2003 Virginia Senate election

The Virginia Senate election of 2003 was held on Tuesday, November 4, to elect the 40 members of the Virginia Senate. In the previous election in 1999, the Republican Party won 21 seats, while the Democratic Party won 19 seats. The general election saw Republicans flip 3 senate seats, maintaining and expanding their control of the Senate majority. 20 of the 40 seats up for election went uncontested by either major party. 38 of the 40 seats had an incumbent who ran and won re-election. No incumbent lost re-election.

Background

In 2001, Governor Jim Gilmore (R), in conjunction with the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate, both controlled by Republicans, completed constitutionally required redistricting after the 2000 census was completed. This was the first time in commonwealth history that Republicans controlled the redistricting process in Virginia. This resulted in maps more favorable to the Republican Party in the Virginia Senate, the Virginia House of Delegates, and Virginia's United States Congressional District maps. The 2001 Virginia Gubernatorial election resulted in the victory of Mark Warner, flipping the office to the Democratic Party. Republicans concurrently flipped 12 seats in the 2001 Virginia House of Delegates election, resulting in a near-supermajority of 64% of seats for Republicans, just shy of the two-thirds supermajority needed to override gubernatorial vetoes. Therefore, this election along with the concurrent House of Delegates election would determine if Republicans would be able to override Governor Warner's veto power. If Democrats had a net gain of 1 seat in this election, Lt. Gov Tim Kaine, elected in 2001, would have served as the tie-breaking vote in a hypothetical 20-20 senate.

Seats Changing Parties

1. District 15: Open Seat previously held by Richard Holland, (D), won by Frank Ruff Jr. (R).
2. District 34: Open Seat previously held by Leslie Bryne, (D), won by Jeanne Devolites (R).
3. District 39: Open Seat previously held by Madison Marye, (D), won by Jay O'Brien Jr. (R).

Closest Races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%

1. District 34: 5.63% (Gain)
2. District 37: 6.69%
3. District 29: 9.36%

Results

Source:

Gains are determined based on the 1999 Virginia Senate election, not special election results in between. This explains why some races have an incumbent and a "gain" tag.

*Denotes incumbency due to special election victory prior to 2003 election

**Denotes incumbency, however, changed district number in the 2003 election

Notes