Virginia State Senate

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Virginia State Senate
SLP-Infobox Image-Color.png
General Information
Party control:   Democrat
Session start:   January 10, 2024
Session end:   March 9, 2024
Term length:   4 years
Term limits:   None
Redistricting:  Commission
Salary:   $18,000/year for senators. $17,640/year for delegates. + per diem
Members
Total:  40
Democrats:  22
Republicans:  17
Other:  0
Vacancies:  1
Leadership
President:   Winsome Sears (R)
Maj. Leader:   Dick Saslaw (D)
Min. Leader:   Thomas Norment Jr. (R)
Elections
Last election:  November 7, 2023
Next election:  November 2, 2027

The Virginia State Senate is the upper chamber of the Virginia General Assembly. Alongside the Virginia House of Delegates, it forms the legislative branch of the Virginia state government and works alongside the governor of Virginia to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Virginia State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Virginia State Senate meets in the state capitol building in Richmond, Virginia.

  • All 40 seats were up for election in 2023.
  • Virginia has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and the lower chamber of the state legislature, while the Democratic Party controls the upper chamber of the state legislature.

  • This page contains the following information on the Virginia State Senate.

    Party control

    Current partisan control

    The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Virginia State Senate as of January 2024:

    Party As of January 2024
         Democratic Party 22
         Republican Party 17
         Other 0
         Vacancies 1
    Total 40

    Members

    Leadership

    The lieutenant governor serves as presiding officer of the Senate. In the event of the lieutenant governor's absence, the president pro tempore becomes presiding officer. The president pro tempore is elected by the Senate.[1]

    Leadership and members


    Office Name Party Date assumed office
    Virginia State Senate District 1 T. Monty Mason Democratic 2016
    Virginia State Senate District 2 Mamie Locke Democratic 2004
    Virginia State Senate District 3 Thomas Norment Jr. Republican 1992
    Virginia State Senate District 4 Ryan McDougle Republican 2006
    Virginia State Senate District 5 Lionell Spruill Democratic 2016
    Virginia State Senate District 6 Lynwood Lewis Democratic January 28, 2014
    Virginia State Senate District 7 Aaron Rouse Democratic January 18, 2023
    Virginia State Senate District 8 Bill DeSteph Jr. Republican January 13, 2016
    Virginia State Senate District 9 Lamont Bagby Democratic April 11, 2023
    Virginia State Senate District 10 Ghazala Hashmi Democratic January 8, 2020
    Virginia State Senate District 11 Amanda Chase Republican January 13, 2016
    Virginia State Senate District 12 Siobhan Dunnavant Republican January 13, 2016
    Virginia State Senate District 13 John Bell Democratic January 8, 2020
    Virginia State Senate District 14 Vacant
    Virginia State Senate District 15 Frank Ruff Republican 2000
    Virginia State Senate District 16 Joseph Morrissey Democratic January 8, 2020
    Virginia State Senate District 17 Bryce Reeves Republican 2012
    Virginia State Senate District 18 Louise Lucas Democratic 1992
    Virginia State Senate District 19 David Suetterlein Republican January 13, 2016
    Virginia State Senate District 20 Bill Stanley Republican 2011
    Virginia State Senate District 21 John Edwards Democratic 1996
    Virginia State Senate District 22 Mark Peake Republican 2017
    Virginia State Senate District 23 Stephen Newman Republican 1996
    Virginia State Senate District 24 Emmett Hanger Republican 1996
    Virginia State Senate District 25 Creigh Deeds Democratic 2001
    Virginia State Senate District 26 Mark Obenshain Republican 2004
    Virginia State Senate District 27 Jill Vogel Republican 2008
    Virginia State Senate District 28 Richard Stuart Republican 2008
    Virginia State Senate District 29 Jeremy McPike Democratic January 13, 2016
    Virginia State Senate District 30 Adam Ebbin Democratic 2012
    Virginia State Senate District 31 Barbara Favola Democratic 2012
    Virginia State Senate District 32 Janet Howell Democratic 1991
    Virginia State Senate District 33 Jennifer Boysko Democratic January 11, 2019
    Virginia State Senate District 34 John Chapman Petersen Democratic 2008
    Virginia State Senate District 35 Dick Saslaw Democratic 1980
    Virginia State Senate District 36 Scott Surovell Democratic January 13, 2016
    Virginia State Senate District 37 Dave Marsden Democratic January 13, 2010
    Virginia State Senate District 38 Travis Hackworth Republican April 2, 2021
    Virginia State Senate District 39 George Barker Democratic 2008
    Virginia State Senate District 40 Todd Pillion Republican January 8, 2020


    Salaries

    See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
    State legislative salaries, 2023
    SalaryPer diem
    $18,000/year for senators. $17,640/year for delegates.$209/day

    Swearing in dates

    See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

    Virginia legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January after the election.[2]

    Membership qualifications

    See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

    In order to serve in the Virginia General Assembly, candidates must meet the following qualifications:[3]

    • Be a citizen of the United States.
    • Be at least twenty-one years of age on or before the date of the general or special election for the office sought
    • Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the year immediately preceding the election
    • Be a resident of the district they are seeking to represent
    • Be a qualified voter in the district they are seeking to represent
    • Not have been convicted of a felony (unless voting rights have been officially restored)
    • Not have been adjudicated mentally incompetent (unless voting rights have been officially restored)

    Historical party control

    Democrats won a 21-19 majority in the Virginia State Senate in 2019, gaining control of the chamber for the first time since 2007.

    The table below shows the partisan history of the Virginia Senate following every general election from 1991 to 2019. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Virginia State Senate election results: 1991-2019

    Party 91 95[4] 99 03 07 11[5] 15 19
    Democrats 22 20 19 16 21 20 19 21
    Republicans 18 20 21 24 19 20 21 19

    Trifecta history

    A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Virginia was under the following types of trifecta control:

    • Democratic trifecta: 1992-1993, 2020-2021
    • Republican trifecta: 2000-2001, 2012-2013
    • Divided government: 1994-1999, 2002-2011, 2014-2019, 2022-2023

    Virginia Party Control: 1992-2024
    Four years of Democratic trifectas  •  Four years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
    Governor D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R
    Senate D D D D S S R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R D R R R R R D D D D D
    House D D D D D D S S R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D R R D

    Elections

    Elections by year

    Virginia state senators serve four-year terms, with all seats up for election every four years. Virginia is one of only four states to hold elections during odd years.

    2023

    See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2023

    Elections for the Virginia State Senate took place in 2023. The general election was on November 7, 2023. A primary was held on June 20, 2023. The filing deadline was April 6, 2023.

    2019

    See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2019

    Elections for the Virginia State Senate took place in 2019. The primary was on June 11, 2019, and the general election was on November 5. The filing deadline for candidates was March 28, 2019.

    Virginia State Senate
    Party As of November 5, 2019 After November 6, 2019
         Democratic Party 19 21
         Republican Party 20 19
         Vacancies 1 0
    Total 40 40

    2015

    See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2015

    Elections for the Virginia State Senate took place in 2015. A primary election was held on June 9, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 26, 2015.[6]

    Heading into the election, Republicans held a 21-19 majority. No partisan change occurred in the election.

    Virginia State Senate
    Party As of November 3, 2015 After November 3, 2015
         Democratic Party 19 19
         Republican Party 21 21
    Total 40 40

    Vacancies

    See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

    If there is a vacancy in the Virginia General Assembly, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. If the vacancy occurs while the legislature is in session, the presiding officer of the house in which the vacancy happens must call for a special election. If the vacancy occurs while the legislature is in recess, the governor shall call the special election. Within 30 days of a vacancy, the appropriate officeholder shall issue a writ of election. If an vacancy occurs between December 10 and March 1, the writ must declare the special election date be within 30 days of said vacancy. All special elections must be held promptly. However, no special election can be held if it occurs less than 55 days before any statewide primary or general election or if there are fewer than 75 days remaining in the vacated term.[10][11]

    DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Virginia Code § 24.2-216

    District map

    See also: Virginia state legislative districts

    The state of Virginia has 40 state Senate districts. Each district elects one senator.

    Use the interactive map below to find your district.



    Redistricting

    See also: Redistricting in Virginia

    On November 3, 2020, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment establishing a commission-driven congressional and state legislative redistricting process. The 16-member commission comprises eight legislators and eight non-legislator members. Leaders of the legislature's two largest political parties select legislators to serve on the commission. The commission's eight citizen members are recommended by legislative leaders and selected by a committee of five retired circuit court judges. The commissioners themselves select one of the eight citizens to serve as chairperson.[12]

    District maps are subject to the following consensus requirements:[12]

    • Congressional maps: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators and six non-legislators.
    • Virginia State Senate: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators (with three state senators) and six non-legislators.
    • Virginia House of Delegates: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators (with three state delegates) and six non-legislators.

    The commission submits its maps to the General Assembly, which can vote to approve the maps or reject them. The General Assembly cannot amend the maps. If the General Assembly rejects a map, the commission must draft a second map. If the General Assembly rejects that map, the Virginia Supreme Court is tasked with enacting a new map.[12][13]

    2020

    See also: Redistricting in Virginia after the 2020 census

    The Virginia Supreme Court unanimously approved district maps for the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia State Senate on December 28, 2021.[14] Democratic and Republican consultants submitted statewide map proposals for consideration to the Virginia Redistricting Commission on September 18, 2021.[15] The commission had reviewed earlier maps on August 31, 2021, that were focused solely on suburbs in northern Virginia that were drawn from scratch and did not consider legislative incumbents’ home addresses in keeping with earlier commission decisions.[16][17] After the commission missed its deadline for approving map proposals and the Virginia Supreme Court assumed authority over the process, the two special masters selected by the court released proposals for House and Senate districts on December 8, 2021.[18]These maps took effect for Virginia's 2023 legislative elections.

    District map after 2020 redistricting

    This map took effect for Virginia's 2022 legislative elections.

    VA final Sen map.jpg

    2010

    See also: Redistricting in Virginia after the 2010 census

    Virginia received its local census data on February 3, 2011. The state's population grew by 13 percent from 2000 to 2010; its growth mostly occurred in the northeastern part of the state, while declines ranging up to 13.4 percent occurred in counties along the southern and western edges. Loudoun County stood out with an 84.1 percent increase. Growth in the largest cities was less generous: Virginia Beach grew by 3.0 percent, Norfolk grew by 3.6 percent, Chesapeake grew by 11.6 percent, Richmond grew by 3.2 percent, and Newport News grew by 0.3 percent.[19]

    The Assembly was split going into redistricting. Republicans controlled the House, and Democrats controlled the Senate. The House set a 1% standard for allowance of deviation from the ideal district size (88,900 people), while the Senate passed a 2% standard (200,000 being the ideal size). The Senate and House reached a verbal agreement that the chambers would draw their own lines and not interfere with the other's.

    The House and Senate approved their maps on April 6 and 7, 2011, respectively. The House had an 86-8 approval vote, and the Senate went along party lines 22-18. Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) vetoed the maps on April 15, citing concerns about the increase in the number of divided communities, the Senate plan's higher deviation standard, and the partisan vote in the Senate.

    The Virginia House of Delegates passed a revised version of its redistricting plan on April 25, 2011.[20] A compromise was reached in the Senate on April 27, 2011, and a revised map was passed with a 32-5 vote.[21] McDonnell signed the revised legislative plan on April 29, 2011.[22]

    Sessions

    Legislation

    The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Virginia State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by both chambers and signed by the governor. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

    Dates of legislative sessions in Virginia by year

    2024

    See also: 2024 Virginia legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

    In 2024, the legislature is scheduled to convene on January 10, 2024, and adjourn on March 9, 2024.

    2023

    See also: 2023 Virginia legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

    In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 11, 2023, and adjourn on February 25, 2023.



    About legislative sessions in Virginia

    The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[31] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

    Article IV of the Virginia Constitution establishes when the Virginia General Assembly, of which the Senate is a part, is to be in session. Section 6 of Article IV states that the General Assembly is to convene annually on the second Wednesday in January. In even-numbered years, regular sessions are limited to sixty days. In odd-numbered years, regular sessions are limited to thirty days. Section 6 allows the General Assembly to extend its regular sessions by thirty days if two-thirds of each house vote to extend the session.

    Section 6 allows the Governor of Virginia to convene special sessions of the General Assembly. Section 6 also allows for a special session to be called when it is requested by two-thirds of the members of each house.[32]

    Legislative roles and procedures

    Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, and procedures for filling membership vacancies.

    Veto overrides

    Veto Override Graphic-No party.png

    See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

    State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Virginia are listed below.

    How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.

    Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 67 of the 100 members in the Virginia House of Delegates and 27 of the 40 members in the Virginia State Senate. Virginia is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

    How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?

    According to Article IV, Section 6 of the Virginia Constitution, the legislature shall automatically reconvene in a special veto session six weeks after the adjournment of the regular session to consider veto overrides. The session lasts for three days unless a majority of members in both chambers vote to extend it for a period no longer than seven days.

    Authority: Article V, Section 6 of the Virginia Constitution.

    "(ii) The Governor may veto the bill if he objects to it by returning the bill with his objections to the house in which the bill originated. The house shall enter the objections in its journal and reconsider the bill. The house may override the veto by a two-thirds vote of the members present, which two-thirds shall include a majority of the members elected to that house. If the house of origin overrides the Governor's veto, it shall send the bill and Governor's objections to the other house where the bill shall be reconsidered. The second house may override the Governor's veto by a two-thirds vote of the members present, which two-thirds shall include a majority of the members elected to that house. If both houses override the Governor's veto, the bill shall become law without his signature."

    Role in state budget

    See also: Virginia state budget and finances
    Virginia on Public Policy Logo-one line-on Ballotpedia.png
    Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
    BudgetsCivil libertiesEducationElectionsEnergyEnvironmentHealthcarePensions

    The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[33]

    1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August.
    2. State agency budget requests are submitted September through October.
    3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the Virginia General Assembly in December.
    4. The General Assembly adopts a budget in March or April. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
    5. The biennial budget cycle begins in July.

    Virginia is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[33]

    The legislature is not required to pass, and the governor is not required to sign, a balanced budget. However, the governor is required to make sure actual expenditures do not exceed revenues by the end of the appropriation period.[33]

    Committees

    See also: List of committees in Virginia state government

    Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

    • Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
    • Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
    • Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

    Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Virginia State Senate has 13 standing committees:


    Constitutional amendments

    In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

    The methods in which the Virginia Constitution can be amended:

    See also: Article XII of the Virginia Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Virginia

    The Virginia Constitution can be amended through two different paths—a legislative process, and a constitutional convention. Virginia does not feature the power of initiative for either initiated constitutional amendments or initiated state statutes.

    Legislature

    See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

    A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions for the Virginia State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in the Virginia House of Delegates and 21 votes in the Virginia State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

    Convention

    See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

    Amendments to or revisions of the state's constitution can be proposed by a constitutional convention as established in Section 2 of Article XII. A convention can happen if the state's legislature "by a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house" calls a convention.



    2025 measures:

    See also: 2025 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.

    No measures to list

    2024 measures:

    Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.

    See also: Virginia 2024 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.

    See also

    Elections Virginia State Government State Legislatures State Politics
    Ballotpedia Elections Badge-VOTE-no shadow-Square.jpg
    Virginia State Flag-Close Up.jpg
    State Houses-Tile image.png
    State Courts-Tile image.png

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. Virginia General Assembly, "Senate of Virginia," accessed February 16, 2021
    2. Virginia Legislative Information System, "Code of Virginia - § 24.2-214. Election and term of Senators." accessed January 6, 2022
    3. Virginia General Assembly, "Certificate of Candidate Qualification," accessed February 10, 2023
    4. Chamber governed by a power-sharing agreement.
    5. Control of the Senate varied between the 2011 and 2015 elections. Republicans controlled the chamber from 2012 through 2013, with a Republican lieutenant governor serving as a tie-breaking vote. Democrats won the lieutenant governorship in 2013, giving them control for the first half of 2014. One Democrat resigned in June 2014 and Republicans won the August 2014 special election, giving the party a 21-19 majority.
    6. Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
    7. Follow the Money, "Virginia 2011 Candidates," accessed August 5, 2013
    8. Follow the Money, "Virginia 2007 Candidates," accessed August 5, 2013
    9. Follow the Money, "Virginia 2003 Candidates," accessed August 5, 2013
    10. Virginia Law Library, "§ 24.2-216. Filling vacancies in the General Assembly," accessed February 16, 2021 (Statute 24.2-216, Virginia Code)
    11. Virginia Law Library, "§ 24.2-682. Times for special elections," accessed February 16, 2021
    12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Virginia's Legislative Information System, "HJ 615 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission (first reference)," accessed November 18, 2020
    13. All About Redistricting, "Virginia," accessed May 8, 2015
    14. 13News Now, "Virginia has new voting maps after redistricting process finishes," December 30, 2021
    15. ABC 7, "Virginia bipartisan redistricting panel starts off with partisan maps," September 20, 2021
    16. El Paso Inc., "First redistricting map drafts leave some lawmakers unhappy," September 2, 2021
    17. Virginia Mercury, "Virginia’s Redistricting Commission has its first draft maps. They look… normal?" September 2, 2021
    18. Associated Press, "Proposed congressional maps give Dems an edge in Virginia," December 9, 2021
    19. U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Virginia's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," February 3, 2011
    20. Washington Examiner, "Virginia House advances new redistricting plan," April 25, 2011
    21. Richmond Times-Dispatch, "General Assembly approves redistricting plan," April 29, 2011 (dead link)
    22. Richmond Times-Dispatch, "McDonnell signs redistricting bill," April 30, 2011
    23. pilotonline.com, "Lawmakers set to return for veto session," accessed February 16, 2021
    24. David Sherfinski, Washington Times, "Terry McAuliffe’s 2015 Va. agenda includes economics, health care," January 25, 2015
    25. Daily Press, "Virginia General Assembly opens, lawmakers ease back into action," January 8, 2014
    26. WRIC, "Virginia General Assembly To Convene For 2013 Session," January 9, 2013
    27. ncsl.org, "2012 Legislative Session Calendar," accessed February 16, 2021
    28. The Washington Post, "Virginia General Assembly to convene legislative redistricting session," April 3, 2011
    29. Post Local, "Va. assembly to vote Friday on Supreme Court, appeals judges," July 29, 2011
    30. Virginia General Assembly, "2010 Session calendar," accessed February 16, 2021
    31. Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed February 16, 2021
    32. Virginia Law Library, "Constitution of Virginia," accessed February 16, 2021
    33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023