The 2023 Virginia Senate election was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, concurrently with elections for the Virginia House of Delegates, to elect senators to all 40 seats in the Senate of Virginia for the 163rd and 164th Virginia Assembly. Nomination primaries held through the Department of Elections were held June 20, 2023. These were the first elections held following redistricting as a result of the 2020 census. The Democrats retained control of the Senate.
Background Following the 2019 election, the Democratic Party gained 2 seats in the Senate, and gained control of both chambers of the General Assembly, marking the first time that Democrats held a government trifecta in Virginia since 1993. This was short-lived, however, as Republicans regained the governorship and the House of Delegates in the 2021 elections.
This Senate election as well as those for the House of Delegates were held following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, which ruled that abortion is not a constitutional right in the United States. Governor Glenn Youngkin attempted to sell to the people of Virginia a 15-week "limit" on abortion instead of using the word "ban", fearing such a word to be alienating to swing voters. Youngkin wanted a Republican trifecta to enact a conservative agenda as well, but Democrats were able to out message Youngkin and convince Virginians that his abortion "limit" was a ban.
The Democrats retained their majority in the Senate, dashing Youngkin's hopes of a GOP trifecta even if Republicans retained the House of Delegates, which was also won by Democrats simultaneously, re-establishing full control of the Virginia General Assembly that was lost by Democrats in 2021. After the election, Glenn Youngkin said he would not be a candidate for President of the United States in the presidential election.
Retirements Nine incumbents did not seek re-election.
Republicans District 3: Tommy Norment retired. District 23: Steve Newman retired. District 24: Emmett Hanger retired. District 27: Jill Vogel retired.
Democrats District 6: Lynwood Lewis retired. District 13: John Bell retired. District 21: John Edwards retired. District 32: Janet Howell retired. District 35: Dick Saslaw retired.
Resignation One seat was left vacant on the day of the general election due to resignation in 2023.
Republicans One Republican resigned before the end of his term. District 14: John Cosgrove resigned September 30 to become deputy commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Cosgrove's former chief of staff Christie New Craig won the seat in the general election.
Incumbents defeated In primary election Five incumbent senators, four Democrats and one Republican, were defeated in the June 20 primary election.
Democrats District 13: Joe Morrissey lost renomination to former state delegate Lashrecse Aird. District 18: Lionell Spruill lost a redistricting race to fellow incumbent Louise Lucas. District 36: George Barker lost renomination to Fairfax County School Board Member Stella Pekarsky. District 37: Chap Petersen lost renomination to financial consultant Saddam Azlan Salim.
Republicans District 12: Amanda Chase lost renomination to former state senator Glen Sturtevant.
In general election
Democrats
District 24: Monty Mason lost re-election to former York-Poquoson Sheriff Danny Diggs.
Republicans
District 16: Siobhan Dunnavant lost re-election to State Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg.
Newly created seats
Democratic gain
District 21: Won by State Delegate Angelia Williams Graves District 30: Won by State Delegate Danica Roem District 31: Won by prosecutor Russet Perry District 32: Won by State Delegate Suhas Subramanyam District 33: Won by former state delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy
Republican gain
District 1: Won by farmer Timmy French District 3: Won by State Delegate Chris Head District 10: Won by State Delegate John McGuire District 17: Won by State Delegate Emily Brewer District 27: Won by State Delegate Tara Durant
Special elections
District 38 Incumbent Republican Ben Chafin, first elected in 2014, died on January 1, 2021.
District 7
Incumbent Republican Jen Kiggans, first elected in 2019, resigned on November 15, 2022, to take office as U.S. representative for Virginia's 2nd congressional district.
District 9
Democrat Jennifer McClellan, first elected in 2017, resigned on March 7, 2023, to take office as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 4th congressional district. Lamont Bagby won the special election to take the seat.
Overview Party Candidates Votes Seats % Before After +/– Democratic 37 1,229,331 49.84% 22 21 1 Republican 37 1,193,583 48.39% 17 19 2 - Write-ins - 28,863 1.17% 0 0 Independent 3 13,500 0.55% 0 0 Libertarian 1 1,108 0.04% 0 0 Total 2,466,385 100.00 40 40
Close races Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
Predictions SourceRankingAs of 270toWin November 2, 2023 Elections Daily November 2, 2023 CNalysis November 7, 2023
Results summary by Virginia Senate district DistrictIncumbent PartyElected senator Party 1 New seat Timmy French Rep 2 Mark Obenshain Rep Mark Obenshain Rep Emmett Hanger Rep 3 New seat Chris Head Rep 4 David Suetterlein Rep David Suetterlein Rep John Edwards Dem 5 Travis Hackworth Rep Travis Hackworth Rep 6 Todd Pillion Rep Todd Pillion Rep 7 Bill Stanley Rep Bill Stanley Rep 8 Mark Peake Rep Mark Peake Rep Stephen Newman Rep 9 Frank Ruff Rep Frank Ruff Rep 10 New seat John McGuire Rep 11 Creigh Deeds Dem Creigh Deeds Dem 12 Amanda Chase Rep Glen Sturtevant Rep 13 Joe Morrissey Dem Lashrecse Aird Dem 14 Lamont Bagby Dem Lamont Bagby Dem 15 Ghazala Hashmi Dem Ghazala Hashmi Dem 16 Siobhan Dunnavant Rep Schuyler VanValkenburg Dem 17 New seat Emily Brewer Rep 18 Louise Lucas Dem Louise Lucas Dem Lionell Spruill Dem 19Vacant Christie Craig Rep 20 Bill DeSteph Rep Bill DeSteph Rep Lynwood Lewis Dem 21 New seat Angelia Graves Dem 22 Aaron Rouse Dem Aaron Rouse Dem 23 Mamie Locke Dem Mamie Locke Dem 24 Monty Mason Dem Danny Diggs Rep 25 Richard Stuart Rep Richard Stuart Rep 26 Ryan McDougle Rep Ryan McDougle Rep Tommy Norment Rep 27 New seat Tara Durant Rep 28 Bryce Reeves Rep Bryce Reeves Rep 29 Jeremy McPike Dem Jeremy McPike Dem 30 New seat Danica Roem Dem 31 Jill Vogel Rep Russet Perry Dem 32 John Bell Dem Suhas Subramanyam Dem 33 New seat Jennifer Carroll Foy Dem 34 Scott Surovell Dem Scott Surovell Dem 35 Dick Saslaw Dem Dave Marsden Dem Dave Marsden Dem 36 George Barker Dem Stella Pekarsky Dem 37 Chap Petersen Dem Saddam Azlan Salim Dem 38 Jennifer Boysko Dem Jennifer Boysko Dem Janet Howell Dem 39 Adam Ebbin Dem Adam Ebbin Dem 40 Barbara Favola Dem Barbara Favola Dem
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesizesize Marginof error DemocraticParty RepublicanParty Other /UndecidedVirginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Commonwealth UniversityJuly 14–25, 2023804 (A)± 5.46%44%44%12%
List of districts 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__NOTOC__
District 1
Senate District 1 contains all of the city of Winchester, Clarke County, Frederick County, Shenandoah County, and Warren County. This was an open seat following redistricting.
Republican primary Nominee Timmy French, farmer
Defeated in primary Lance Allen, security company executive and candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2021 James Bergida, Christendom College professor Blaine Dunn, vice chair of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 Dave LaRock, state delegate John Massoud, Strasburg town councilor and nominee for HD-48 in 1997 Brandon Monk, Frederick County school board member Brad Pollack, Shenandoah County supervisor
Failed to qualify Robert Hupman, farmer
Results
Democratic primary Nominee Emily Scott, labor union employee and nominee for HD-15 in 2021
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of Elections Daily November 6, 2023 CNalysis September 8, 2023
District 2
Senate District 2 contains all of the city of Harrisonburg, Bath County, Highland County, Page County, and Rockingham County, as well as portions of Augusta County. This district had two incumbents following redistricting: Republicans Emmett Hanger, who was first elected in 1995, and Mark Obenshain, who was first elected in 2003.
Republican primary Nominee Mark Obenshain, incumbent senator
Declined Emmett Hanger, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Nominee Kathy Beery, retired teacher
Libertarian primary Nominee Joshua Huffman, political scientist
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of Elections Daily November 6, 2023 CNalysis September 8, 2023
District 3
Senate District 3 contains all of the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Staunton, Waynesboro, Alleghany County, Botetourt County, Craig County, and Rockbridge County, as well as portions of Augusta County and Roanoke County. This was an open seat following redistricting.
Republican primary Nominee Chris Head, state delegate for HD-03 (2012–present)
Declined Emmett Hanger, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Nominee Jade Harris, former vice mayor of Glasgow and nominee for HD-24 in the 2023 special election
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of Elections Daily November 6, 2023 CNalysis September 8, 2023
District 4
Senate District 4 contains the entire cities of Roanoke and Salem, as well as portions of Roanoke County and Montgomery County. This district had two incumbents following redistricting: Democrat John Edwards, who was first elected in 1995, and Republican Dave Suetterlein, who was first elected in 2015.
Democratic primary Nominee Trish White-Boyd, Roanoke city councilor
Defeated in primary D.A. Pierce, U.S. Air Force veteran Luke Priddy, Roanoke city councilor and chief of staff to outgoing State Sen. John Edwards
Declined John Edwards, incumbent senator from SD-21
Endorsements
Results
Republican primary Nominee Dave Suetterlein, incumbent senator
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of Elections Daily November 6, 2023 CNalysis September 8, 2023
Endorsements
District 5
Senate District 5 contains all of the city of Radford, Bland County, Giles County, Pulaski County, Smyth County, and Tazewell County, as well as portions of Montgomery County and Wythe County. The incumbent was Republican Travis Hackworth, who was first elected in 2021.
Republican primary Nominee Travis Hackworth, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Nominee Robert Beckman
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of Elections Daily November 6, 2023 CNalysis September 8, 2023
District 6
Senate District 6 contains all of the cities of Bristol, Norton, Buchanan County, Dickenson County, Lee County, Russell County, Scott County, Washington County, and Wise County. The incumbent was Republican Todd Pillion, who was first elected in 2019.
Republican primary Nominee Todd Pillion, incumbent senator
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of Elections Daily November 6, 2023 CNalysis September 8, 2023
District 7
Senate District 7 contains the entire cities of Galax, Martinsville, Carroll County, Floyd County, Franklin County, Grayson County, Henry County, and Patrick County, as well as portions of Wythe County. The incumbent was Republican Bill Stanley, who was first elected in 2011.
Republican primary Nominee Bill Stanley, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Nominee