Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2021

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Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 25, 2021 Convention: May 8, 2021
Primary: June 8, 2021 General: November 2, 2021 Pre-election incumbent(s): Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D)
How to vote
Poll times: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Virginia
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2021 Impact of term limits in 2021 State government trifectas State government triplexes Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2021
Virginia executive elections
Governor Lieutenant governor Attorney general

Winsome Sears (R) defeated Hala Ayala (D) in the general election for lieutenant governor of Virginia on November 2, 2021, with 50.7% of the vote to Ayala's 49.3%.

A Roanoke College poll conducted in August of 2021 found a plurality of respondents (26%) thought the economy was the most important issue. Other issues included COVID-19 (9%), race relations (7%), education (7%) and health care (6%).

The incumbent lieutenant governor, Justin Fairfax (D), ran for election for Governor of Virginia. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 8, 2021. Ayala won the June 8 Democratic primary with 39.1% of the vote, followed by Sam Rasoul (D) with 25.3%. Winsome Sears defeated Tim Hugo in the fifth round of ranked-choice voting with 54% of the vote to Hugo's 46% in the May 8 Republican convention.

In a University of Mary Washington poll conducted between September 7-13, 2021, 47% of likely voters supported Sears while 41% supported Ayala. In the Roanoke College survey conducted between August 3-17, 2021, 42% of respondents supported Ayala and 36% supported Sears.

As of October 21, Ayala led Sears in fundraising, with $6,468,050 in total contributions to Sears' $2,553,599. A number of state legislators, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D), The Washington Post, and EMILY's List endorsed Ayala. Sears received endorsements from U.S. Rep. Bob Good (R), Maggie's List, and the National Rifle Association. Click here to see more noteworthy endorsements.

Ayala, who was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2017, emphasized her experience in the legislature, saying she "has already helped shepherd some of the Democratic Majority’s biggest successes and knows how to get things done." Ayala said she would "focus on an inclusive economy that ensures every Virginian can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads" through increasing the minimum wage, investing in affordable housing, and mandating hazard pay for essential workers.

Sears, a former Marine and member of the House of Delegates from 2002-2004, said her views were based on "her service to the Commonwealth and her Country, her faith, and her belief in equal opportunity for all Virginians." She said she would "support policies that keep taxes low, reduce regulations, and promote small businesses," and "that reduce the cost of living for Virginians," including maintaining Virginia’s Right-to-Work Law, providing tax breaks for small businesses, and reducing state excise and income taxes. Sears' victory in the 2021 election marked the first time a woman and Black woman was elected to the position of lieutenant governor in Virginia.

The lieutenant governor serves as the president of the Virginia State Senate and may cast tie-breaking votes. The lieutenant governor is first in the line of succession to the governor; in the event the governor dies, resigns, or otherwise leaves office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. Of the four lieutenant governors who have been elected since 2002, three were Democrats and one was a Republican. Two of them, Tim Kaine (D) and Ralph Northam (D), went on to become governor. The lieutenant governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and, unlike the governor, may run for re-election. Virginia is one of 17 states in which the lieutenant governor is nominated in a separate primary and elected in separate general election from the governor. Click here to read about the election of lieutenant governors in other states.

Click on candidate names below to view their key messages:

Ayala					Sears

This election was a battleground race. Other 2021 battlegrounds included:

Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District special election, 2021 Mayoral election in Boston, Massachusetts (September 14, 2021 primary election) Newark Public Schools, New Jersey, elections (2021)

For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the Republican primary, click here.

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

• Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
• Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

This list will be updated after the candidate filing deadline has passed and the official list of candidates becomes available. Please contact us if you notice an official candidate missing from the list or the inclusion of a candidate who withdrew.

General election

General election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

Winsome Sears defeated Hala Ayala in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Winsome Sears (R)	50.7	1,658,767
		Hala Ayala (D)	49.2	1,608,691
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	3,808

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,271,266
= 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Bobby Junes (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia on June 8, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Hala Ayala	37.6	181,168
		Sam Rasoul	24.3	116,816
		Mark Levine	11.2	53,735
		Andria McClellan	10.6	51,015
		Sean Perryman	8.1	38,925
		Xavier Warren	4.1	19,903
		Elizabeth Guzman (Unofficially withdrew)	4.1	19,803

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 481,365
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Kellen Squire (D)
• Paul Goldman (D)

Republican convention

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Republican Convention for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

Select round: Round 5 Round 4 Round 3 Round 2 Round 1

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Winsome Sears in round 5 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Winsome Sears	54.4	6,828	1,402	Advanced (5)
		Tim Hugo	45.6	5,726	1,910	5
		Glenn Davis	0.0	0	-3,312	5
		Lance Allen	0.0	0	0	4
		Puneet Ahluwalia	0.0	0	0	3
		Maeve Rigler	0.0	0	0	2

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Winsome Sears	43.2	5,426	799	Advanced (5)
		Tim Hugo	30.4	3,816	631	5
		Glenn Davis	26.4	3,312	474	5
		Lance Allen	0.0	0	-1,904	4
		Puneet Ahluwalia	0.0	0	0	3
		Maeve Rigler	0.0	0	0	2

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Winsome Sears	36.9	4,627	327	Advanced (5)
		Tim Hugo	25.4	3,185	198	5
		Glenn Davis	22.6	2,838	163	5
		Lance Allen	15.2	1,904	202	4
		Puneet Ahluwalia	0.0	0	-889	3
		Maeve Rigler	0.0	0	0	2

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Winsome Sears	34.3	4,300	224	Advanced (5)
		Tim Hugo	23.8	2,987	163	5
		Glenn Davis	21.3	2,675	138	5
		Lance Allen	13.6	1,702	163	4
		Puneet Ahluwalia	7.1	889	70	3
		Maeve Rigler	0.0	0	-760	2

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Winsome Sears	32.5	4,076	0	Advanced (5)
		Tim Hugo	22.5	2,824	0	5
		Glenn Davis	20.2	2,537	0	5
		Lance Allen	12.3	1,539	0	4
		Puneet Ahluwalia	6.5	819	0	3
		Maeve Rigler	6.1	760	0	2

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,555
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff compiled a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.

Hala Ayala

Hala Ayala

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Virginia House of Delegates (Assumed office: 2018)

Biography:  Ayala worked as a cybersecurity analyst for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2018 to represent District 51. She was part of former Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s (D) Council of Women.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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 Ayala said she was "proud to lead the effort to pass the most progressive legislation in Virginia’s history, including marijuana legalization, the Virginia Clean Economy Act, and Governor Northam’s G3 program to help with college affordability and to promote job growth in our high-demand industries."

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Ayala said she supports expanding Pre-K, reducing overcrowding in classrooms, and investing in school infrastructure.

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Ayala said that as lieutenant governor, she would expand access to healthcare by implementing a state reinsurance program, strengthen Medicaid by creating a statewide Medicaid buy-in option, and provide financial support for struggling families.

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Show sources

Sources: Hala Ayala for Lt. Governor, "On the Issues," accessed April 7, 20221Daily Press, "The 6 Democratic candidates for Virginia Lt. Governor, in their own words," May 7, 2021 ; 10WAVY, "Candidate Profile: Hala Ayala (Lt. Governor)," April 6, 2021

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2021.

Winsome Sears

Winsome Sears

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Virginia House of Delegates (2002-2004)

Biography:  Sears completed an associate's degree from Tidewater Community College and a BA in English from Old Dominion University in 1992, and she completed an MA in organizational leadership at Regent University in 2003. She is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2004. Sears served on the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as vice president of the Virginia Board of Education, as a president appointee to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Addressing the economic impact of the pandemic, Sears said that she would reopen businesses and that "the governor cannot continue to keep Virginian’s jobless."

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Sears said that election integrity is one of her top issues and that she supports voter ID and strict vote-by-mail requirements as well as requiring all voting machines to be made in America.

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Sears said that she was the only candidate who could win the support of minority voters and that her opponents were "going to keep doing the same thing that they’ve always done and we’re going to get the same results we’ve always got ... and that is losing.”

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Show sources

Sources: Winsome Sears for Lt. Gov., "Issues," accessed May 10, 2021The Roanoke Times, "Here's a pre-convention glance at the six GOP candidates for lieutenant governor," accessed May 10, 2021; WAVY, "Candidate Profile: Winsome Sears (Lt. Governor)," April 6, 2021; Vote Smart, "Winsome Earle Sears," accessed November 2, 2021

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2021.

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2021 polls
Poll	Date	Ayala	Sears	Other/Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size	Sponsor
Christopher Newport University	September 27-October 6, 2021	48%	44%	8%	± 4.2	802	n/a
University of Mary Washington	September 7-13, 2021	41%	47%	12%	± 4.1	528	Research America Inc.
Roanoke College	August 3-17, 2021	42%	36%	22%	± 4.2	558	The Institute for Policy and Opinion Research

Campaign finance

The tables below contain data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA.

Noteworthy endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.

Noteworthy endorsements
Endorsement	Ayala	Sears
Newspapers and editorials
The Washington Post	✔
Individuals
Former Roanoke City Sherriff Octavia L. Johnson (R)		✔
Former U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D)	✔
Former State Rep. David Toscano (D)	✔
Elected officials
State Rep. Dawn Adams (D)	✔
State Rep. Betsy Carr (D)	✔
State Sen. Amanda Chase (R)		✔
State Rep. Joshua Cole (D)	✔
State Rep. Eileen Filler-Corn (D)	✔
U.S. Rep. Bob Good (R)		✔
State Rep. Charniele Herring (D)	✔
State Sen. Janet Howell (D)	✔
State Rep. Clinton Jenkins (D)	✔
State Rep. Paul Krizek (D)	✔
State Rep. Alfonso Lopez (D)	✔
State Sen. Louise Lucas (D)	✔
State Sen. Jeremy McPike (D)	✔
State Rep. Delores McQuinn (D)	✔
State Rep. Michael Mullin (D)	✔
State Rep. Kathleen Murphy (D)	✔
Governor Ralph Northam (D)	✔
State Rep. Danica Roem (D)	✔
State Sen. Marcus Simon (D)	✔
State Sen. Lionell Spruill (D)	✔
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (D)	✔
State Rep. R.C. Sullivan Jr. (D)	✔
State Rep. Luke Torian (D)	✔
State Sen. Vivian Watts (D)	✔
Organizations
EMILY's List	✔
Feminist Majority	✔
Higher Heights for America PAC	✔
Latino Victory	✔
Maggie's List		✔
National Organization for Women	✔
National Rifle Association		✔
Virginia Police Benevolent Association		✔
Virginia's List	✔
Women of Color Coalition	✔

Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Hala Ayala

Supporting Ayala

"Hala For Virginia -- Until Now" - Ayala campaign ad, released September 27, 2021

"Hala For Virginia -- Steps" - Ayala campaign ad, released September 27, 2021

"Hala For Virginia -- Door" - Ayala campaign ad, released September 7, 2021

"Hala For Virginia -- Gas Station" - Ayala campaign ad, released September 7, 2021

Winsome Sears

Supporting Sears

"Hope & Future" - Sears campaign ad, released September 29, 2021

"Congressman Bob Good Endorses Winsome Sears" - Sears campaign ad, released April 6, 2021

"Delegate Dave LaRock Endorses Winsome Sears" - Sears campaign ad, released March 17, 2021

"Bishop E.W. Jackson Endorses Winsome Sears for Lt. Governor" - Sears campaign ad, released March 15, 2021

"Winsome Sears Signs Taxpayer Protection Pledge with ATR Founder Grover Norquist" - Sears campaign ad, released February 18, 2021

"Winsome Sears For Lieutenant Governor" - Sears campaign ad, released January 21, 2021

Satellite group ads

Supporting Ayala

"Father" - Everytown for Gun Safety ad, released October 1, 2021

Campaign themes

See also: Campaign themes

Hala Ayala

Campaign website

Ayala’s campaign website stated the following:

“	Healthcare When Hala’s son was born, her job at the time offered no health insurance. When her newborn son experienced health complications, Hala was able to get care through Medicaid -- and it saved his life. That’s why she’s fighting for access to affordable healthcare for all Virginians. In 2018, Hala made good on her campaign promise as a deciding vote in the House of Delegates to expand Medicaid to more than 400,000 Virginians and stood up against Republican attempts to repeal protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Hala was so proud to stand with Governor Northam, activists, and her colleagues during this historic moment. COVID-19 has laid bare so many inequities in our healthcare system, and we must take steps to address access to care for those who have been hardest hit during this public health crisis. That’s why Hala co-patron legislation to expand our Commonwealth’s vaccine capacity, cap the price of insulin and inhalers at $50, expand access to telehealth, and provide transparency in prescription drug costs. We have made great strides in providing healthcare for Virginians, but there is still so much work to be done. As Lieutenant Governor, Hala will ensure Medicaid funding is continued and work to expand access to coverage for all communities. She will also work with the Federal Government to increase subsidies and lower premiums, and work to lower the cost of prescription drugs because no family should be one sickness away from bankruptcy. Jobs and the economy Hala knows firsthand how thin that bridge is between struggle and success for so many Virginians. After her family struggled when she was a child and barely making ends meet working at a gas station when her own first child was born, she was able to build a successful career with just a few college credits and a government certification training, working in national security as a cyber specialist with the Department of Homeland Security. As Virginia charges ahead into the 21st century, we need to invest in building and training our workforce to make sure our citizens have the skills they need to be successful no matter the color of their skin or gender. Hala’s successful career in one of the sectors leading Virginia’s economy into the future makes her uniquely qualified to oversee this transition as Lieutenant Governor. When Hala’s son was born, he had severe health issues that required intensive care, and she did not have access to paid leave through her job at the gas station. Having access to paid family and medical leave would have been life-changing. That is why Hala patroned the paid family and medical legislation, which would provide every Virginian worker with 12 weeks of paid leave for major events such as an adoption or childbirth. A majority of small business owners even backed her legislation because they know that this would help their workers and their bottom lines. We need to focus on an inclusive economy that ensures every Virginian can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. The economic stresses so many families face have only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for Black and Brown Virginians. The cost of living is rising here in Virginia, and our minimum wage needs to keep up. Furthermore, our Commonwealth needs to invest in affordable housing and combat the economic factors that price families out of neighborhoods they’ve lived in for generations. Hala’s son is a member of the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union and works at a local grocery store on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. So many Virginians have made sacrifices to get a paycheck during this crisis, and we need to do so much more to protect our workers. That’s why Hala introduced a bill mandating hazard pay for essential workers to ensure they get the support they need during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Lieutenant Governor, Hala will lead the recovery to make sure Virginians can return to work safely and provide small business owners with the support they need to recover. Education Hala grew up attending Prince William public schools and is the former president of her local parent-teacher organization. She graduated from Woodbridge High, where her kids also attended. As Delegate, Hala has strengthened our schools and helped our teachers and administrators to ensure our children are getting the best education possible. In the General Assembly, she authored budget amendments to increase funding for special education students, like her son. She also introduced a budget amendment to give teachers a well-deserved 2% pay raise to ensure the best talent can remain in the Commonwealth. Schools are the building blocks to success for Virginia’s future, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more clear we need to focus our energy on giving our teachers and students the tools they need. We need to give our teachers resources to work with students who have a range of needs, and we need to retain and recruit the best teachers we can. As Lieutenant Governor, Hala will focus heavily on our education system. She will work with the Administration and General Assembly to expand Pre-K, reduce overcrowding in classrooms, and invest in school infrastructure. Hala also understands that every families’ path to prosperity looks different. In 2013, she completed her college degree online, leveraging tuition assistance from her employer, while working full time — so she knows from personal experience how challenging it can be to get a college degree, and the financial barriers that make this unrealistic for so many Virginians. As Lieutenant Governor, Hala will support measures to make college more affordable for all Virginians as well as lead the charge to create and improve training programs for those who choose not to attend a four-year college. In the General Assembly, Hala co-patroned legislation to establish Governor Northam’s G3 program--Get Skilled, Get a Job, and Give Back. This program provides 2 years of free community for students who train in high demand professions like information technology and medicine. Right now we have thousands unfilled, high-paying jobs in Northern Virginia. The G3 program will create a pipeline to fill these positions and ensure equity in our education system. As Lieutenant Governor, Hala will support an expansion of this program as well as increased funding apprenticeship and internship programs, as well as career and technical education certificates. We need to increase funding for these programs throughout the state to show that successful career paths come in many different routes. Transportation and infrastructure As a single mom who commuted over two, and sometimes three, hours everyday to work for years, Hala understands firsthand the balancing act so many families in Virginia face when it comes to getting to work and caring for their families. In the House of Delegates, Hala worked to increase funding for the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) so commuters would have viable alternative transportation options. However, this daily disruption extends past the D.C Metro area and Northern Virginia. Our transportation issues impact so many commuters in the Richmond and Hampton Roads metro areas as well. Across Virginia, our aging infrastructure makes it harder for our citizens to prosper. We need to invest in our Commonwealth and address infrastructure needs in rural, suburban, and urban communities. Hala recognizes this is a quality of life issue for so many Virginians and that is why as Lieutenant Governor she will work to expand and improve public transportation, and invest in rebuilding our historic bridges, roads, and highways. Investing in infrastructure also requires a digital component. As we saw during COVID-19, internet access has become a necessity for so many occupations, and especially K-12 schooling, and it must be accessible to all Virginians. As Lieutenant Governor, Hala will be focused on bridging the digital divide in our state that affects so many Virginians. Broadband access is a matter of equity and as a cybersecurity expert, Hala is uniquely positioned to lay the foundation for extensive and scalable broadband access. Criminal justice reform Hala is a woman of color and the mother of two Black children and is acutely aware of the painful systemic racism and injustices that have plagued our justice system for centuries. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests, Hala joined her community and marched for justice. We need reforms to ensure accountability and transparency and to prevent uses of excessive force that have led to the unjustified deaths of Black and Brown men, women, and children. To move forward as a Commonwealth, we must reform our justice system, create alternatives to the school to prison pipeline.In the 2020 special session, Hala worked with her colleagues in the Black Caucus to present an aggressive legislative agenda addressing criminal justice reform in the Commonwealth. This includes banning no knock warrants, creating civilian review boards, establishing a statewide code of conduct for police officers, and mandating racial bias, de-escalation, and crisis intervention training for police. This session, Hala worked with her colleagues and leadership in the General Assembly to continue advocating for criminal justice reform. She co-patroned several pieces of legislation, including bills to legalize marijuana, to abolish the death penalty, to automatically expunge non-violent marijuana offenses, and to restore rights to our returning citizens. There is a lot of work to do to heal the wounds that still exist in our Commonwealth from the legacy of slavery and the violence that Black and Brown Americans experience every day. As Lieutenant Governor, Hala will lead the way on these reforms and use her national security background to make sure every community is safe and help our communities begin to heal. Climate change As a lifelong Virginian, Hala has a deep appreciation for the diverse geography and wildlife of the Commonwealth. From the Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia is home to some of the most beautiful sights in the nation. With over 60 state and national parks, our natural resources are the pride and joy of our Commonwealth. But climate change poses a real threat to our waterways and mountains, our public health, and our way of life. Flooding and coastal erosion threatens our homeowners and small businesses and one bad storm could wipe out someone’s life savings. Furthermore, the effects of climate change disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities and in addressing environmental matters, we need to view them through a racial equity lens. Climate change is also a national security threat. Virginia is home to 27 military bases, many of them coastal. We cannot leave the fate of our military to rising sea levels. In the House of Delegates, Hala worked closely with environmental activists and stakeholders to codify Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), bringing millions of dollars to the Commonwealth for coastal resiliency and to combat climate change. She also was a co-patron on the Virginia Clean Economy Act. This landmark environmental legislation will create nearly 13,000 jobs per year in Virginia’s Advanced Energy economy, eliminates all harmful carbon emissions from Virginia utilities by 2050, and expands access to solar and wind energy. Nearly 3 out of 4 Virginians supported this legislation. We must act quickly to combat climate change, and as Lieutenant Governor, Hala is ready to continue her work in this area. Hala will work to ensure our Commonwealth can transition to clean energy like solar and wind, protect communities who are impacted by flooding, and make sure every Virginian has access to clean air and clean drinking water. Women's rights Hala has spent almost a decade as a women’s rights activist. She helped organize Virginia’s participation in the Women’s March after Donald Trump’s election and founded the Prince William chapter of the National Organization for Women. In 2020, she was the Chief co-patron on the bill that made Virginia the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to help enshrine women’s equality into the U.S. Constitution. While we have made great strides in creating a more equitable Virginia for women, there is much work to be done, especially for Black and Brown women. That’s why Hala introduced a bill to help address fetal and infant mortality rates throughout the Commonwealth, with a focus on racial disparities. She also is fighting for paid family leave, because no one should worry about what happens to their job if they need to care for a loved one or newborn baby.. As Lieutenant Governor, Hala will continue to fight for women’s health care. She will work to expand access to birth control and contraception, and defend a woman's right to choose. Furthermore, she will support policies and legislation that will create equity in the workplace and ensure equal pay for equal work, so women who work the same job as men can earn the same living.	”
—Hala Ayala's campaign website (2021)

Winsome Sears

Campaign website

Sears' campaign website stated the following:

“	Winsome Sears is a former U.S. Marine, former member of the Virginia General Assembly, and the 2021 Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor. Her views are informed by her service to the Commonwealth and her Country, her faith, and her belief in equal opportunity for all Virginians. CREATING GOOD PAYING JOBS As Lieutenant Governor, Winsome will champion good paying jobs for every Virginian. She will support policies that keep taxes low, reduce regulations, and promote small businesses. Specifically, Winsome will push to: Enact a 12 Month Small Business Tax Holiday Cut Unnecessary Regulations by 25 Percent Protect Virginia’s Right-to-Work Law and Oppose Forced Unionization CUTTING COSTS FOR FAMILIES The cost of living is rising in Virginia and that’s hurting families, especially our most struggling and aspiring ones. Winsome will support policies that reduce the cost of living for Virginians. Specifically, Winsome supports Glenn Youngkin’s Day One Game Plan to Cut Costs for Virginians: Eliminating Virginia’s Grocery Tax & Suspending the Recent Gas Tax Hike for 12 Months Providing a One Time Tax Rebate of $600 for Joint Filers and $300 for Individuals Ending Runaway Property Taxes by Requiring Voter Approval for Increases Cutting Income Taxes by Doubling the Standard Deduction OPEN AND STRENGTHEN SCHOOLS Winsome knows a quality education is the best way to lift people out of poverty and make sure they have access to a good paying job. Winsome will champion investments in public schools, empower parents with choices, and raise standards in education. Specifically, Winsome will push to: Keep Schools Open Safely 5 Days a Week Raise Teacher Pay & Recruit More Teachers to End the Teacher Shortage Restore High Standards for School Accreditation & SOL Tests Promoting Choice by Creating More Opportunities, Especially in Failing School Districts UPLIFTING BLACK VIRGINIANS Virginians are not defined by the color of their skin, but the content of their character. Still, data shows that Black Virginians are disproportionately failed by our government, whether it’s in education or when it comes to job opportunities. Winsome will uplift Black Virginians as Lieutenant Governor. Specifically, Winsome will push to: Create a Black Virginians Advisory Cabinet to the Governor Make a Once-in-a-Generation Investment in Historically Black Colleges & Universities Create 10 “Legacy Wealth Startup Incubators” in Black Communities to Promote Black Entrepreneurship KEEPING VIRGINIA SAFE Keeping Virginians safe is a top responsibility of state government. As Lieutenant Governor, Winsome will defend our law enforcement heroes, crack down on violent criminals and preserve truth-in-sentencing – all while promoting commonsense criminal justice reforms that give nonviolent offenders a path to redemption. Specifically, Winsome will push to: Fire the Parole Board and Preserve Truth in Sentencing Raise Pay for Virginia State Police Troopers, Sheriff’s Deputies, Corrections Officers, and Police Officers Reduce Law Enforcement Interactions by Increasing the Use of Handheld Photo Speed Enforcement SERVING OUR VETERANS Virginia is home to over 800,000 veterans and their families, including Winsome Sears. Winsome served in the U.S. Marines, and she wants to ensure Virginia remains the most veteran friendly state in the nation. As Lieutenant Governor, Winsome will push to: Eliminate All Taxes on the First $40,000 in Military Veteran Retirement Pay Expand Virginia’s Veterans Care Centers in Richmond, Salem, Hampton Roads & Northern Virginia Expanding our Veteran Workforce Transition Programs to Get Veterans Good Paying Jobs	”
—Winsome Sears' campaign website (2021)

Past elections

Virginia state government organizational chart

See also: Gubernatorial election cycles by state and Election of lieutenant governors

Virginia belongs to the handful of states that hold off-year elections, that is, elections in odd-numbered years that are neither presidential nor midterm years. In Virginia's case, elections are held in the year after a presidential and before a midterm; thus, 2021, 2025, 2029, and 2033 are all lieutenant gubernatorial election years. Legally, the inauguration is always held the second Wednesday in the January after an election.

By law, lieutenant governors are elected in separate elections from governors in both the primary and general elections. This means it is possible to have a partisan split in the executive office.

In the event of a tie between two candidates or a contested election, a joint session of the legislature shall cast ballots.

To view the full electoral history for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, click [show] to expand the full section.

2017 See also: Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2017 Virginia held an election for lieutenant governor on November 7, 2017. Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam (D) was running for governor, leaving the lieutenant governor election an open race. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election was held on June 13, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in the primary election was March 30, 2017. Justin Fairfax (D) defeated Jill Holtzman Vogel (R) in the election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Virginia Lieutenant Gubernatorial Election, 2017 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Justin Fairfax 52.77% 1,368,261      Republican Jill Holtzman Vogel 47.23% 1,224,519 Total Votes 2,592,780 Source: Virginia Department of Elections Justin Fairfax defeated Susan Platt and Gene Rossi in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Virginia Democratic Lieutenant Gubernatorial Primary, 2017 Candidate Vote % Votes Justin Fairfax 49.13% 252,400 Susan Platt 39.19% 201,316 Gene Rossi 11.69% 60,041 Total Votes 513,757 Source: The New York Times Jill Holtzman Vogel defeated Bryce Reeves and Glenn Davis in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Virginia Republican Lieutenant Gubernatorial Primary, 2017 Candidate Vote % Votes Jill Holtzman Vogel 42.73% 151,998 Bryce Reeves 39.98% 142,218 Glenn Davis 17.29% 61,517 Total Votes 355,733 Source: The New York Times 2013 On November 5, 2013, Ralph Northam won election to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He defeated E.W. Jackson (R) in the general election. Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 2013 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Ralph Northam 55.1% 1,213,155      Republican E.W. Jackson 44.5% 980,257      Write-In Various 0.3% 7,472 Total Votes 2,200,884 Election results via Virginia State Board of Elections. 2009 On November 3, 2009, William T. "Bill" Bolling won re-election to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He defeated Jody M. Wagner (D) in the general election. Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 2009 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican William T. "Bill" Bolling Incumbent 56.5% 1,106,793      Democratic Jody M. Wagner 43.4% 850,111      Write-In Various 0.1% 1,569 Total Votes 1,958,473 Election results via Virginia State Board of Elections. 2005 On November 8, 2005, William T. Bolling won election to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He defeated Leslie L. Byrne (D) in the general election. Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 2005 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican William T. Bolling 50.5% 979,265      Democratic Leslie L. Byrne 49.3% 956,906      Write-In Various 0.2% 4,065 Total Votes 1,940,236 Election results via Virginia State Board of Elections. 2001 On November 6, 2001, Tim Kaine won election to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He defeated Jay K. Katzen (R) and Gary A. Reams (L) in the general election. Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 2001 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Tim Kaine 50.3% 925,974      Republican Jay K. Katzen 48.1% 883,886      Libertarian Gary A. Reams 1.6% 28,783      Write-In Various 0% 490 Total Votes 1,839,133 Election results via Virginia State Board of Elections.

About the office

Lieutenant governor

See also: Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

The Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia is an elected constitutional officer, the second-ranking officer of the executive branch and the first officer in line to succeed the Governor of Virginia. The lieutenant governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and, unlike the governor, may run for re-election. The 41st and current lieutenant governor is Justin Fairfax, a Democrat elected in 2017.

See also: Virginia General Assembly, Virginia House of Delegates, Virginia State Senate

State profile

Demographic data for Virginia
	Virginia	U.S.
Total population:	8,367,587	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	39,490	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	69%	73.6%
Black/African American:	19.2%	12.6%
Asian:	6%	5.1%
Native American:	0.3%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0.1%	0.2%
Two or more:	3.2%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	8.6%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	88.3%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	36.3%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$65,015	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	13%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Virginia. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Virginia

Virginia voted for the Democratic candidate in four out of the six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, five are located in Virginia, accounting for 2.43 percent of the total pivot counties.

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Virginia had five Retained Pivot Counties, 2.76 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Virginia coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Virginia
• United States congressional delegations from Virginia
• Public policy in Virginia
• Endorsers in Virginia
• Virginia fact checks
• More...

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Five of 133 Virginia counties—3.8 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County	Trump margin of victory in 2016	Obama margin of victory in 2012	Obama margin of victory in 2008
Buckingham County, Virginia	11.28%	2.43%	0.87%
Caroline County, Virginia	5.02%	8.24%	11.97%
Essex County, Virginia	2.14%	7.30%	10.35%
Nelson County, Virginia	5.59%	2.72%	9.15%
Westmoreland County, Virginia	7.14%	6.95%	10.24%

Note: Although it is highlighted in the map above, the city of Chesapeake is not considered a county and not included in our calculations as such.

In the 2016 presidential election, Virginia was a battleground state. Hillary Clinton (D) won Virginia with 49.7 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 44.4 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Virginia voted Democratic 56.67 percent of the time and Republican 43.33 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Virginia voted Democratic three times (2008, 2012, and 2016) and Republican two times (2000 and 2004).

See also

2021 Elections

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External links

Suggest a link

• Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia