# 2015 Virginia Senate election

"none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
The 2015 Virginia Senate election was held on November 3, 2015, to elect all 40 members of the Virginia Senate. Republicans retained their 21–19 majority in the chamber.
As of 2023, this is the most recent time that Republicans won a majority in the Senate.

## Previous composition

| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| Affiliation | Democratic | Republican | Total | Vacant |
| End of Previous Session (2008–2012) | 22 | 18 | 40 | 0 |
| Begin | 20 | 20 | 40 | 0 |
| July 3, 2012 | 19 | 20 | 39 | 1 |
| September 17, 2012 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 0 |
| August 5, 2013 | 20 | 19 | 39 | 1 |
| August 16, 2013 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 0 |
| January 11, 2014 | 18 | 20 | 38 | 2 |
| January 24, 2014 | 19 | 20 | 39 | 1 |
| January 28, 2014 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 0 |
| June 8, 2014 | 19 | 20 | 39 | 1 |
| July 2, 2014 | 18 | 20 | 38 | 2 |
| August 19, 2014 | 18 | 21 | 39 | 1 |
| November 4, 2014 | 19 | 21 | 40 | 0 |
| January 13, 2015 | 19 | 21 | 40 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 47.5% | 52.5% | | |
* ↑ Democrat Yvonne B. Miller (District 5) died.
* ↑ Democrat Kenny Alexander replaced Miller after September 4 special election.
* ↑ Republican Harry Blevins (District 14) resigned. Although in theory Democrats had a brief numerical majority, the Senate was not in session. Additionally, rules adopted at the beginning of the 2012 session required a two-thirds supermajority vote to reorganize the Senate mid-session.
* ↑ Republican John Cosgrove replaced Blevins after August 6 special election.
* ↑ Democrats Ralph Northam (District 6) and Mark Herring (District 33) resigned upon being inaugurated Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, respectively.
* ↑ Democrat Jennifer Wexton elected to succeed Herring.
* ↑ Democrat Lynwood Lewis replaced Northam after January 7 special election and January 27 recount. After regaining a numerical majority in the Senate, the Democrats voted to change the Senate's rules and reorganize the chamber, putting the Senate back under Democratic control.
* ↑ Democrat Phillip Puckett (District 38) resigned. Republicans regained effective control and adopted their own rules change effective June 12.
* ↑ Democrat Henry L. Marsh (District 16) resigned to take a seat on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
* ↑ Republican Ben Chafin elected to succeed Puckett.
* ↑ Democrat Rosalyn Dance elected to succeed Marsh.
* ↑ Republicans Jeffrey McWaters (District 8), John Watkins (District 10), Walter Stosch (District 12) & Ralph K. Smith (District 19) & Democrats Charles Colgan (District 29) & Toddy Puller (District 36) Retiring, Replaced respectively by, Republicans Bill DeSteph, Glen Sturtevant, Siobhan Dunnavant & David Suetterlein & Democrats Jeremy McPike & Scott Surovell, No seats changing party.

### Summary

2015 Virginia Senate election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | 30 candidates (21 elected) | 716,331 | 52.57% | +0 |
| | Democratic | 30 candidates (19 elected) | 596,198 | 43.75% | +0 |
| | Independent Greens | 3 candidates | 14,622 | 1.07% | +0 |
| | Independents | 4 candidates | 12,731 | 0.93% | +0 |
| | Libertarian | 1 - Carl Richard Loser | 527 | 0.04% | +0 |
| | Write-ins | | 22,255 | 1.63% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,362,664 | 100.0% | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | 0 | |

## Results by district
### District 1

Virginia Senate, 1st District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Clifford Miller (incumbent) | 17,989 | 59.3% |
| | Republican | Mark Randolph Matney | 12,278 | 40.5% |
| | Write-ins | | 69 | 0.2% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,336 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 2

Virginia Senate, 2nd District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mamie Evelyn Locke (incumbent) | 17,459 | 94.1% |
| | Write-ins | | 1,087 | 5.9% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,546 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 3

Virginia Senate, 3rd District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Thomas Kent Norment Jr. (incumbent) | 35,520 | 69.5% |
| | Democratic | Hugo Eduardo Reyes | 15,432 | 30.2% |
| | Write-ins | | 147 | 0.3% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,099 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 4

Virginia Senate, 4th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ryan Todd McDougle (incumbent) | 37,882 | 96.0% |
| | Write-ins | | 1,573 | 4% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,455 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 5

Virginia Senate, 5th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kenneth Cooper Alexander (incumbent) | 13,955 | 95.4% |
| | Write-ins | | 668 | 4.6% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,623 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 6

Virginia Senate, 6th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lynwood Wayne Lewis Jr. (incumbent) | 16,738 | 59.5% |
| | Republican | Richard Hooper Ottinger | 11,386 | 40.4% |
| | Write-ins | | 29 | 0.1% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,153 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 7

Virginia Senate, 7th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank W. Wagner (incumbent) | 18,266 | 53.9% |
| | Democratic | Gary Thomas McCollum | 15,434 | 45.5% |
| | Write-ins | | 208 | 0.6% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,908 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 8

Virginia Senate, 8th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Howard David Belote | 11,075 | 40.9% |
| | Republican | Bill R. DeSteph Jr. | 15,905 | 58.7% |
| | Write-ins | | 106 | 0.4% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,086 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 9

Virginia Senate, 9th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | A. Donald McEachin (incumbent) | 31,067 | 95.0% |
| | Write-ins | | 1,620 | 5% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,687 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 10

Virginia Senate, 10th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Daniel Allen Gecker | 26,173 | 47.1% |
| | Republican | Glen Howard Sturtevant Jr. | 27,651 | 49.8% |
| | Independent Greens | Marleen K. Durfee | 1,136 | 2.0% |
| | Libertarian | Carl Richard Loser | 527 | 1.0% |
| | Write-ins | | 60 | 0.1% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,547 | 100.0% |

### District 11

Virginia Senate, 11th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ernest Wayne Powell | 15,485 | 36.2% |
| | Republican | Amanda Freeman Chase | 27,218 | 63.6% |
| | Write-ins | | 111 | 0.3% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,814 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 12

Virginia Senate, 12th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Deborah M. Repp | 16,797 | 38.0% |
| | Republican | Siobhan Stolle Dunnavant | 25,504 | 57.6% |
| | Independent | Robert Scott Johnson | 1,881 | 4.3% |
| | Write-ins | | 65 | 0.1% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,247 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 13

Virginia Senate, 13th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | R. H. Black (incumbent) | 25,898 | 52.3% |
| | Democratic | Barbra Jill McCabe | 23,544 | 47.5% |
| | Write-ins | | 84 | 0.2% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 49,526 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 14

Virginia Senate, 14th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | J. A. Cosgrove Jr. (incumbent) | 15,371 | 92.4% |
| | Write-ins | | 1,266 | 7.6% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,637 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 15

Virginia Senate, 15th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank Miller Ruff Jr. (incumbent) | 32,745 | 98.3% |
| | Write-ins | | 572 | 1.7% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,317 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 16

Virginia Senate, 16th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rosalyn Randolph Dance (incumbent) | 17,331 | 72.7% |
| | Independent | Joseph D. Morrissey | 6,090 | 25.5% |
| | Write-ins | | 428 | 1.8% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,849 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 17

Virginia Senate, 17th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bryce E. Reeves (incumbent) | 24,519 | 62.1% |
| | Democratic | Ned Lee Gallaway | 14,915 | 37.8% |
| | Write-ins | | 53 | 0.1% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,487 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 18

Virginia Senate, 18th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lillie Louise Boone Lucas (incumbent) | 20,321 | 95.6% |
| | Write-ins | | 942 | 4.4% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,263 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 19

Virginia Senate, 19th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Michael Lawrence Hamlar | 15,738 | 30.8% |
| | Republican | David Robert Suetterlein | 33,120 | 64.9% |
| | Independent | Steven Lee Nelson | 2,134 | 4.2% |
| | Write-ins | | 71 | 0.1% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,063 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 20

Virginia Senate, 20th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | William Martin Stanley Jr. (incumbent) | 22,701 | 57.9% |
| | Democratic | Kimberly Elliott Adkins | 16,455 | 42.0% |
| | Write-ins | | 67 | 0.2% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,223 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 21

Virginia Senate, 21st District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Saul Edwards (incumbent) | 20,881 | 50.9% |
| | Republican | Nancy Vivian Dye | 17,438 | 42.5% |
| | Independent | Donald Stevens Caldwell | 2,626 | 6.4% |
| | Write-ins | | 42 | 0.1% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,987 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 22

Virginia Senate, 22nd District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Thomas A. Garrett Jr. (incumbent) | 24,913 | 95.3% |
| | Write-ins | | 1,219 | 4.7% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,132 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 23

Virginia Senate, 23rd District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Stephen Dwayne Newman (incumbent) | 27,309 | 96.7% |
| | Write-ins | | 923 | 3.3% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,232 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 24

Virginia Senate, 24th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Emmett Wilson Hanger Jr. (incumbent) | 34,980 | 97.9% |
| | Write-ins | | 765 | 2.1% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,745 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 25

Virginia Senate, 25th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robert Creigh Deeds (incumbent) | 34,419 | 97.2% |
| | Write-ins | | 984 | 2.8% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,403 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 26

Virginia Senate, 26th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Dudley Obenshain (incumbent) | 25,042 | 68.7% |
| | Democratic | April Dorothea Moore | 11,308 | 31.0% |
| | Write-ins | | 89 | 0.2% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,439 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 27

Virginia Senate, 27th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jill Holtzman Vogel (incumbent) | 34,203 | 97.3% |
| | Write-ins | | 964 | 2.7% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,167 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 28

Virginia Senate, 28th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard Henry Stuart Sr. (incumbent) | 30,187 | 95.4% |
| | Write-ins | | 1,446 | 4.6% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,633 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 29

Virginia Senate, 29th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jeremy Scott McPike | 16,489 | 53.7% |
| | Republican | Harry "Hal" Jacob Parrish, II | 14,131 | 46.1% |
| | Write-ins | | 60 | 0.2% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,680 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 30

Virginia Senate, 30th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Adam Paul Ebbin (incumbent) | 27,274 | 76.7% |
| | Independent Greens | James Ronald Fisher | 7,431 | 20.9% |
| | Write-ins | | 842 | 2.4% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,547 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 31

Virginia Senate, 31st District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Barbara Ann Favola (incumbent) | 26,373 | 62.3% |
| | Republican | George Forakis | 15,904 | 37.5% |
| | Write-ins | | 81 | 0.2% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,358 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 32

Virginia Senate, 32nd District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Janet Denison Howell (incumbent) | 31,156 | 94.0% |
| | Write-ins | | 1,974 | 6% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,130 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 33

Virginia Senate, 33rd District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jennifer Tosini Wexton (incumbent) | 18,577 | 56.6% |
| | Republican | Stephen Bartholomew Hollingshead | 14,190 | 43.2% |
| | Write-ins | | 59 | 0.2% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,826 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 34

Virginia Senate, 34th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Chapman "Chap" Petersen (incumbent) | 27,690 | 93.6% |
| | Write-ins | | 1,881 | 6.4% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,571 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 35

Virginia Senate, 35th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard Lawrence Saslaw (incumbent) | 18,754 | 74.4% |
| | Independent Greens | Terrence Wayne Modglin | 6,055 | 24% |
| | Write-ins | | 383 | 1.5% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,192 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 36

Virginia Senate, 36th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Scott A. Surovell | 18,320 | 60.5% |
| | Republican | Gerald Moodrow Foreman, II | 11,890 | 39.3% |
| | Write-ins | | 62 | 0.2% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,272 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 37

Virginia Senate, 37th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | David William Marsden (incumbent) | 18,966 | 55.4% |
| | Republican | David Michael Bergman | 15,216 | 44.5% |
| | Write-ins | | 38 | 0.1% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,220 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 38

Virginia Senate, 38th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Augustus Benton Chafin Jr. (incumbent) | 31,025 | 98.3% |
| | Write-ins | | 537 | 1.7% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,562 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 39

Virginia Senate, 39th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | George L. Barker (incumbent) | 20,083 | 53.9% |
| | Republican | Joseph "Joe" Robert Murray | 17,101 | 45.9% |
| | Write-ins | | 85 | 0.2% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,269 | 100.0% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 40

Virginia Senate, 40th District general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | C. W. "Bill" Carrico (incumbent) | 36,838 | 98.4% |
| | Write-ins | | 595 | 1.6% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,433 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |