters.
Summary of recount laws
The list below shows answers to common questions regarding recounts in Virginia.[11]
- Does state law require automatic recounts?
- No.
- When must an automatic recount be completed?
- There are no automatic recounts in this state.
- Can a recount be requested?
- Yes, the recount can be requested within ten days after certification except that presidential election recounts must be requested within two days after the certification. Required margins vary between candidates on the ballot, write-in candidates, and ballot measures, as described below. There is no deadline for completion except that a presidential election recount must be completed no later than six days before the meeting of the Electoral College.
- Who pays for a requested recount?
- Varies. The state pays for candidate-requested recounts where the margin between the requester and the winning candidate is less than or equal to 0.5% of the votes cast for the two candidates. For any other candidate-requested recount and all voter-requested recounts, the requester pays.
- Is a refund available for requested recount costs?
- Yes. Costs paid by the requester are refunded if the recount changes the election outcome.
- Can a partial recount be requested?
- No.
Virginia recount procedures
Automatic recount procedures
Virginia does not require automatic recounts.
Requested recount procedures
Candidate-requested recounts
A candidate may request a recount of his or her race under the following circumstances:[12]
- Candidate whose name appeared on the ballot: if the margin between the requester and the winning candidate is less than or equal to 1% of the total votes cast for the two candidates.
- Write-in candidate: if the margin between the write-in requester and the winning candidate is less than or equal to 5% of the total votes cast for the two candidates.
The state covers the cost of a recount if the margin between the requester and the winning candidate is less than or equal to 0.5% of the total votes cast for the two candidates.[13]
Voter-requested recounts
A group of 50 or more voters may request a recount for a ballot measure if the margin between those for and those against the measure is either less than or equal to 50 votes or 1% of the total votes cast on the measure, whichever is greater.[12]
The state does not cover the cost of any voter-requested recount.
All recounts
In instances where the cost of the recount is not covered by the state, the requester is responsible for costs associated with the recount. If the recount changes the outcome of the election, the requester is refunded.[13]
The deadline to request a recount for any election other than the election of presidential electors is no later than 10 days after the certification of results. There is no set deadline for the competition of these requested recounts.[14]
The deadline to request a recount for the election of presidential electors no later than 5:00 p.m. on the second calendar day after the certification of results. Such a recount must be completed at least six days before the meeting of the Electoral College.[15]
For more information about recount procedures in Virginia, click here.
2021 battleground chamber
- See also: 2021 battlegrounds
Battlegrounds are elections that Ballotpedia expects to have a meaningful effect on the balance of power in governments or to be particularly competitive or compelling. The Virginia House of Delegates elections were among 69 battleground primaries and general elections Ballotpedia was tracking in the 2021 cycle. This figure includes 11 state-level battlegrounds, 44 municipal battlegrounds, and 12 battleground elections for federal office. Click here for more information on battlegrounds.
What was at stake?
- In 2019, Democrats won control of the chamber with a 55-45 majority. Republicans needed to gain six seats to take control of the chamber in 2021. Democrats needed to hold at least 51 seats to maintain their majority.
- The outcome of these elections, in addition to the state's 2021 gubernatorial election, also determined Virginia's trifecta status. Virginia became a Democratic trifecta in 2019 for the first time since 1994. Republicans won control of the House and the governorship, meaning they broke Democrats' trifecta control of the state.
Why was it a battleground?
- Seats needed to change control: Republicans needed to flip six of the 100 seats up for election (6% of the chamber) in order to win control of the House.
- Seats decided by 10% or less in 2019: In the 2019 elections, 29 races (29% of the chamber) were decided by margins of 10% or smaller.
- Seats that changed control in 2019: In the 2019 elections, six of the 100 seats up (6% of the chamber) changed partisan control.
- 2019 battleground chamber: The Virginia House of Delegates was a battleground chamber in 2019. That year, Democrats gained six seats from Republicans. Read more about the 2019 elections here.
Candidates
General election candidates
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection
Primary election candidates
Battleground races
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia identified 25 battleground races in the 2021 Virginia House of Delegates elections. Nineteen were in Democrat-held districts, and six were in Republican-held districts. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could possibly have led to shifts in a chamber's partisan balance.
To determine state legislative battleground races in 2021, Ballotpedia looked for races that fit one or more of the four factors listed below:
- In the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2020 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2020 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the incumbent is not on the ballot this year.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2020 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and that presidential candidate won the district by a margin of 20 percentage points or more.
- The district is targeted by a major party campaign committee.
Battleground races map
Races targeted by the DLCC and RSLC
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
This chart lists each Virginia House of Delegates district that the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) announced it would target in 2021.[16] Also included are the margins of victory for each seat in the 2019, 2017, and 2015 elections.
| Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) target districts, 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Incumbent | Winner | 2019 Margin | 2017 Margin | 2015 Margin |
| District 10 | Wendy Gooditis | TBD | D+4.7 | D+3.9 | R+24.2 |
| District 12 | Chris Hurst | TBD | D+7.2 | D+8.8 | R+16.8 |
| District 13 | Danica Roem | TBD | D+12 | D+7.8 | R+12.2 |
| District 21 | Kelly Convirs-Fowler | TBD | D+9.2 | D+5.2 | R+13.8 |
| District 28 | Joshua Cole | TBD | D+4 | D+0.4 | R+21 |
| District 31 | Elizabeth Guzman | TBD | D+5.4 | D+9.8 | R+6.8 |
| District 40 | Dan Helmer | TBD | D+4.8 | R+0.4 | R+30.6 |
| District 50 | Lee Carter | TBD | D+6.8 | D+8.8 | R+17.6 |
| District 51 | Hala Ayala | TBD | D+9.3 | D+6.2 | -[17] |
| District 63 | Lashrecse Aird | TBD | D+10.7 | - | - |
| District 66 | Kirk Cox | TBD | R+4.7 | R+27 | - |
| District 68 | Dawn Adams | TBD | D+9.3 | D+0.8 | R+24.5 |
| District 72 | Schuyler VanValkenburg | TBD | D+6.7 | D+5.6 | - |
| District 73 | Rodney Willett | TBD | D+4.5 | D+1.2 | - |
| District 75 | Roz Tyler | TBD | D+1.1 | - | - |
| District 81 | Barry Knight | TBD | R+4.4 | R+18.1 | R+39.2 |
| District 83 | Nancy Guy | TBD | D+0.2 | R+13.4 | - |
| District 84 | Glenn Davis | TBD | R+2.5 | R+3.6 | - |
| District 85 | Alex Askew | TBD | D+3.4 | D+1.6 | - |
| District 91 | Martha Mugler | TBD | D+9.7 | R+12.6 | - |
| District 93 | Michael P. Mullin | TBD | D+11.5 | D+0.2 | D+9.6 |
| District 100 | Robert Bloxom Jr. | TBD | R+3.9 | R+0.4 | R+16 |
Republican State Leadership Committee
This chart lists each Virginia House of Delegates district that the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) announced it would target in 2021.[18] Also included are the margins of victory for each seat in the 2019, 2017, and 2015 elections.
| Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) target districts, 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Incumbent | Winner | 2019 Margin | 2017 Margin | 2015 Margin |
| District 10 | Wendy Gooditis | TBD | D+4.7 | D+3.9 | R+24.2 |
| District 12 | Chris Hurst | TBD | D+7.2 | D+8.8 | R+16.8 |
| District 21 | Kelly Convirs-Fowler | TBD | D+9.2 | D+5.2 | R+13.8 |
| District 28 | Joshua Cole | TBD | D+4 | D+0.4 | R+21 |
| District 31 | Elizabeth Guzman | TBD | D+5.4 | D+9.8 | R+6.8 |
| District 40 | Dan Helmer | TBD | D+4.8 | R+0.4 | R+30.6 |
| District 68 | Dawn Adams | TBD | D+9.3 | D+0.8 | R+24.5 |
| District 72 | Schuyler VanValkenburg | TBD | D+6.7 | D+5.6 | -[19] |
| District 73 | Rodney Willett | TBD | D+4.5 | D+1.2 | - |
| District 75 | Roz Tyler | TBD | D+1.1 | - | - |
| District 83 | Nancy Guy | TBD | D+0.2 | R+13.4 | - |
| District 85 | Alex Askew | TBD | D+3.4 | D+1.6 | - |
| District 91 | Martha Mugler | TBD | D+9.7 | R+12.6 | - |
Campaign finance
The campaign finance data analyzed and displayed below is gathered and made available by Transparency USA.
Campaign finance articles
Ballotpedia published a series of analysis articles based on this campaign finance data. Click the links below to read those articles:
- Dec. 8: Democrats raised 78 percent more than Republicans in seven flipped Virginia House seats
- Dec. 7: Democrats outraise Republicans by 125% in Virginia state legislative races
- Nov. 19: Three of the five Virginia House races with the most fundraising resulted in partisan control changes
- Nov. 1: Fundraising in top five Virginia House races exceed $15.3 million
- Oct. 29: Democrats outraise Republicans by 143% in Virginia state legislative races
- Oct. 27: Three of 10 Virginia House districts with the closest 2019 margins have decreased fundraising this cycle
- Oct. 26: Democratic candidates in Virginia House have raised 57 percent more than last cycle; Republicans raised 19 percent less
- Oct. 25: In targeted Virginia House races, Democrats raised an average of double their Republican counterparts
- Oct. 22: Top five donors to Democratic and Republican candidates in Virginia House battleground districts
- Oct. 20: House District 12 tops Virginia battleground fundraising list with nearly identical candidate donation totals
- Oct. 18: Democratic candidates in Virginia House battleground districts raised 69% more money than Republican candidates
- Oct. 15: Eight of 13 Virginia House committee chairs raised less money than the average member this cycle
- Oct. 13: Democratic incumbents in VA House elections raised 126% more money than Republican incumbents
- Oct. 11: Top five donors to Democratic and Republican candidates for Virginia House
- Oct. 6: Three of the top five fundraisers to lose a Virginia House primary this cycle were incumbent Democrats
- Oct. 6: Two of the five Virginia House districts with the lowest total donations this cycle are 2019 rematches
- Oct. 4: The five Virginia House districts with the most fundraising this cycle all have Democratic incumbents
- Oct. 1: Democrats outraise Republicans by 154% in Virginia state legislative races
Campaign finance by district
The section below contains data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. Districts and elections are grouped in sections of 10. To view data for a district, click on the appropriate bar below to expand it. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA.
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
Seven incumbents, all Democrats, were defeated in the Nov. 2 general election, the largest number of incumbents defeated in the chamber's general elections since 2017 when 12 incumbents, all Republicans, lost. This was also the first time any Democratic incumbents were defeated in a general election since 2011.
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
Five incumbents lost in the June 8 primaries, a decade-high number. These were the first House incumbents to lose in primaries since 2015, when two incumbents lost to challengers. Two incumbents also lost in the 2013 primaries, and none lost in 2011.
Retiring incumbents
Five incumbents were not on the ballot in 2021.[20] Those incumbents were:
There were five open seats in 2021, a decade-low number.[21]
| Open seats in Virginia House of Delegates elections: 2011 - 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for reelection |
| 2021 | 100 | 5 (5%) | 95 (95%) |
| 2019 | 100 | 12 (12%) | 87 (88%) |
| 2017 | 100 | 7 (7%) | 93 (93%) |
| 2015 | 100 | 9 (9%) | 91 (91%) |
| 2013 | 100 | 9 (9%) | 91 (91%) |
| 2011 | 100 | 14 (14%) | 86 (86%) |
Margin of victory
The average margin of victory across the 100 races in this chamber was 27.0%. An electoral margin of victory (MOV) is the difference between the share of votes cast for the winning candidate and the second-place candidate in an election. Only races with more than one candidate were included in this average. The chart below displays the breakdown of races by the winner's partisan affiliation and margin of victory for each state legislative chamber with single-member districts which held elections in 2021. A darker shade of red or blue indicates a larger margin for that party. The table below displays how many seats were up for election in each chamber and how many seats each party won. It also includes a breakdown of how many seats Democrats and Republicans won by 10% or less and without opposition in each chamber, as well as the average margin of victory for each party. Click on a particular header to sort the table.
| Average MOV for state legislative elections, 2021 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber | Seats up for election |  Seats won by Democrats
|
Seats won by Democrats by margins of 10% or less
|
Seats won by unopposed Democrats
|
Average margin of victory for Democrats
|
 Seats won by Republicans
|
Seats won by Republicans by margins of 10% or less
|
Seats won by unopposed Republicans
|
Average margin of victory for Republicans
|
 Seats won by independent and minor party candidates
|
| New Jersey State Senate | ||||||||||
| New Jersey General Assembly[22] | ||||||||||
| Virginia House of Delegates | ||||||||||
| Total | ||||||||||
Districts
- See also: Virginia state legislative districts
Use the interactive map below to find your district.
Redistricting in Virginia
- See also: Redistricting in Virginia
On November 3, 2020, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment establishing a commission-driven congressional and state legislative redistricting process. The 16-member commission comprises eight legislators and eight non-legislator members. Leaders of the legislature's two largest political parties select legislators to serve on the commission. The commission's eight citizen members are recommended by legislative leaders and selected by a committee of five retired circuit court judges. The commissioners themselves select one of the eight citizens to serve as chairperson.[23]
District maps are subject to the following consensus requirements:[23]
- Congressional maps: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators and six non-legislators.
- Virginia State Senate: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators (with three state senators) and six non-legislators.
- Virginia House of Delegates: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators (with three state delegates) and six non-legislators.
The commission submits its maps to the General Assembly, which can vote to approve the maps or reject them. The General Assembly cannot amend the maps. If the General Assembly rejects a map, the commission must draft a second map. If the General Assembly rejects that map, the Virginia Supreme Court is tasked with enacting a new map.[23][24]
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.[25][26]
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.[27]
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.[28]
Registration can be completed online, in person at a local voter registration office, or by mail. Voters can also register at the following locations:[28]
| “ |
|
” |
| —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.[28][30]
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.[31]
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.[28]
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."[32]
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.[33] 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. 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
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.[34][35]
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.[34]
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.[31]
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.[31]
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Title 24.2, Chapter 5 of the Election Code of Virginia
For partisan candidates
A political party candidate participating in a primary election must complete the candidate qualification certificate form for the office being sought. The form is a written statement (made under oath) indicating that the candidate is qualified to vote for and to hold the office for which he or she is a candidate. The form must be filed before a candidate can purchase a registered voter's list for petition purposes. A candidate for election to statewide office, the United States House of Representatives, or the Virginia General Assembly must file the statement with the Virginia State Board of Elections. A candidate for any other office must file the statement with the general registrar of the county or city where he or she resides.[36][37]
A candidate must also file a written statement of economic interests if running for the state legislature, statewide office, a school board in a town or city with a population in excess of 3,500, or for constitutional office.[38]
The candidate qualification certificate and statement of economic interests must be filed by the filing deadline for the primary.[39]
The candidate must also file a declaration of candidacy and petition on or before the filing deadline for the election. The petition must contain the required number of signatures for the office being sought (signature requirements are summarized in the table below). Candidates seeking to participate in a primary election must also pay a primary filing fee. The filing fee is 2 percent of the minimum annual salary for the office being sought.[40]
| Signature requirements | |
|---|---|
| Office sought | Signature requirements |
| Governor, United States Senate, and other statewide offices | 10,000, including 400 qualified voters from each congressional district |
| United States House of Representatives | 1,000 |
| Virginia State Senate | 250 |
| Virginia House of Delegates | 125 |
For independent candidates
An independent candidate for the United States House of Representatives or the United States Senate must file a declaration of candidacy, a petition, and a candidate qualification certificate form with the Virginia State Board of Elections. A candidate for statewide office or the Virginia General Assembly must file a declaration of candidacy form, a petition, a statement of economic interests form, and a candidate qualification certificate form. The candidate must file the required forms by 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday in June. A candidate for local office must file a declaration of candidacy, a petition, a statement of economic interests form, and a candidate qualification certificate form with the local authority in the county or city in which the office is being sought. The candidate must submit the required forms by 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday in June.[39][41][42]
An independent candidate must gather the same number of petition signatures as partisan candidates. There are no filing fees for independent candidates.
For write-in candidates
Write-in votes are permitted in all elections but primaries. A voter may cast a write-in vote for any person other than the candidates for the given office listed on the ballot. Write-in candidates are not required to file any special forms in advance in order to have their votes tallied (except in the case of presidential and vice presidential candidates, who must file declarations of intent).[43]
2021 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for Virginia House of Delegates candidates in the 2021 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Virginia House of Delegates | Democratic | 125 | $352.80 | 3/25/2021 | Source |
| Virginia House of Delegates | Republican | 125 | $352.80 | 3/25/2021 | Source |
| Virginia House of Delegates | Unaffiliated | 125 | N/A | 6/8/2021 | Source |
Qualifications
Candidates for the House of Delegates must be qualified to vote, have been a resident of Virginia for one year immediately preceding the election, and be a resident of the city or town in which they file for election.[44]
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[45] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $18,000/year for senators. $17,640/year for delegates. | $213/day |
When sworn in
Virginia legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January after the election.[46][47]
Virginia political history
Party control
| Virginia House of Delegates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 2, 2021 | After November 3, 2021 | |
| Democratic Party | 55 | 48 | |
| Republican Party | 45 | 52 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | |
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
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 |
Presidential politics in Virginia
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, Virginia, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic |  Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine |
49.7% | 1,981,473 | 13 | |
| Republican | Donald Trump/Mike Pence | 44.4% | 1,769,443 | 0 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 3% | 118,274 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 0.7% | 27,638 | 0 | |
| Independent | Evan McMullin/Nathan Johnson | 1.4% | 54,054 | 0 | |
| - | Other/Write-in | 0.8% | 33,749 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 3,984,631 | 13 | |||
| Election results via: Federal Election Commission | |||||
See also
2021 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Calendars & Schedules," accessed February 6, 2021
- ↑ Washington Post, "Virginia Democrats seek recounts in two close House of Delegates races," November 17, 2021
- ↑ The Hill, "Virginia Democratic lawmakers request recounts in two House of Delegates races," November 16, 2021
- ↑ 13 News Now, "Karen Greenhalgh wins District 85 House of Delegates race," December 3, 2021
- ↑ Washington Post, "With judges’ ruling in recount, GOP cements two-seat majority in Virginia House of Delegates," December 8, 2021
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 CBS News, "The tight battle for control of Virginia's House of Delegates," May 4, 2021
- ↑ The Atlantic, "The Democrats’ New Trump Problem," May 26, 2021
- ↑ Virginia Mercury, "Trump has been a gift to Va. Democrats for years. Now can they win without him in the White House?" June 14, 2021
- ↑ Inside NoVa, "Kerr: Democratic majority may be in jeopardy," April 1, 2021
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Virginia Places, "A 50-50 Tie in the House of Delegates," accessed November 2, 2021
- ↑ Virginia Legislative Information System, "8-24.2-800 to 802.3," accessed October 16, 2020
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Code of Virginia, "§ 24.2-800. Recounts in all elections," accessed Oct. 19, 2020
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Code of Virginia, "§ 24.2-802.3. Costs of the recount," accessed Oct. 19, 2020
- ↑ Code of Virginia, "§ 24.2-801. Petition for recount; recount court," accessed Oct. 19, 2020
- ↑ Code of Virginia, "§ 24.2-801.1. Petition for recount of election for presidential electors; recount court," accessed Oct. 19, 2020
- ↑ DLCC, "Spotlight Races," accessed September 13, 2021
- ↑ Missing margins of victory indicate the incumbent or candidate ran unopposed in the general election.
- ↑ RSLC, "RSLC Reveals 13 Target House Districts in Virginia, June 22, 2021
- ↑ Missing margins of victory indicate the incumbent or candidate ran unopposed in the general election.
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines a seat as open if the incumbent did not file to run for re-election or filed but withdrew and did not appear on any ballot for his or her seat. If the incumbent withdrew from or did not participate in the primary but later chose to seek re-election to his or her seat as a third party or independent candidate, the seat would not be counted as open. If the incumbent retired or ran for a different seat in the same chamber, his or her original seat would be counted as open unless another incumbent from the same chamber filed to run for that seat, in which case it would not be counted as open due to the presence of an incumbent.
- ↑ For the purposes of this study, the margin of victory was calculated by comparing the winner with the least votes to the loser of the opposite party with the most votes. Therefore, the numbers will total up to half the seats won for each party since we can only compare MoV for one of the two seats in each district.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Virginia's Legislative Information System, "HJ 615 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission (first reference)," accessed November 18, 2020
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Virginia," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑ 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 May 3, 2023
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 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
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 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."
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 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
- ↑ Election Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-501," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Election Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-947.1," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Election Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-502," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Election Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-503," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Election Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-523," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Election Code of Virginia, "Section 24.2-505," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "Becoming a Candidate," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Code of Virginia, "Title 24.2, Section 24.2-644," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Candidacy Requirements for the November 7, 2017 General Election," January 3, 2016
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Virginia Legislative Information System, "Code of Virginia - § 24.2-214. Election and term of Senators." accessed January 6, 2022
- ↑ Virginia Legislative Information System, "Code of Virginia - § 24.2-215. Election and term of members of the House of Delegates." accessed January 6, 2022
