The 2018 United States Senate election in Virginia took place on November 6, 2018, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the Commonwealth of Virginia, concurrently with other elections to the U.S. Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who had been his party's unsuccessful nominee for vice president two years earlier, was re-elected to a second term in office, winning this seat by the largest margin since 1988. This was the first election since 1994 that anyone had been re-elected to this seat.
The Republican Party of Virginia central committee voted to select the Republican nominee for Senate by a primary rather than a convention. Corey Stewart, chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, won the Republican nomination on June 12, 2018, after defeating Delegate Nick Freitas and Christian minister E. W. Jackson.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Tim Kaine, incumbent U.S. senator, former governor, and Democratic nominee for vice president in 2016
Republican primary Candidates
Nominee Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, candidate for lieutenant governor in 2013 and candidate for governor in 2017
Eliminated in primary Nick Freitas, state delegate E. W. Jackson, pastor, attorney, veteran, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012 and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2013
Failed to qualify Minerva Diaz, veteran, businesswoman, and Christian minister Bert Mizusawa, former Deputy Undersecretary of the Army, retired U.S. Army major general, and candidate for VA-02 in 2010 Ivan Raiklin, veteran and businessman
Declined Dave Brat, U.S. representative Eric Cantor, former Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives Barbara Comstock, U.S. representative Ken Cuccinelli, former attorney general and nominee for governor in 2013 Tom Davis, former U.S. representative Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, nominee for the U.S. Senate from California in 2010 and candidate for president in 2016 Ed Gillespie, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014, and nominee for governor in 2017 Jim Gilmore, former governor, nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2008 and candidate for president in 2008 and 2016 Shak Hill, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 (running for VA-10) Laura Ingraham, talk radio host, author, and conservative political commentator (endorsed Corey Stewart) Jimmie Massie, former state delegate Bob McDonnell, former governor of Virginia (endorsed Nick Freitas) John Moore, University of Virginia law professor and former diplomat Pete Snyder, technology entrepreneur and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2013 Scott Taylor, U.S. representative Frank Wagner, state senator and candidate for governor in 2017 Rob Wittman, U.S. representative
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error NickFreitas E. W.Jackson CoreyStewart Other UndecidedAtlantic Media & Research (R-Stewart)Atlantic Media & Research (R-Stewart) May 14–18, 2018 355 ± 5.2% 9% 5% 32% – –Christopher Newport UniversityChristopher Newport University February 5–28, 2018 422 ± 2.5% 6% 7% 16% 5%Ivan Raiklin* 1%, Other 4%. *Failed to qualify. 66%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DaveBrat CoreyStewart ScottTaylor Other UndecidedUniversity of Mary WashingtonUniversity of Mary Washington September 5–12, 2017 562 LV ± 5.2% 11% 15% 20% 12% 38% 867 RV ± 4.1% 9% 12% 20% 9% 45%
Results
Third party candidates Winsome Sears, a Republican former state delegate, ran as a write-in candidate. Matt Waters, director of development at Students For Liberty, received the Libertarian Party nomination on March 10, 2018. On June 28, 2018, he also received the endorsement of the Constitution Party of Virginia.
General election The election featured a match-up of two Minnesota-born Virginians: Republican Corey Stewart was born in Duluth, Minnesota, and Democrat Tim Kaine was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota. All polls leading up to the election showed Kaine defeating Stewart by a wide margin. When polls closed on election day, Tim Kaine was immediately declared the winner before the votes were counted, based on exit polling alone.
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 26, 2018Inside Elections November 1, 2018Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2018Fox News July 9, 2018CNN July 12, 2018RealClearPolitics August 14, 2018
Debates/townhalls +Hostnetwork/sponsorsDateLink(s)ParticipantsTimKaine (D)CoreyStewart (R)MattWaters (L)PBS NewsHour/Virginia Bar AssociationJuly 21, 2018InvitedInvited—Hampton University/Liberty UniversitySeptember 20, 2018InvitedInvited—WRC-TVSeptember 26, 2018InvitedInvited—Liberty UniversityOctober 3, 2018InvitedInvited—
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimKaine (D) CoreyStewart (R) MattWaters (L) Other UndecidedUniversity of Mary Washington/SSRSUniversity of Mary Washington/SSRS September 4–9, 2018 512 LV ± 5.8% 52% 36% 5% 0% 4% 704 RV ± 5.0% 51% 33% 5% 1% 7% 801 A ± 4.6% 49% 30% 6% 1% 9%Cygnal/POOLHOUSE (R)Cygnal/POOLHOUSE (R) August 22–24, 2018 1,119 ± 2.8% 50% 46% – – 4%Roanoke CollegeRoanoke College August 12–19, 2018 512 ± 4.3% 51% 34% 4% – 11%Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Commonwealth University July 10–30, 2018 757 ± 3.6% 49% 26% 5% – 20%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University June 21–25, 2018 1,082 ± 3.7% 54% 36% – 0% 9%Roanoke CollegeRoanoke College May 20–30, 2018 555 ± 4.2% 44% 33% – – 23%Christopher Newport University February 5–28, 2018 1,562 ± 2.5% 56% 32% – 1% 11%University of Mary Washington/PSRAIUniversity of Mary Washington/PSRAI September 5–12, 2017 562 LV ± 5.2% 53% 36% – – 7% 867 RV ± 4.1% 54% 39% – 1% 4%
with Nick Freitas Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimKaine (D) NickFreitas (R) Other UndecidedRoanoke College May 20–30, 2018 555 ± 4.2% 45% 30% – 25%Christopher Newport University February 5–28, 2018 1,562 ± 2.5% 56% 33% 1% 10%
with E. W. Jackson Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimKaine (D) E. W.Jackson (R) Other UndecidedRoanoke College May 20–30, 2018 555 ± 4.2% 45% 30% – 25%Christopher Newport University February 5–28, 2018 1,562 ± 2.5% 56% 32% 1% 11%
with Dave Brat Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimKaine (D) DaveBrat (R) UndecidedUniversity of Mary Washington September 5–12, 2017 562 LV ± 5.2% 54% 36% 7% 867 RV ± 4.1% 54% 41% 3%
with Barbara Comstock Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimKaine (D) BarbaraComstock (R) UndecidedGravis MarketingGravis Marketing March 14–19, 2017 3,097 ± 1.6% 53% 41% 6%
with Carly Fiorina Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimKaine (D) CarlyFiorina (R) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University April 6–10, 2017 1,115 ± 2.9% 57% 33% – 7%Gravis Marketing March 14–19, 2017 3,097 ± 1.6% 53% 41% – 7%Quinnipiac University February 10–15, 2017 989 ± 3.1% 57% 36% 2% 5%
with Laura Ingraham Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimKaine (D) LauraIngraham (R) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac University April 6–10, 2017 1,115 ± 2.9% 56% 35% – 7%Quinnipiac University February 10–15, 2017 989 ± 3.1% 56% 36% 2% 7%
with Scott Taylor Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimKaine (D) ScottTaylor (R) UndecidedUniversity of Mary Washington September 5–12, 2017 562 LV ± 5.2% 52% 37% 7% 867 RV ± 4.1% 53% 41% 4%
Results
Kaine won the election by a wide margin.
By county and independent city