Virginia State Senate District 7
Virginia State Senate District 7 is represented by Bill Stanley (R).
As of the 2020 Census, Virginia state senators represented an average of 216,364 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 200,943 residents.
About the office
Members of the Virginia State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Virginia legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January after the election.
Qualifications
In order to serve in the Virginia General Assembly, candidates must meet the following qualifications:[1]
- Be a citizen of the United States.
- Be at least twenty-one years of age on or before the date of the general or special election for the office sought
- Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the year immediately preceding the election
- Be a resident of the district they are seeking to represent
- Be a qualified voter in the district they are seeking to represent
- Not have been convicted of a felony (unless voting rights have been officially restored)
- Not have been adjudicated mentally incompetent (unless voting rights have been officially restored)
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[2] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $18,000/year for senators. $17,640/year for delegates. | $213/day |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Virginia General Assembly, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. If the vacancy occurs while the legislature is in session, the presiding officer of the house in which the vacancy happens must call for a special election. If the vacancy occurs while the legislature is in recess, the governor shall call the special election. Within 30 days of a vacancy, the appropriate officeholder shall issue a writ of election. If an vacancy occurs between December 10 and March 1, the writ must declare the special election date be within 30 days of said vacancy. All special elections must be held promptly. However, no special election can be held if it occurs less than 55 days before any statewide primary or general election or if there are fewer than 75 days remaining in the vacated term.[3][4]
See sources: Virginia Code § 24.2-216
District map
Redistricting
2020-2022
The Virginia Supreme Court unanimously approved district maps for the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia State Senate on December 28, 2021.[5] Democratic and Republican consultants submitted statewide map proposals for consideration to the Virginia Redistricting Commission on September 18, 2021.[6] The commission had reviewed earlier maps on August 31, 2021, that were focused solely on suburbs in northern Virginia that were drawn from scratch and did not consider legislative incumbents’ home addresses in keeping with earlier commission decisions.[7][8] After the commission missed its deadline for approving map proposals and the Virginia Supreme Court assumed authority over the process, the two special masters selected by the court released proposals for House and Senate districts on December 8, 2021.[9]These maps took effect for Virginia's 2023 legislative elections.
How does redistricting in Virginia work? On November 3, 2020, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment establishing a commission-driven congressional and state legislative redistricting process. The 16-member commission comprises eight legislators and eight non-legislator members. Leaders of the legislature's two largest political parties select legislators to serve on the commission. The commission's eight citizen members are recommended by legislative leaders and selected by a committee of five retired circuit court judges. The commissioners themselves select one of the eight citizens to serve as chairperson.[10]
District maps are subject to the following consensus requirements:[10]
- Congressional maps: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators and six non-legislators.
- Virginia State Senate: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators (with three state senators) and six non-legislators.
- Virginia House of Delegates: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators (with three state delegates) and six non-legislators.
The commission submits its maps to the General Assembly, which can vote to approve the maps or reject them. The General Assembly cannot amend the maps. If the General Assembly rejects a map, the commission must draft a second map. If the General Assembly rejects that map, the Virginia Supreme Court is tasked with enacting a new map.[10][11]
Virginia State Senate District 7
until January 9, 2024
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Virginia State Senate District 7
starting January 10, 2024
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2023
Regular election
See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2023
General election
General election for Virginia State Senate District 7
Incumbent Bill Stanley defeated Deborah Gates in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 7 on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bill Stanley (R) | 75.7 | 43,158 |
 | Deborah Gates (D) | 24.2 | 13,794 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 55 | ||
| Total votes: 57,007 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Deborah Gates advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 7.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Bill Stanley advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 7.
Special election
A special election for Virginia State Senate District 7 was called for January 10, 2023. Candidates running for special elections in Virginia are selected through firehouse primaries administered by each political party. The candidate filing deadline was November 21, 2022.[12]
The special election was called after Jennifer Kiggans (R) resigned from the seat on November 15, 2022, after being elected to represent Virginia's 2nd Congressional District.[13]
General election
Special general election for Virginia State Senate District 7
Incumbent Aaron Rouse defeated Kevin Adams in the special general election for Virginia State Senate District 7 on January 10, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Aaron Rouse (D) | 50.8 | 19,923 |
 | Kevin Adams (R) | 49.1 | 19,227 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 34 | ||
| Total votes: 39,184 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2019
- See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2019
Elections for the Virginia State Senate took place in 2019. The primary was on June 11, 2019, and the general election was on November 5. The filing deadline for candidates was March 28, 2019.
General election
General election for Virginia State Senate District 7
Jennifer Kiggans defeated Cheryl Turpin in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 7 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jennifer Kiggans (R) | 50.4 | 29,609 |
 | Cheryl Turpin (D) | 49.5 | 29,098 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 91 | ||
| Total votes: 58,798 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 7
Cheryl Turpin defeated Susan Bates Hippen and Kim Howard in the Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 7 on June 11, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cheryl Turpin | 58.7 | 3,268 |
 | Susan Bates Hippen | 27.5 | 1,531 | |
 | Kim Howard | 13.7 | 761 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 6 | ||
| Total votes: 5,566 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 7
Jennifer Kiggans defeated Carolyn Weems in the Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 7 on June 11, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jennifer Kiggans | 51.6 | 4,045 |
 | Carolyn Weems | 48.4 | 3,789 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 2 | ||
| Total votes: 7,836 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2015
- See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2015
Elections for the Virginia State Senate took place in 2015. A primary election was held on June 9, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 26, 2015.[14] Gary McCollum was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Frank Wagner was unopposed in the Republican primary. Wagner defeated McCollum in the general election.[15]
Race snapshot
The contest was marked by several controversies. In September, McCollum's campaign admitted it had incorrectly represented him as an active major in the U.S. Army Reserve; records show that he was discharged in September 2001. The Republican Party of Virginia called on McCollum to drop out of the race, calling the misrepresentation "an insult to veterans and automatic disqualification for public office."[16]
Wagner also came under fire that month after making remarks at an event held at the Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach; noting that his district includes "very, very high income [properties] right on down to... rent-assisted places," he said that "I wish sometimes I represented this half, but I've very, very happy to represent the folks I have." McCollum said in a statement, "Unlike Frank, I'm running to represent all the people of the 7th District. No matter their income." The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus inquired as to the intent of Wagner's comments. Wagner's campaign responded that he was joking in reference to Republican supporters in general, not the wealthy. State Sen. Mamie Locke (D), the chair of the Black Caucus, countered, "If you wanted to say 'I wanted to have more Republicans in my district,' that is what you would have said."[17]
Both candidates were accused of filing incomplete campaign finance reports. On September 22, the Virginia Republican Party filed a campaign finance complaint against McCollum. As a senior executive of Cox Communications' Virginia operations, McCollum had been paid while on leave to campaign, something the GOP said should have been reported as a donation. Cox has since dismissed McCollum from the company. On September 25, the Virginia Democratic Party filed its own complaint, claiming that Wagner had filed a statement without the names of his campaign workers. The Wagner campaign responded that the omission was a simple mistake brought on by a change in software. Fines for offenses in incomplete reports are $100 for the first and $1,000 thereafter.[18]
In mid-October, McCollum's campaign released a television advertisement claiming that Davis Boat Works, a shipyard Wagner owned until this year, fraudulently billed the U.S. Navy in the late 1990s "to line his own pockets." The company settled a lawsuit by a former accountant for $400,000 after Wagner won election to the Senate in 2000. The accountant claimed that she left the company in 1998 after Wagner demanded that she file false bills. In 2001, Wagner said that he settled in order to maintain Davis' government relations. Following the advertisement, Wagner maintained his innocence, saying that a trial would have cost double the amount of the settlement, and that McCollum was looking to mislead voters.[19]
The race attracted the attention of Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), who was set to helm a canvassing kickoff on October 24.[20]
| Virginia State Senate, District 7 General Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Frank Wagner Incumbent |
54.2% | 18,266 | |
| Democratic | Gary McCollum | 45.8% | 15,434 | |
| Total Votes | 33,700 | |||
2011
- See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2011
Elections for the office of Virginia State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 23, 2011, and a general election on November 8, 2011. Republican incumbent Frank Wagner was unchallenged in the general election. Wagner was unopposed in the Republican primary election.[21][22][23]
Campaign contributions
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From 2003 to 2023, candidates for Virginia State Senate District 7 raised a total of $5,510,751.
Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $423,904 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Virginia State Senate District 7 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2023 | $422,691 | 4 | $105,673 |
| 2019 | $4,147,481 | 5 | $829,496 |
| 2011 | $253,393 | 1 | $253,393 |
| 2007 | $199,425 | 1 | $199,425 |
| 2003 | $487,761 | 2 | $243,881 |
| Total | $5,510,751 | 13 | $423,904 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Virginia General Assembly, "Certificate of Candidate Qualification," accessed February 10, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Virginia Law Library, "§ 24.2-216. Filling vacancies in the General Assembly," accessed February 16, 2021 (Statute 24.2-216, Virginia Code)
- ↑ Virginia Law Library, "§ 24.2-682. Times for special elections," accessed February 16, 2021
- ↑ 13News Now, "Virginia has new voting maps after redistricting process finishes," December 30, 2021
- ↑ ABC 7, "Virginia bipartisan redistricting panel starts off with partisan maps," September 20, 2021
- ↑ El Paso Inc., "First redistricting map drafts leave some lawmakers unhappy," September 2, 2021
- ↑ Virginia Mercury, "Virginia’s Redistricting Commission has its first draft maps. They look… normal?" September 2, 2021
- ↑ Associated Press, "Proposed congressional maps give Dems an edge in Virginia," December 9, 2021
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Virginia's Legislative Information System, "HJ 615 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission (first reference)," accessed November 18, 2020
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Virginia," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑ Commonwealth of Virginia Executive Department, "Governor Writ," November 15, 2022
- ↑ WRIC, "Special election to fill Kiggans’ Virginia Senate seat set for Jan. 10," November 15, 2022
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, "2015 General election candidates," accessed August 21, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Va. Senate candidate misrepresents military record," September 15, 2015
- ↑ WVEC, "Wagner campaign responds to country club comment," September 29, 2015
- ↑ The Virginian-Pilot, "Va. Beach prosecutor to handle Wagner, McCollum election complaints," October 10, 2015
- ↑ The Virginian-Pilot, "McCollum attacks Wagner over lawsuit settlement 15 years ago," October 16, 2015
- ↑ The Virginian-Pilot, "McAuliffe to assist McCollum in canvassing kickoff Saturday," October 22, 2015
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, Official Democratic Primary Results, accessed October 28, 2013
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, Official Republican Primary Results, accessed October 28, 2013
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, Official General Election Results, accessed October 28, 2013
