Virginia Legislative Elections Guide 2023

Virginia Democrats vs Virginia Republicans

State Legislature | Nov 7, 2023

The Candidates

Virginia Democrats

Virginia Democrats

Virginia Republicans

Virginia Republicans

All 140 seats in Virginia’s legislature will be up for grabs in November. The Republicans currently control the House of Delegates 51-46; the Democrats control the Senate 22-18. Your votes will determine Virginia’s future. Here’s a look at what both parties have done.

In 2020-2021, the Democrats controlled the governorship and both houses of the legislature and were able to pass major legislation, as described below. Beginning in 2022, control became split; the Republicans controlled the House and the governorship, while the Democrats controlled the Senate. Neither party has been able to pass major partisan legislation, but in 2022 passed a nearly unanimous two-year budget with new education spending and almost $4 billion in tax cuts, as well as other bills. Unless otherwise noted, this guide describes mostly party-line votes, or near party-line votes, primarily from the past four years. It also includes some major bills Republicans passed in 2012-2013, the last time they controlled the governorship and both houses of the Assembly.

The Issues

Abortion

Democrats
Republicans

Criminal Justice

Democrats
Republicans

Education

Democrats
Republicans

Health Care

Democrats
Republicans

LGBT Rights

Democrats
  • Passed a bill that extended existing state non-discrimination protections to LGBTQ people in housing, employment, and public accommodation.
  • Passed a bill that repealed prohibitions on same-sex marriages and civil unions, with limited Republican support.
Republicans

Marijuana

Democrats

Minimum Wage

Democrats
Republicans

Voting Rules

Democrats
Republicans

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