2015 Virginia House of Delegates election
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All 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates 51 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 29.1%  13.9[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Results: Republican hold Republican gain Democratic hold Democratic gain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Virginia |
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The Virginia House of Delegates election of 2015 was held on Tuesday, November 3. All 100 seats of the Virginia House of Delegates were on the ballot. While Republicans maintained an enormous edge against Democrats in the chamber, their net loss of one seat cost them their previously held veto-proof majority against Governor Terry McAuliffe.[2]
Background
The filing deadline for Republicans and Democrats to participate in the June 9 primaries was March 26.[3] Incumbents Mamye BaCote, Ed Scott, Tom Rust, Rob Krupicka, and David Ramadan announced their intent to retire from the House. Joseph E. Preston, Michael Futrell, and Scott Surovell chose to run for the 16th, 29th, and 36th district senate seats, respectively, rather than seek reelection. Freshman delegate and Tea Party activist Mark Berg was defeated in the Republican primary by Chris Collins, and twenty-year incumbent Johnny Joannou was defeated by Steve Heretick in the Democratic primary.[4] Races were uncontested in sixty-two districts, and there was only one major party candidate on the ballot in seventy-one districts.[5][6]
In October, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld the boundaries of twelve House districts in a Democratic Party-supported lawsuit alleging racial gerrymandering.[7]
Delegates not running for re-election
| Delegate | Seat | First elected | Party | Date announced | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mamye BaCote | 95th district | 2003 | Democratic | January 15, 2015 | [8] | |
| Michael Futrell | 2nd district | 2013 | Democratic | December 3, 2014 | [9] | |
| Rob Krupicka | 45th district | 2012 | Democratic | March 16, 2015 | [10] | |
| Joseph E. Preston | 63rd district | 2015 | Democratic | March 12, 2015 | [11] | |
| David Ramadan | 87th district | 2011 | Republican | April 15, 2015 | [12] | |
| Tom Rust | 86th district | 2001 | Republican | February 25, 2015 | [13] | |
| Ed Scott | 30th district | 2003 | Republican | February 3, 2015 | [14] | |
| Scott Surovell | 44th district | 2009 | Democratic | January 18, 2015 | [15] | |
Results
Democrats picked up two seats, with Jennifer Boysko and John Bell being elected to succeed the retiring Tom Rust and David Ramadan. Mark Dudenhefer gave the Republicans a single pickup when he won back the seat he lost two years earlier to Michael Futrell. For the first time since the Virginia Public Access Project started tracking state elections in 1995, every single incumbent running for reelection was successful.[16]
Overall
| ↓ | |
|---|---|
| 66 | 34 |
| Republican | Democratic |
| Party | Leader | Delegates | Votes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Of total | ± | Of total | ± | ||||||||
| Republican Party | William J. Howell | 66 | 66% | 66 / 100 |
1
|
798,868 | 60.79% | ||||
| Democratic Party | David Toscano | 34 | 34% | 34 / 100 |
 1
|
451,865 | 34.38% | ||||
| Other parties | |||||||||||
| Independent / Other | N/A | 0 | 0% | 0 / 100 |
|
47,574 | 3.62% | ||||
| Independent Green Party | N/A | 0 | 0% | 0 / 100 |
|
8,576 | 0.65% | ||||
| Libertarian Party | N/A | 0 | 0% | 0 / 100 |
|
4,996 | 0.38% | ||||
| Green Party | N/A | 0 | 0% | 0 / 100 |
|
2,367 | 0.18% | ||||
By district
| District | Incumbent | This race | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Delegate | Party | First elected |
Winner[17] | Candidates[5] |
| 1 | Terry Kilgore | Republican | 1993 | Terry Kilgore (R) | Terry Kilgore (R) unopposed |
| 2 | Michael Futrell | Democratic | 2013 | Mark Dudenhefer (D) Republican gain. |
Mark Dudenhefer (R) 50.4% Joshua King (D) 49.4% |
| 3 | Will Morefield | Republican | 2009 | Will Morefield (R) | Will Morefield (R) unopposed |
| 4 | Todd Pillion | Republican | 2014 | Todd Pillion (R) | Todd Pillion (R) unopposed |
| 5 | Israel O'Quinn | Republican | 2011 | Israel O'Quinn (R) | Israel O'Quinn (R) unopposed |
| 6 | Jeff Campbell | Republican | 2013 | Jeff Campbell (R) | Jeff Campbell (R) unopposed |
| 7 | Nick Rush | Republican | 2011 | Nick Rush (R) | Nick Rush (R) unopposed |
| 8 | Greg Habeeb | Republican | 2011 | Greg Habeeb (R) | Greg Habeeb (R) unopposed |
| 9 | Charles Poindexter | Republican | 2007 | Charles Poindexter (R) | Charles Poindexter (R) unopposed |
| 10 | Randy Minchew | Republican | 2011 | Randy Minchew (R) | Randy Minchew (R) 62.0% Peter Rush (D) 37.8% |
| 11 | Sam Rasoul | Democratic | 2014 | Sam Rasoul (D) | Sam Rasoul (D) unopposed |
| 12 | Joseph R. Yost | Republican | 2011 | Joseph R. Yost (R) | Joseph R. Yost (R) 58.3% Laurie Buchwald (D) 41.6% |
| 13 | Bob Marshall | Republican | 1991 | Bob Marshall (R) | Bob Marshall (R) 56.1% Don Shaw (D) 43.7% |
| 14 | Danny Marshall | Republican | 2001 | Danny Marshall (R) | Danny Marshall (R) unopposed |
| 15 | Todd Gilbert | Republican | 2005 | Todd Gilbert (R) | Todd Gilbert (R) unopposed |
| 16 | Les Adams | Republican | 2013 | Les Adams (R) | Les Adams (R) unopposed |
| 17 | Chris Head | Republican | 2011 | Chris Head (R) | Chris Head (R) unopposed |
| 18 | Michael Webert | Republican | 2011 | Michael Webert (R) | Michael Webert (R) unopposed |
| 19 | Terry Austin | Republican | 2013 | Terry Austin (R) | Terry Austin (R) unopposed |
| 20 | Richard Bell | Republican | 2009 | Richard Bell (R) | Richard Bell (R) 75.2% Will Hammer (L) 23.9% |
| 21 | Ron Villanueva | Republican | 2009 | Ron Villanueva (R) | Ron Villanueva (R) 56.7% Susan Hippen (D) 43.0% |
| 22 | Kathy Byron | Republican | 1997 | Kathy Byron (R) | Kathy Byron (R) unopposed |
| 23 | Scott Garrett | Republican | 2009 | Scott Garrett (R) | Scott Garrett (R) unopposed |
| 24 | Benjamin L. Cline | Republican | 2002 | Benjamin L. Cline (R) | Benjamin L. Cline (R) 70.9% Ellen Arthur (D) 29.0% |
| 25 | Steve Landes | Republican | 1995 | Steve Landes (R) | Steve Landes (R) 66.2% Angela Lynn (D) 33.7% |
| 26 | Tony Wilt | Republican | 2010 | Tony Wilt (R) | Tony Wilt (R) unopposed |
| 27 | Roxann Robinson | Republican | 2010 | Roxann Robinson (R) | Roxann Robinson (R) 58.5% Marty Mooradian (D) 41.4% |
| 28 | Bill Howell | Republican | 1987 | Bill Howell (R) | Bill Howell (R) 60.3% Kandy Hilliard (D) 39.4% |
| 29 | Mark Berg | Republican | 2013 | Chris Collins (R) Republican hold. |
Chris Collins (R) unopposed |
| 30 | Ed Scott | Republican | 2003 | Nicholas Freitas (R) Republican hold. |
Nicholas Freitas (R) unopposed |
| 31 | Scott Lingamfelter | Republican | 2001 | Scott Lingamfelter (R) | Scott Lingamfelter (R) 53.4% Sara Townsend (D) 46.5% |
| 32 | Tag Greason | Republican | 2009 | Tag Greason (R) | Tag Greason (R) 53.1% Elizabeth Miller (D) 46.9% |
| 33 | Dave LaRock | Republican | 2013 | Dave LaRock (R) | Dave LaRock (R) 59.9% Chuck Hedges (D) 36.4% Mark Anderson (L) 3.6% |
| 34 | Kathleen Murphy | Democratic | 2015 | Kathleen Murphy (D) | Kathleen Murphy (D) 50.4% Craig Parisot (R) 49.5% |
| 35 | Mark Keam | Democratic | 2009 | Mark Keam (D) | Mark Keam (D) unopposed |
| 36 | Ken Plum | Democratic | 1981 (1978–1980) |
Ken Plum (D) | Ken Plum (D) unopposed |
| 37 | David Bulova | Democratic | 2005 | David Bulova (D) | David Bulova (D) 57.3% Sang Yi (R) 42.6% |
| 38 | Kaye Kory | Democratic | 2009 | Kaye Kory (D) | Kaye Kory (D) 73.8% James Leslie (G) 25.1% |
| 39 | Vivian Watts | Democratic | 1995 | Vivian Watts (D) | Vivian Watts (D) unopposed |
| 40 | Tim Hugo | Republican | 2002 | Tim Hugo (R) | Tim Hugo (R) 65.2% Jerry Foltz (D) 34.7% |
| 41 | Eileen Filler-Corn | Democratic | 2010 | Eileen Filler-Corn (D) | Eileen Filler-Corn (D) unopposed |
| 42 | Dave Albo | Republican | 1993 | Dave Albo (R) | Dave Albo (R) 63.4% Joana Garcia (D) 36.5% |
| 43 | Mark Sickles | Democratic | 2003 | Mark Sickles (D) | Mark Sickles (D) 63.3% Anna Urman (R) 33.4% Paul McIlvaine (I) 3.3% |
| 44 | Scott Surovell | Democratic | 2009 | Paul Krizek (D) Democratic hold. |
Paul Krizek (D) unopposed |
| 45 | Rob Krupicka | Democratic | 2012 | Mark Levine (D) Democratic hold. |
Mark Levine (D) unopposed |
| 46 | Charniele Herring | Democratic | 2009 | Charniele Herring (D) | Charniele Herring (D) 67.0% Sean Lenehan (R) 28.3% Andy Bakker (L) 4.5% |
| 47 | Patrick Hope | Democratic | 2009 | Patrick Hope (D) | Patrick Hope (D) 77.4% Janet Murphy (I) 21.8% |
| 48 | Rip Sullivan | Democratic | 2014 | Rip Sullivan (D) | Rip Sullivan (D) unopposed |
| 49 | Alfonso Lopez | Democratic | 2011 | Alfonso Lopez (D) | Alfonso Lopez (D) unopposed |
| 50 | Jackson Miller | Republican | 2006 | Jackson Miller (R) | Jackson Miller (R) 58.7% Kyle McCullough (D) 41.2% |
| 51 | Rich Anderson | Republican | 2009 | Rich Anderson (R) | Rich Anderson (R) unopposed |
| 52 | Luke Torian | Democratic | 2009 | Luke Torian (D) | Luke Torian (D) unopposed |
| 53 | Marcus Simon | Democratic | 2013 | Marcus Simon (D) | Marcus Simon (D) unopposed |
| 54 | Bobby Orrock | Republican | 1989 | Bobby Orrock (R) | Bobby Orrock (R) unopposed |
| 55 | Buddy Fowler | Republican | 2013 | Buddy Fowler (R) | Buddy Fowler (R) 60.3% Toni Radler (D) 39.5% |
| 56 | Peter Farrell | Republican | 2011 | Peter Farrell (R) | Peter Farrell (R) unopposed |
| 57 | David Toscano | Democratic | 2005 | David Toscano (D) | David Toscano (D) unopposed |
| 58 | Rob Bell | Republican | 2001 | Rob Bell (R) | Rob Bell (R) unopposed |
| 59 | Matt Fariss | Republican | 2011 | Matt Fariss (R) | Matt Fariss (R) unopposed |
| 60 | James E. Edmunds | Republican | 2009 | James E. Edmunds (R) | James E. Edmunds (R) unopposed |
| 61 | Tommy Wright | Republican | 2000 | Tommy Wright (R) | Tommy Wright (R) 71.3% Greg Marston (D) 28.6% |
| 62 | Riley Ingram | Republican | 1991 | Riley Ingram (R) | Riley Ingram (R) 59.5% Sheila Bynum-Coleman (D) 40.4% |
| 63 | Joseph E. Preston | Democratic | 2015 | Lashrecse Aird (D) Democratic hold. |
Lashrecse Aird (D) unopposed |
| 64 | Rick Morris | Republican | 2011 | Rick Morris (R) | Rick Morris (R) unopposed |
| 65 | Lee Ware | Republican | 1998 | Lee Ware (R) | Lee Ware (R) unopposed |
| 66 | Kirk Cox | Republican | 1989 | Kirk Cox (R) | Kirk Cox (R) unopposed |
| 67 | James LeMunyon | Republican | 2009 | James LeMunyon (R) | James LeMunyon (R) unopposed |
| 68 | Manoli Loupassi | Republican | 2007 | Manoli Loupassi (R) | Manoli Loupassi (R) 61.3% Bill Grogan (D) 36.7% Michael Dickinson (I) 1.9% |
| 69 | Betsy B. Carr | Democratic | 2009 | Betsy B. Carr (D) | Betsy B. Carr (D) unopposed |
| 70 | Delores McQuinn | Democratic | 2008 | Delores McQuinn (D) | Delores McQuinn (D) unopposed |
| 71 | Jennifer McClellan | Democratic | 2005 | Jennifer McClellan (D) | Jennifer McClellan (D) 88.3% Steve Imholt (I) 11.1% |
| 72 | Jimmie Massie | Republican | 2007 | Jimmie Massie (R) | Jimmie Massie (R) unopposed |
| 73 | John O'Bannon | Republican | 2000 | John O'Bannon (R) | John O'Bannon (R) unopposed |
| 74 | Lamont Bagby | Democratic | 2015 | Lamont Bagby (D) | Lamont Bagby (D) 77.9% David Lambert (I) 21.1% |
| 75 | Roslyn Tyler | Democratic | 2005 | Roslyn Tyler (D) | Roslyn Tyler (D) unopposed |
| 76 | Chris Jones | Republican | 1997 | Chris Jones (R) | Chris Jones (R) unopposed |
| 77 | Lionell Spruill | Democratic | 1993 | Lionell Spruill (D) | Lionell Spruill (D) unopposed |
| 78 | Jay Leftwich | Republican | 2013 | Jay Leftwich (R) | Jay Leftwich (R) unopposed |
| 79 | Johnny Joannou | Democratic | 1997 (1976–1984) |
Steve Heretick (D) Democratic hold. |
Steve Heretick (D) unopposed |
| 80 | Matthew James | Democratic | 2009 | Matthew James (D) | Matthew James (D) unopposed |
| 81 | Barry Knight | Republican | 2008 | Barry Knight (R) | Barry Knight (R) 69.1% Jeff Staples (G) 30.1% |
| 82 | Bill DeSteph | Republican | 2013 | Jason Miyares (R) Republican hold. |
Jason Miyares (R) 65.2% Bill Fleming (D) 34.6% |
| 83 | Chris Stolle | Republican | 2009 | Chris Stolle (R) | Chris Stolle (R) unopposed |
| 84 | Glenn Davis | Republican | 2013 | Glenn Davis (R) | Veronica Coleman (D) unopposed |
| 85 | Scott Taylor | Republican | 2013 | Scott Taylor (R) | Scott Taylor (R) unopposed |
| 86 | Tom Rust | Republican | 2001 | Jennifer Boysko (D) Democratic gain. |
Jennifer Boysko (D) 54.5% Danny Vargas (R) 42.0% Paul Brubaker (I) 3.5% |
| 87 | David Ramadan | Republican | 2011 | John Bell (D) Democratic gain. |
John Bell (D) 49.9% Chuong Nguyen (R) 47.9% Brian Suojanen (L) 2.1% |
| 88 | Mark Cole | Republican | 2001 | Mark Cole (R) | Mark Cole (R) unopposed |
| 89 | Daun Hester | Democratic | 2012 | Daun Hester (D) | Daun Hester (D) unopposed |
| 90 | Joe Lindsey | Democratic | 2014 | Joe Lindsey (D) | Joe Lindsey (D) unopposed |
| 91 | Gordon Helsel | Republican | 2011 | Gordon Helsel (R) | Gordon Helsel (R) unopposed |
| 92 | Jeion Ward | Democratic | 2003 | Jeion Ward (D) | Jeion Ward (D) unopposed |
| 93 | Monty Mason | Democratic | 2013 | Monty Mason (D) | Monty Mason (D) 54.7% Lara Overy (R) 45.2% |
| 94 | David Yancey | Republican | 2011 | David Yancey (R) | David Yancey (R) 57.4% Shelly Simonds (D) 42.3% |
| 95 | Mamye BaCote | Democratic | 2003 | Marcia Price (D) Democratic hold. |
Marcia Price (D) 75.8% Priscilla Burnett (G) 22.9% |
| 96 | Brenda Pogge | Republican | 2007 | Brenda Pogge (R) | Brenda Pogge (R) 61.1% Brandon Waltrip (I) 38.7% |
| 97 | Chris Peace | Republican | 2006 | Chris Peace (R) | Chris Peace (R) 78.5% Erica Lawler (G) 21.1% |
| 98 | Keith Hodges | Republican | 2011 | Keith Hodges (R) | Keith Hodges (R) unopposed |
| 99 | Margaret Ransone | Republican | 2011 | Margaret Ransone (R) | Margaret Ransone (R) unopposed |
| 100 | Robert Bloxom Jr. | Republican | 2014 | Robert Bloxom Jr. (R) | Robert Bloxom Jr. (R) 57.9% Willie Randall (D) 42.0% |
Seats that changed hands
Democratic to Republican (1)
Republican to Democratic (2)
Aftermath
Reaction
FairVote criticized the election results as demonstrative of Republican gerrymandering and the failures of winner-take-all voting.[18] Stephen J. Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington described the election in The Washington Post as a "tribute to gerrymandering," highlighting the lack of competitive races.[19] The Democratic Party of Virginia framed "Democratic gains" in the House as having successfully "bucked the national trend as both a Southern state and presidential battleground state."[2]
See also
References
- ^ "Registration/Turnout Statistics". Virginia Department of Elections. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ a b Nolan, Jim (November 6, 2015). "Both sides declare win, but neither really did". Woodbridge: Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ "November 3, 2015 General Election: Candidacy Requirements for General Assembly Offices" (PDF). Elections.virginia.gov. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ Nolan, Jim (June 10, 2015). "Low turnout exposed incumbents vulnerable to upsets". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ a b "List of Candidates, 2015 November General, Member House of Delegates" (PDF). Elections.virginia.gov. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ Cain, Andrew (October 22, 2015). "Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball - Vying for Virginia: The 2015 General Assembly Elections". University of Virginia Center for Politics. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ Cain, Andrew (October 22, 2015). "Three-judge panel upholds boundaries in 12 House of Delegates districts". Woodbridge: Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ Fain, Travis (January 15, 2015). "Newport News Delegate BaCote likely to retire post-session". Daily Press. Woodbridge. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ Kiser, Uriah (December 3, 2014). "Futrell Eyes Senate, Won't Seek Woodbridge — Stafford House Seat". Woodbridge: Potomac Local. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ Rothstein, Ethan (March 16, 2015). "Del. Rob Krupicka Won't Seek Re-Election". Arlington: ARLnow. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ "Preston to challenge Dance for Senate seat". Richmond Free Press. March 12, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ Portnoy, Jenna; Vozzella, Laura (April 15, 2015). "Del. David Ramadan, vocal critic of Dulles Greenway tolls, calls it quits". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ "Del. Rust announces he will not seek 8th term". Leesburg: InsideNoVA. February 25, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ "Ed Scott won't seek re-election to state House". The Daily Progress. February 3, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ "Surovell to announce run for state Senate". The Washington Post. January 17, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ Wilson, Patrick (November 5, 2015). "In a first, every Virginia General Assembly incumbent re-elected". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ "2015 November General". results.elections.virginia.gov. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ Smith, Haley (November 9, 2015). "Virginia Legislative Elections Highlight Problems with Winner-Take-All Elections". FairVote. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ Farnsworth, Stephen J. (November 5, 2015). "The 2015 election in Virginia: A tribute to gerrymandering". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 29, 2017.