# Virginia's 8th Senate district

Virginia's 8th Senate district is one of 40 districts in the Senate of Virginia. It has been represented by Republican Bill DeSteph since 2016, succeeding fellow Republican Jeff McWaters.

## Geography

District 8 is located in the City of Virginia Beach, encompassing all of the city's coastline along the Atlantic Ocean.
The district is contained entirely within Virginia's 2nd congressional district, and overlaps with the 21st, 81st, 82nd, and 84th districts of the Virginia House of Delegates. Its far southern tip borders the state of North Carolina.

## Recent election results
### 2019

2019 Virginia Senate election, District 8 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill DeSteph (incumbent) | 28,637 | 52.1 |
| | Democratic | Missy Cotter Smasal | 26,242 | 47.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 54,960 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2015

2015 Virginia Senate election, District 8 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill DeSteph | 2,280 | 71.1 |
| | Republican | Craig Hudgins | 928 | 28.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,209 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Bill DeSteph | 15,905 | 58.7 |
| | Democratic | Howard Belote | 11,075 | 40.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,086 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2011

2011 Virginia Senate election, District 8 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jeff McWaters (incumbent) | 14,371 | 96.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,883 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### Federal and statewide results

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2020 | President | Biden 49.6–48.6% |
| 2017 | Governor | Northam 49.7–49.2% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 51.0–42.9% |
| 2014 | Senate | Gillespie 53.0–44.3% |
| 2013 | Governor | Cuccinelli 48.8–44.4% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 52.6–46.1% |
| 2012 | Senate | Allen 51.5–48.5% |

## Historical results

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

### 2010 special

2010 Virginia Senate special election, District 8 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jeff McWaters | 8,052 | 78.6 |
| | Democratic | Bill Fleming | 2,185 | 21.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,246 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2007

2007 Virginia Senate election, District 8 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ken Stolle (incumbent) | 13,137 | 95.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,743 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2003

2003 Virginia Senate election, District 8 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ken Stolle (incumbent) | 13,641 | 96.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,081 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1999

1999 Virginia Senate election, District 8 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ken Stolle (incumbent) | 25,459 | 97.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,085 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1995

1995 Virginia Senate election, District 8 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ken Stolle (incumbent) | 15,517 | 98.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,759 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |