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Virginia, State Senate, District 5

Virginia State Senate District 5
Current incumbentLionell Spruill Democratic Party
Population200,751
Race36.7% White, 56.3% Black, 0.7% American Indian, 3.0% Asian, 0.1% Hawaiian, 2.0% Other, 1.2% Two or More Races
Ethnicity94.8% Not Hispanic, 5.2% Hispanic
Voting age74.5% age 18 and over

Virginia's fifth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Lionell Spruill.

As of the 2011 redistricting, a total of 200,751 civilians reside within Virginia's fifth 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 5

Incumbent Lionell Spruill (D) defeated Jeff Staples (Independent) in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 5 on November 5, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes

Lionell Spruill (D)
78.0
30,189

Jeff Staples (Independent)
20.8
8,057
Other/Write-in votes
1.1
441

Total votes: 38,687
Democratic primary election

The primary elections were canceled.

Republican primary election

The primary elections were canceled.


2016

A special election for the position of Virginia State Senate District 5 was called for November 8.

The seat was vacant following Kenny Alexander's (D) election to the office of Norfolk mayor.

Del. Lionell Spruill (D) was unopposed in the special election.

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 Kenneth Alexander was unopposed in the Democratic primary. No Republican candidates filed for election. Alexander 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 Yvonne Miller was unchallenged in the general election. Miller was unopposed in the Democratic primary election.

Campaign contributions

From 2003 to 2011, candidates for Virginia State Senate District 5 raised a total of $419,193. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $139,731 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Virginia State Senate District 5

Year Amount Candidates Average
2011 $208,198 1 $208,198
2007 $162,611 1 $162,611
2003 $48,384 1 $48,384
Total $419,193 3 $139,731