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Virginia, State Senate, District 31

Virginia State Senate District 31
Current incumbentBarbara Favola Democratic Party
Population200,905
Race73.8% White, 6.0% Black, 0.6% American Indian, 13.8% Asian, 0.1% Hawaiian, 4.9% Other, 0.7% Two or More Races
Ethnicity88.0% Not Hispanic, 12.0% Hispanic
Voting age80.2% age 18 and over

Virginia's thirty-first state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Barbara Favola.

As of the 2011 redistricting, a total of 200,905 civilians reside within Virginia's thirty-first state senate district. Virginia state senators represent an average of 200,026 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 176,963 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

Senators must be at least 21 years of age at the time of the election, residents of the district they represent, and qualified to vote for members of the Virginia General Assembly.

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$18,000/year for the Senate; $17,640/year for the House$203/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. 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.

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 31

Incumbent Barbara Favola (D) won election in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 31 on November 5, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes

Barbara Favola (D)
91.6
46,707
Other/Write-in votes
8.4
4,259

Total votes: 50,966
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 31

Incumbent Barbara Favola defeated Nicole Merlene in the Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 31 on June 11, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes

Barbara Favola (D)
61.9
12,033

Nicole Merlene (D)
38.1
7,411

Total votes: 19,444
Republican primary election

No Republican candidates ran in the primary.


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. Incumbent Barbara Favola was unopposed in the Democratic primary. George Forakis was unopposed in the Republican primary. Favola defeated Forakis in the general election.

Virginia State Senate, District 31 General Election, 2015

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBarbara Favola Incumbent 62.4% 26,373
Republican George Forakis 37.6% 15,904
Total Votes 42,277

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. Democrat Barbara Favola defeated Republican Caren Merrick in the general election. Favola defeated Jaime Areizaga-Soto in the Democratic primary election. Merrick was unopposed in the Republican primary election.

Virginia State Senate, District 31 General Election, 2011

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBarbara Favola 58.2% 24,349
Republican Caren Merrick 41.8% 17,484
Total Votes 41,833

Virginia State Senate Democratic Primary, 2011

Campaign contributions

From 2003 to 2011, candidates for Virginia State Senate District 31 raised a total of $2,061,893. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $343,649 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Virginia State Senate District 31

Year Amount Candidates Average
2011 $1,682,407 3 $560,802
2007 $228,258 1 $228,258
2003 $151,228 2 $75,614
Total $2,061,893 6 $343,649