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Virginia, State Senate, District 34

Virginia State Senate District 34
Current incumbentChap Petersen Democratic Party
Population196,312
Race67.7% White, 5.9% Black, 0.5% American Indian, 20.7% Asian, 0.1% Hawaiian, 4.3% Other, 0.6% Two or More Races
Ethnicity88.8% Not Hispanic, 11.2% Hispanic
Voting age77.2% age 18 and over

Virginia's thirty-fourth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator John Chapman "Chap" Petersen.

As of the 2011 redistricting, a total of 196,312 civilians reside within Virginia's thirty-fourth 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 34

Incumbent John Chapman "Chap" Petersen (D) won election in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 34 on November 5, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes

John Chapman "Chap" Petersen (D)
91.2
43,745
Other/Write-in votes
8.8
4,245

Total votes: 47,990
Democratic primary election

The primary elections were canceled.

Republican primary election

The primary elections were canceled.


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 Chap Petersen was unopposed in the Democratic primary. No Republican candidates filed for election. Petersen was unchallenged in the general election.

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. Democratic incumbent John Chapman "Chap" Petersen defeated Republican Gerarda Culipher in the general election. Petersen was unopposed in the Democratic primary election. Culipher was unopposed in the Republican primary election.

Virginia State Senate, District 34 General Election, 2011

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Chapman "Chap" Petersen Incumbent 59.8% 23,662
Republican Gerarda Culipher 40.2% 15,933
Total Votes 39,595

Campaign contributions

From 2003 to 2011, candidates for Virginia State Senate District 34 raised a total of $4,292,444. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $613,206 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Virginia State Senate District 34

Year Amount Candidates Average
2011 $664,925 2 $332,463
2007 $3,111,739 2 $1,555,870
2003 $515,780 3 $171,927
Total $4,292,444 7 $613,206