Results from the Virginia Primaries: Incumbent Departures and Declining Nominees in Virginia Heading into November

CAWP Staff

LAST UPDATED: 11.7.23 10:00am ET 

Post primary, 3 (3D) women nominees were disqualified from appearing on the general election ballot and 3 (3R) were added to the general election ballot. As a result of these changes, 28 (21D, 7R) women are major-party nominees for the Senate and 56 (44D, 12R) women are major-party nominees  for the Assembly who will compete in the general election. 

State legislative primaries were held on Tuesday in Virginia. Full context about women in the 2023 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, is available via the Center for American Women and Politics’ (CAWP) Election Watch.

Among the most notable results for women:

  • Women are 28 of 72 (38.9%) major-party nominees selected for state Senate in Virginia, including 22 of 38 (57.9%) Democrats and 6 of 34 (17.6%) Republicans. This exceeds the record high for women state Senate nominees (23), set in election 2019. It also exceeds the record high for Democratic women state Senate nominees (17), set in 2019.
  • Women are 58 of 157 (36.9%) major-party nominees selected for the House of Delegates in Virginia, including 47 of 90 (52.2%) Democrats and 11 of 67 (16.4%) Republicans. This is not a record high; 72 women won major-party nominations for the Virginia House in 2021.
  • These nominee numbers include 29 (22D, 7R) –  of 47 (32D, 15R) – current women state legislators who are nominees for re-election, and another 4 (2D, 2R) current women House members who are nominees for the state Senate in November 2023. 
    • Ten women incumbents – representing 21.3% of the current women legislators – did not run for re-election.
    • Including the primary election results, 4 (2D, 2R) more women incumbents will not return to the legislature in 2024: state Senator Amanda Chase (R) and state Delegate Marie March (R) lost their bids for re-election, and state Delegate Sally Hudson (D) and state Delegate Elizabeth R. Guzman (D) lost bids for the state Senate. March was defeated by another incumbent in an incumbent v. incumbent primary contest following redistricting.

 

State Senate

Women currently hold 9 (6D, 3R) of 40 seats in Virginia State Senate. In 2023, 37 (28D, 9R) women, including 7 (5D, 2R) incumbents, filed as candidates for state Senate. All Senate seats are up for election this year.

Based on primary election and party convention results, women are 28 of 72 (38.9%) major-party nominees selected for state Senate in Virginia, including 22 of 38 (57.9%) Democrats and 6 of 34 (17.6%) Republicans. This exceeds the record high for women state Senate nominees (23), set in election 2019. It also exceeds the record high for Democratic women state senate nominees (17), set in 2019. In 2023, 9 (6D, 3R) women candidates for state Senate were unsuccessful. 

  • 6 (5D, 1R) women incumbents are nominees for re-election. One (1R) woman incumbent was defeated.
  • 10 (8D, 2R) women won nominations to challenge incumbents in November.
  • 12 (9D, 3R) women won nominations for open-seat state Senate contests.

 

State House of Delegates

Women currently hold 38 (26D, 12R) of 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates. In 2023, 69 (56D, 13R) women, including 24 (17D, 7R) incumbents, filed as candidates for state House of Delegates. All House seats are up for election this year.

Based on primary election and party convention results, women are 58 of 157 (36.9%) major-party nominees for state House in Virginia, including 47 of 90 (52.2%) Democrats and 11 of 67 (16.4%) Republicans. This falls short of the record high for women state House nominees (72), set in election 2021. In 2023, 11 (9D, 2R) women candidates for state House were unsuccessful. 

  • 23 (17D, 6R) women incumbents are nominees for re-election. One (1R) woman incumbent was defeated. 
  • 18 (15D, 3R) women won nominations to challenge incumbents in November.
  • 17 (15D, 2R) women won nominations for open-seat state House contests.

For full information about women in the 2023 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, see CAWP’s Election Watch.

CAWP Staff