# Virginia's 31st Senate district

Virginia's 31st Senate district is one of 40 districts in the Senate of Virginia. It has been represented by Democrat Barbara Favola since 2012, succeeding retiring fellow Democrat Mary Margaret Whipple. In the 2023 Virginia Senate election, Russet Perry was elected.

## Geography

District 31 stretches along the Potomac River in parts of Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties, including some or all of McLean, Langley, Great Falls, and Lowes Island. The sections of Arlington covered include the neighborhoods of Arlington Forest, Arlington View, Ballston, Cherrydale, Clarendon, Courthouse, Glen Carlyn, Lyon Village, Rosslyn, Virginia Square and Westover.
The district overlaps with Virginia's 8th and 10th congressional districts, and with the 34th, 47th, 48th, 49th, and 86th districts of the Virginia House of Delegates. It lies directly across the river from Maryland and the District of Columbia.

## Recent election results
### 2019

2019 Virginia Senate election, District 31 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Barbara Favola (incumbent) | 46,655 | 91.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,914 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2015

2015 Virginia Senate election, District 31 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Barbara Favola (incumbent) | 26,373 | 62.3 |
| | Republican | George Farakis | 15,904 | 37.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,358 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2011

2011 Virginia Senate election, District 31 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Barbara Favola | 6,549 | 64.7 |
| | Democratic | Jaime Areizaga-Soto | 3,575 | 35.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,124 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Barbara Favola | 24,349 | 58.1 |
| | Republican | Caren Merrick | 17,484 | 41.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,912 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### Federal and statewide results

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2021 | Governor | McAuliffe 76.7–22.6% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 71.6–26.6% |
| 2017 | Governor | Northam 71.6–27.5% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 69.2–24.9% |
| 2014 | Senate | Warner 61.7–36.1% |
| 2013 | Governor | McAuliffe 63.0–31.2% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 61.0–37.7% |
| 2012 | Senate | Kaine 63.7–36.3% |

## Historical results

All election results below took place prior to 2011 redistricting, and thus were under different district lines.

### 2007

2007 Virginia Senate election, District 31 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mary Margaret Whipple (incumbent) | 23,380 | 82.6 |
| | Independent | Samuel Burley | 4,676 | 16.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,297 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2003

2003 Virginia Senate election, District 31 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mary Margaret Whipple (incumbent) | 23,015 | 69.4 |
| | Republican | Kamal Nawash | 10,053 | 30.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,168 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1999

1999 Virginia Senate election, District 31 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mary Margaret Whipple (incumbent) | 22,873 | 70.3 |
| | Republican | Scott Tate | 9,656 | 29.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,551 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1995

1995 Virginia Senate election, District 31 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mary Margaret Whipple | 23,898 | 68.6 |
| | Republican | David Oblon | 10,898 | 31.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,824 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District officeholders

| Years | Senator, District 31 | Counties/cities in district |
| 1940–1942 | Henry T. Wickham (D) | Caroline County, Essex County, Goochland County, Hanover County, King and Queen County, King William County, Middlesex County |
| 1942–1944 | Thomas H. Blanton (D) | Caroline County, Essex County, Goochland County, Hanover County, King and Queen County, King William County, Middlesex County |
| 1944–1948 | Thomas H. Blanton (D) | Caroline County, Essex County, Goochland County, Hanover County, King and Queen County, King William County, Middlesex County |
| 1948–1952 | Thomas H. Blanton (D) | Caroline County, Essex County, Goochland County, Hanover County, King and Queen County, King William County, Middlesex County |
| 1952–1956 | Thomas H. Blanton (D) | Caroline County, Essex County, Goochland County, Hanover County, King and Queen County, King William County, Middlesex County |
| 1956–1960 | W. Marvin Minter (D) | Gloucester County, James City County, New Kent County, Mathews County, City of Warwick, City of Williamsburg, York County |
| 1960–1964 | Fred W. Bateman (D) | Gloucester County, James City County, New Kent County, Mathews County, City of Newport News (part), City of Williamsburg, York County |
| 1964–1968 | Hunter Andrews (D) | City of Hampton, City of Newport News (part) |
| 1968–1972 | No member elected | District was defunct as a result of redistricting |
| 1972–1976 | Edward M. Holland (D) | Arlington County (part) |
| 1976–1980 | Edward M. Holland (D) | Arlington County (part) |
| 1980–1984 | Edward M. Holland (D) | Arlington County (part) |
| 1984–1988 | Edward M. Holland (D) | Arlington County (part) |
| 1988–1992 | Edward M. Holland (D) | Arlington County (part) |
| 1992–1996 | Edward M. Holland (D) | Arlington County (part), City of Falls Church. |
| 1996–2000 | Mary Margaret Whipple (D) | Arlington County (part), City of Falls Church. |
| 2000–2004 | Mary Margaret Whipple (D) | Arlington County (part), City of Falls Church. |
| 2004–2008 | Mary Margaret Whipple (D) | Arlington County (part), City of Falls Church, Fairfax County (part). |
| 2008–2012 | Mary Margaret Whipple (D) | Arlington County (part), City of Falls Church, Fairfax County (part). |
| 2012–2016 | Barbara Favola (D) | Arlington County (part), Fairfax County (part) and Loudoun County (part). |
| 2016–present | Barbara Favola (D) | Arlington County (part), Fairfax County (part) and Loudoun County (part). |