2015 Virginia Senate election

2015 Virginia Senate election
← 2011 November 3, 2015 2019 →
All 40 seats in the Senate of Virginia
21[a] seats needed for a majority
Turnout1,362,664
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Tommy Norment Dick Saslaw
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since January 9, 2008 January 10, 1996
Leader's seat 3rd district 35th district
Last election 20 20
Seats before 21 19
Seats won 21 19
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 716,331 596,198
Percentage 52.57% 43.75%
Results:
     Democratic hold
     Republican hold
Majority leader before election

Tommy Norment
Republican

Elected Majority leader

Tommy Norment
Republican

The 2015 Virginia Senate election was held on November 3, 2015, to elect all 40 members of the Virginia Senate. Republicans retained their 21–19 majority in the chamber.

As of 2023, this is the most recent time that Republicans won a majority in the Senate.

District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 39 • District 40

Previous composition

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Democratic Republican Vacant
End of Previous Session (2008–2012) 22 18 40 0
Begin 20 20 40 0
July 3, 2012[c 1] 19 39 1
September 17, 2012[c 2] 20 40 0
August 5, 2013[c 3] 19 39 1
August 16, 2013[c 4] 20 40 0
January 11, 2014[c 5] 18 38 2
January 24, 2014[c 6] 19 39 1
January 28, 2014[c 7] 20 20 40 0
June 8, 2014[c 8] 19 20 39 1
July 2, 2014[c 9] 18 38 2
August 19, 2014[c 10] 18 21 39 1
November 4, 2014[c 11] 19 40 0
January 13, 2015[c 12] 19 40 0
Latest voting share 47.5% 52.5%
  1. ^ Democrat Yvonne B. Miller (District 5) died.
  2. ^ Democrat Kenny Alexander replaced Miller after September 4 special election.
  3. ^ Republican Harry Blevins (District 14) resigned. Although in theory Democrats had a brief numerical majority, the Senate was not in session. Additionally, rules adopted at the beginning of the 2012 session required a two-thirds supermajority vote to reorganize the Senate mid-session.
  4. ^ Republican John Cosgrove replaced Blevins after August 6 special election.
  5. ^ Democrats Ralph Northam (District 6) and Mark Herring (District 33) resigned upon being inaugurated Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, respectively.
  6. ^ Democrat Jennifer Wexton elected to succeed Herring.
  7. ^ Democrat Lynwood Lewis replaced Northam after January 7 special election and January 27 recount. After regaining a numerical majority in the Senate, the Democrats voted to change the Senate's rules and reorganize the chamber, putting the Senate back under Democratic control.
  8. ^ Democrat Phillip Puckett (District 38) resigned. Republicans regained effective control and adopted their own rules change effective June 12.
  9. ^ Democrat Henry L. Marsh (District 16) resigned to take a seat on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
  10. ^ Republican Ben Chafin elected to succeed Puckett.
  11. ^ Democrat Rosalyn Dance elected to succeed Marsh.
  12. ^ Republicans Jeffrey McWaters (District 8), John Watkins (District 10), Walter Stosch (District 12) & Ralph K. Smith (District 19) & Democrats Charles Colgan (District 29) & Toddy Puller (District 36) Retiring, Replaced respectively by, Republicans Bill DeSteph, Glen Sturtevant, Siobhan Dunnavant & David Suetterlein & Democrats Jeremy McPike & Scott Surovell, No seats changing party.

Summary

2015 Virginia Senate election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican 30 candidates (21 elected) 716,331 52.57% +0
Democratic 30 candidates (19 elected) 596,198 43.75% +0
Independent Greens 3 candidates 14,622 1.07% +0
Independents 4 candidates 12,731 0.93% +0
Libertarian 1 - Carl Richard Loser 527 0.04% +0
Write-ins 22,255 1.63% N/A
Total votes 1,362,664 100.0%
Republican hold Swing 0

Results by district

District 1

See also: Virginia Senate, District 1
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Virginia Senate, 1st District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Clifford Miller (incumbent) 17,989 59.3%
Republican Mark Randolph Matney 12,278 40.5%
Write-ins 69 0.2%
Total votes 30,336 100.0
Democratic hold

District 2

See also: Virginia Senate, District 2
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Virginia Senate, 2nd District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mamie Evelyn Locke (incumbent) 17,459 94.1%
Write-ins 1,087 5.9%
Total votes 18,546 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 3

See also: Virginia Senate, District 3
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Virginia Senate, 3rd District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Kent Norment Jr. (incumbent) 35,520 69.5%
Democratic Hugo Eduardo Reyes 15,432 30.2%
Write-ins 147 0.3%
Total votes 51,099 100.0%
Republican hold

District 4

See also: Virginia Senate, District 4
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Virginia Senate, 4th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan Todd McDougle (incumbent) 37,882 96.0%
Write-ins 1,573 4%
Total votes 39,455 100.0%
Republican hold

District 5

See also: Virginia Senate, District 5
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Virginia Senate, 5th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kenneth Cooper Alexander (incumbent) 13,955 95.4%
Write-ins 668 4.6%
Total votes 14,623 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 6

See also: Virginia Senate, District 6
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Virginia Senate, 6th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lynwood Wayne Lewis Jr. (incumbent) 16,738 59.5%
Republican Richard Hooper Ottinger 11,386 40.4%
Write-ins 29 0.1%
Total votes 28,153 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 7

See also: Virginia Senate, District 7
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Virginia Senate, 7th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank W. Wagner (incumbent) 18,266 53.9%
Democratic Gary Thomas McCollum 15,434 45.5%
Write-ins 208 0.6%
Total votes 33,908 100.0%
Republican hold

District 8

See also: Virginia Senate, District 8
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Virginia Senate, 8th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Howard David Belote 11,075 40.9%
Republican Bill R. DeSteph Jr. 15,905 58.7%
Write-ins 106 0.4%
Total votes 27,086 100.0%
Republican hold

District 9

See also: Virginia Senate, District 9
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Virginia Senate, 9th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic A. Donald McEachin (incumbent) 31,067 95.0%
Write-ins 1,620 5%
Total votes 32,687 100.0
Democratic hold

District 10

See also: Virginia Senate, District 10
Virginia Senate, 10th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Daniel Allen Gecker 26,173 47.1%
Republican Glen Howard Sturtevant Jr. 27,651 49.8%
Independent Greens Marleen K. Durfee 1,136 2.0%
Libertarian Carl Richard Loser 527 1.0%
Write-ins 60 0.1%
Republican hold
Total votes 55,547 100.0%

District 11

See also: Virginia Senate, District 11
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Virginia Senate, 11th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ernest Wayne Powell 15,485 36.2%
Republican Amanda Freeman Chase 27,218 63.6%
Write-ins 111 0.3%
Total votes 42,814 100.0%
Republican hold

District 12

See also: Virginia Senate, District 12
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Virginia Senate, 12th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Deborah M. Repp 16,797 38.0%
Republican Siobhan Stolle Dunnavant 25,504 57.6%
Independent Robert Scott Johnson 1,881 4.3%
Write-ins 65 0.1%
Total votes 44,247 100.0%
Republican hold

District 13

See also: Virginia Senate, District 13
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Virginia Senate, 13th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican R. H. Black (incumbent) 25,898 52.3%
Democratic Barbra Jill McCabe 23,544 47.5%
Write-ins 84 0.2%
Total votes 49,526 100.0
Republican hold

District 14

See also: Virginia Senate, District 14
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Virginia Senate, 14th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. A. Cosgrove Jr. (incumbent) 15,371 92.4%
Write-ins 1,266 7.6%
Total votes 16,637 100.0
Republican hold

District 15

See also: Virginia Senate, District 15
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Virginia Senate, 15th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Miller Ruff Jr. (incumbent) 32,745 98.3%
Write-ins 572 1.7%
Total votes 33,317 100.0%
Republican hold

District 16

See also: Virginia Senate, District 16
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Virginia Senate, 16th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rosalyn Randolph Dance (incumbent) 17,331 72.7%
Independent Joseph D. Morrissey[2] 6,090 25.5%
Write-ins 428 1.8%
Total votes 23,849 100.0
Democratic hold

District 17

See also: Virginia Senate, District 17
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Virginia Senate, 17th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bryce E. Reeves (incumbent) 24,519 62.1%
Democratic Ned Lee Gallaway 14,915 37.8%
Write-ins 53 0.1%
Total votes 39,487 100.0%
Republican hold

District 18

See also: Virginia Senate, District 18
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Virginia Senate, 18th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lillie Louise Boone Lucas (incumbent) 20,321 95.6%
Write-ins 942 4.4%
Total votes 21,263 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 19

See also: Virginia Senate, District 19
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Virginia Senate, 19th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Lawrence Hamlar 15,738 30.8%
Republican David Robert Suetterlein 33,120 64.9%
Independent Steven Lee Nelson 2,134 4.2%
Write-ins 71 0.1%
Total votes 51,063 100.0%
Republican hold

District 20

See also: Virginia Senate, District 20
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Virginia Senate, 20th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William Martin Stanley Jr. (incumbent) 22,701 57.9%
Democratic Kimberly Elliott Adkins 16,455 42.0%
Write-ins 67 0.2%
Total votes 39,223 100.0%
Republican hold

District 21

See also: Virginia Senate, District 21
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Virginia Senate, 21st District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Saul Edwards (incumbent) 20,881 50.9%
Republican Nancy Vivian Dye 17,438 42.5%
Independent Donald Stevens Caldwell 2,626 6.4%
Write-ins 42 0.1%
Total votes 40,987 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 22

See also: Virginia Senate, District 22
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Virginia Senate, 22nd District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas A. Garrett Jr. (incumbent) 24,913 95.3%
Write-ins 1,219 4.7%
Total votes 26,132 100.0%
Republican hold

District 23

See also: Virginia Senate, District 23
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Virginia Senate, 23rd District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephen Dwayne Newman (incumbent) 27,309 96.7%
Write-ins 923 3.3%
Total votes 28,232 100.0%
Republican hold

District 24

See also: Virginia Senate, District 24
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Virginia Senate, 24th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Emmett Wilson Hanger Jr. (incumbent) 34,980 97.9%
Write-ins 765 2.1%
Total votes 35,745 100.0%
Republican hold

District 25

See also: Virginia Senate, District 25
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Virginia Senate, 25th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Creigh Deeds (incumbent) 34,419 97.2%
Write-ins 984 2.8%
Total votes 35,403 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 26

See also: Virginia Senate, District 26
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Virginia Senate, 26th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Dudley Obenshain (incumbent) 25,042 68.7%
Democratic April Dorothea Moore 11,308 31.0%
Write-ins 89 0.2%
Total votes 36,439 100.0
Republican hold

District 27

See also: Virginia Senate, District 27
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Virginia Senate, 27th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jill Holtzman Vogel (incumbent) 34,203 97.3%
Write-ins 964 2.7%
Total votes 35,167 100.0%
Republican hold

District 28

See also: Virginia Senate, District 28
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Virginia Senate, 28th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Henry Stuart Sr. (incumbent) 30,187 95.4%
Write-ins 1,446 4.6%
Total votes 31,633 100.0%
Republican hold

District 29

See also: Virginia Senate, District 29
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Virginia Senate, 29th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeremy Scott McPike 16,489 53.7%
Republican Harry "Hal" Jacob Parrish, II 14,131 46.1%
Write-ins 60 0.2%
Total votes 30,680 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 30

See also: Virginia Senate, District 30
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Virginia Senate, 30th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Adam Paul Ebbin (incumbent) 27,274 76.7%
Independent Greens James Ronald Fisher 7,431 20.9%
Write-ins 842 2.4%
Total votes 35,547 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 31

See also: Virginia Senate, District 31
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Virginia Senate, 31st District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Ann Favola (incumbent) 26,373 62.3%
Republican George Forakis 15,904 37.5%
Write-ins 81 0.2%
Total votes 42,358 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 32

See also: Virginia Senate, District 32
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Virginia Senate, 32nd District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Janet Denison Howell (incumbent) 31,156 94.0%
Write-ins 1,974 6%
Total votes 33,130 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 33

See also: Virginia Senate, District 33
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Virginia Senate, 33rd District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jennifer Tosini Wexton (incumbent) 18,577 56.6%
Republican Stephen Bartholomew Hollingshead 14,190 43.2%
Write-ins 59 0.2%
Total votes 32,826 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 34

See also: Virginia Senate, District 34
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Virginia Senate, 34th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Chapman "Chap" Petersen (incumbent) 27,690 93.6%
Write-ins 1,881 6.4%
Total votes 29,571 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 35

See also: Virginia Senate, District 35
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Virginia Senate, 35th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Lawrence Saslaw (incumbent) 18,754 74.4%
Independent Greens Terrence Wayne Modglin 6,055 24%
Write-ins 383 1.5%
Total votes 25,192 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 36

See also: Virginia Senate, District 36
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Virginia Senate, 36th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Scott A. Surovell 18,320 60.5%
Republican Gerald Moodrow Foreman, II 11,890 39.3%
Write-ins 62 0.2%
Total votes 30,272 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 37

See also: Virginia Senate, District 37
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Virginia Senate, 37th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David William Marsden (incumbent) 18,966 55.4%
Republican David Michael Bergman 15,216 44.5%
Write-ins 38 0.1%
Total votes 34,220 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 38

See also: Virginia Senate, District 38
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Virginia Senate, 38th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Augustus Benton Chafin Jr. (incumbent) 31,025 98.3%
Write-ins 537 1.7%
Total votes 31,562 100.0%
Republican hold

District 39

See also: Virginia Senate, District 39
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Virginia Senate, 39th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George L. Barker (incumbent) 20,083 53.9%
Republican Joseph "Joe" Robert Murray 17,101 45.9%
Write-ins 85 0.2%
Total votes 37,269 100.0%
Democratic hold

District 40

See also: Virginia Senate, District 40
Virginia Senate, 40th District general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican C. W. "Bill" Carrico (incumbent) 36,838 98.4%
Write-ins 595 1.6%
Total votes 37,433 100.0%
Republican hold

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A majority of 20 is also possible as the Lt. Gov. of Virginia holds a tie-breaker vote.

References

  1. ^ "Virginia Elections Database » Search Elections".
  2. ^ Joseph Morrissey withdrew from the race on September 10, 2015, however he remained on the ballot.