The 2020 United States Senate election in Virginia was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the Commonwealth of Virginia, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic senator Mark Warner won reelection to a third term against Republican nominee Daniel Gade.

Of Virginia's 20 most populous counties and independent cities, Warner won 18, losing only Hanover and Spotsylvania.

Background Incumbent Senator Mark Warner first won election in 2008 getting 65% of the vote over former Governor Jim Gilmore. In 2014, during the Tea Party movement, and declining voter turnout, Senator Warner won re-election by a margin of 0.8% against former chair of the Republican National Committee Ed Gillespie.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Mark Warner, incumbent U.S. senator

Republican primary Seven Republicans declared that they would compete in the race, but only three made the threshold of 3,500 signatures. The original signature threshold was 10,000 signatures, but was lowered to 3,500 following a suit by Omari Faulkner. The primary was on June 23.

Candidates Nominee Daniel Gade, college professor and U.S. Army veteran

Eliminated in primary Alissa Baldwin, teacher Thomas Speciale, U.S. Army veteran and intelligence officer

Failed to qualify Blaine Dunn, Frederick County supervisor Omari Faulkner, Navy reservist and former Georgetown University basketball player Roger Franklin Victor Williams, attorney and activist

Withdrawn Gary Adkins, financial executive John Easley, Republican candidate for Virginia's 1st congressional district in 2020 Scott Taylor, former U.S. representative for Virginia's 2nd congressional district (ran for his former House seat)

Declined Nick Freitas, state delegate and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 (ran for U.S. House) Corey Stewart, nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 and former chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors

Endorsements

Results

Independents Withdrawn Mary Knapp Aldous Mina, Peace Corps veteran

General election Virginia's 2020 Senate election was widely considered to be a safe hold for Mark Warner, as pre-election polling showed a massive lead for Warner. Warner's razor-thin victory over Ed Gillespie six years earlier was considered to be a fluke owing to lowered turnout and complacency. On election day, Warner was declared the winner as soon as polls closed based on exit polling alone. The higher turnout is attributable to this election being held concurrently with the presidential election. Warner also notably outperformed Biden in the state, although narrowly.

Warner's victory was largely drawn from the DC Metropolitan area in Northern Virginia. This is the area that has shifted Virginia from a Republican stronghold in the early 2000s to a Democratic stronghold.

Complete video of debate, September 23, 2020

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 29, 2020 Inside Elections October 28, 2020 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 2, 2020Daily Kos October 30, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020RCPOctober 23, 2020DDHQNovember 3, 2020538November 2, 2020EconomistNovember 2, 2020

Post-primary endorsements

Polling

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MarkWarner (D) DanielGade (R) Other/UndecidedSwayableSwayable October 27 – November 1, 2020283 (LV)± 8.3%61%39% –Data for ProgressData for ProgressOctober 27 – November 1, 2020690 (LV)± 3.7%57%42%1%Roanoke CollegeRoanoke CollegeOctober 23–29, 2020802 (LV)± 3.4%55%39%6%Christopher Newport UniversityChristopher Newport UniversityOctober 15–27, 2020908 (LV)± 3.4%57%37%6%SwayableOctober 23–26, 2020332 (LV)± 7.3%60%40% –Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Commonwealth UniversityOctober 13–22, 2020709 (LV)± 4.93%55%38%8%Schar School/Washington PostSchar School/Washington PostOctober 13–19, 2020908 (LV)± 4%57%39%4%Civiqs/Daily KosCiviqs/Daily KosOctober 11–14, 20201,231 (LV)± 3.1%54%43%2%Reconnect Research/Roanoke CollegeReconnect Research/Roanoke CollegeSeptember 30 – October 12, 2020602 (LV) –55%38%7%Roanoke College/Reconnect ResearchRoanoke College/Reconnect ResearchSeptember 30 – October 12, 2020602 (LV)± 5.4%55%38%7%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)October 9–11, 2020607 (LV) –51%44%5%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)September 22–25, 2020600 (LV) –51%41% –Christopher Newport UniversityChristopher Newport UniversitySeptember 9–21, 2020796 (LV)± 3.9%52%39%9%Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Commonwealth University August 28 – September 7, 2020692 (LV)± 6.22%55%38%6Roanoke CollegeRoanoke CollegeAugust 9–22, 2020566 (LV)± 4.1%55%34%10%

with Mark Warner and Generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MarkWarner (D) GenericRepublican Other UndecidedRoanoke CollegeRoanoke CollegeMay 3–16, 2020563 (LV)± 4.1%48%31% – –

with Generic Democrat and Generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericDemocrat GenericRepublican Other UndecidedIpsos/University of VirginiaIpsos/University of Virginia Feb 15–19, 2019 636 (A) ± 4.0% 43% 26% 2% 23%

Results

By county and independent city