Virginia's 23rd House of Delegates district elects one of 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates, the lower house of the state's bicameral legislature. District 23 represents part of the city of Lynchburg and parts of Amherst and Bedford counties. The seat is currently held by Democrat Margaret Franklin following the 2026 special election.
District officeholders Years Delegate Party Electoral history January 8, 1992–January 10, 1996 Stephen Newman Republican Declined to seek reelection; elected to the Senate of Virginia January 10, 1996–January 11, 2006 Preston Bryant Republican Resigned; Appointed Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources January 11, 2006–January 13, 2010 Shannon Valentine Democratic Elected via special election; Defeated in bid for reelection January 13, 2010–January 8, 2020 T. Scott Garrett Republican First elected in 2009 January 8, 2020–2024 Wendell Walker Republican First elected in 20192024 –2026Candi King DemocraticJanuary 14, 2026 –presentMargaret Franklin DemocraticElected via special election in 2026
Electoral history Date Election Candidate Party Votes % Virginia House of Delegates, 23rd district Jan 10, 2006 Special Shannon R. Valentine Democratic 7,887 57.50 Michael B. Harrington Republican 5,817 42.41 Write Ins 12 0.09 Preston Bryant resigned; seat switched from Republican to Democratic Nov 6, 2007 General Shannon R. Valentine Democratic 4,551 95.60 Write Ins 209 4.39 Jun 9, 2009 Republican primary T. Scott Garrett 2,126 54.01 Jeff S. Helgeson 1,810 45.98 Nov 3, 2009 General T. Scott Garrett Republican 10,813 50.41 Shannon R. Valentine Democratic 10,604 49.44 Write Ins 31 0.14 Incumbent lost; seat switched from Democratic to Republican Nov 8, 2011 General T. Scott Garrett Republican 11,978 92.26 Write Ins 1,004 7.73
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