Virginia House of Delegates District 51
| Virginia House of Delegates District 51 | ||
| Current incumbent | Hala Ayala  | |
| Population | 80,372 | |
| Race | 68.8% White, 16.6% Black, 1.0% American Indian, 7.1% Asian, 0.2% Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 5.3% Other, 1.0% Two or more races[1] | |
| Ethnicity | 86.6% Not Hispanic, 13.4% Hispanic | |
| Voting age | 72.7% age 18 and over | |
Virginia's fifty-first state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Hala Ayala.
As of the 2010 census, a total of 80,372 civilians reside within Virginia's fifty-first state house district.[2] Virginia's state delegates represent an average of 80,010 residents.[3] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 70,785 residents.[4]
About the office
Members of the Virginia House of Delegates serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Virginia legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January after the election.
Qualifications
In order to serve in the Virginia General Assembly, candidates must meet the following qualifications:[5]
- Be a citizen of the United States.
- Be at least twenty-one years of age on or before the date of the general or special election for the office sought
- Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the year immediately preceding the election
- Be a resident of the district they are seeking to represent
- Be a qualified voter in the district they are seeking to represent
- Not have been convicted of a felony (unless voting rights have been officially restored)
- Not have been adjudicated mentally incompetent (unless voting rights have been officially restored)
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2025[6] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $18,000/year for senators. $17,640/year for delegates. | $237/day |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Virginia General Assembly, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. If the vacancy occurs while the legislature is in session, the presiding officer of the house in which the vacancy happens must call for a special election. If the vacancy occurs while the legislature is in recess, the governor shall call the special election. Within 30 days of a vacancy, the appropriate officeholder shall issue a writ of election. If an vacancy occurs between December 10 and March 1, the writ must declare the special election date be within 30 days of said vacancy. All special elections must be held promptly. However, no special election can be held if it occurs less than 55 days before any statewide primary or general election or if there are fewer than 75 days remaining in the vacated term.[7][8]
See sources: Virginia Code § 24.2-216
Elections
2021
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.[9]
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 51
Briana Sewell defeated Tim Cox in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 51 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Briana Sewell (D) | 53.4 | 19,038 |
 | Tim Cox (R)  | 46.5 | 16,566 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 43 | ||
| Total votes: 35,647 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Briana Sewell advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 51.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 51
Tim Cox defeated Jeffery Anthony Dove Jr. in the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 51 on June 8, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tim Cox | 76.5 | 1,332 |
 | Jeffery Anthony Dove Jr. | 23.5 | 409 | |
| Total votes: 1,741 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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2019
Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2019. The primary was on June 11, 2019, and the general election was on November 5. The filing deadline for candidates was March 28, 2019.
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 51
Incumbent Hala Ayala defeated Richard Anderson in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 51 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Hala Ayala (D) | 54.6 | 15,508 |
 | Richard Anderson (R) | 45.3 | 12,882 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 24 | ||
| Total votes: 28,414 | |||
| = 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
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.[10] Hala Ayala (D) defeated incumbent Richard Anderson (R) in the Virginia House of Delegates District 51 general election.[11]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 51 General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Hala Ayala |
53.08% | 15,244 | |
| Republican | Richard Anderson Incumbent | 46.92% | 13,476 | |
| Total Votes | 28,720 | |||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections | ||||
Hala Ayala defeated Kenny Boddye in the Virginia House of Delegates District 51 Democratic primary.[12]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 51 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Hala Ayala |
66.33% | 3,695 |
| Kenny Boddye | 33.67% | 1,876 |
| Total Votes | 5,571 | |
Incumbent Richard Anderson ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 51 Republican primary.[13]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 51 Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Richard Anderson 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.[14] Incumbent Rich Anderson was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[15][16]
2013
Elections for the office of Virginia House of Delegates consisted of a primary election on June 11, 2013, and a general election on November 5, 2013. Republican incumbent Richard Anderson defeated Democrat Reed Heddleston in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the primary elections.[17][18]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 51 General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Richard Anderson Incumbent |
53.7% | 13,059 | |
| Democratic | Reed Heddleston | 46.1% | 11,220 | |
| Other | Write-in | 0.2% | 51 | |
| Total Votes | 24,330 | |||
Campaign contributions
From 2001 to 2023, candidates for Virginia House of Delegates District 51 raised a total of $5,216,172. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $274,535 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Virginia House of Delegates District 51 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2023 | $181,307 | 3 | $60,436 |
| 2021 | $1,287,895 | 3 | $429,298 |
| 2019 | $1,615,085 | 2 | $807,542 |
| 2011 | $93,335 | 1 | $93,335 |
| 2009 | $892,879 | 2 | $446,440 |
| 2007 | $716,946 | 2 | $358,473 |
| 2005 | $283,706 | 2 | $141,853 |
| 2003 | $42,540 | 1 | $42,540 |
| 2001 | $102,479 | 3 | $34,160 |
| Total | $5,216,172 | 19 | $274,535 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ For more information on the parameters the U.S. Census Bureau use, please see our Race and Ethnicity on the United States Census page.
- ↑ Commonwealth of Virginia Division of Legislative Services, Redistricting 2010, April 28, 2011
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census Interactive Population Search," accessed February 14, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "States Ranked by Population: 2000," April 2, 2001
- ↑ Virginia General Assembly, "Certificate of Candidate Qualification," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2025 Legislator Compensation," December 2, 2025
- ↑ Virginia Law Library, "§ 24.2-216. Filling vacancies in the General Assembly," accessed February 16, 2021 (Statute 24.2-216, Virginia Code)
- ↑ Virginia Law Library, "§ 24.2-682. Times for special elections," accessed February 16, 2021
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Calendars & Schedules," accessed February 6, 2021
- ↑ 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 State Board of Elections, Unofficial Results - Primary Election, accessed November 12, 2013
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, Unofficial Results - Primary Election, accessed November 12, 2013
