Virginia House of Delegates District 56
Current incumbent	Peter Farrell
Population	79,271
Race	79.3% White, 12.6% Black, 0.5% American Indian, 6.3% Asian, 0.1% Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.8% Other, 0.4% Two or more races
Ethnicity	97.6% Not Hispanic, 2.4% Hispanic
Voting age	74.1% age 18 and over
Next general election	November 7, 2017

Virginia's fifty-sixth state house district is represented by Republican Representative Peter Farrell.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 79,271 civilians reside within Virginia's fifty-sixth state house district. Virginia's state delegates represent an average of 80,010 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 70,785 residents.

About the office

Members of the Virginia House of Delegates serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Virginia legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January after the election.

Qualifications

Delegates 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

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

2017

Elections for the office of Virginia House of Delegates will take place in 2017. All 100 house seats are up for election. The general election will take place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 13, 2017. The filing deadline for primary election candidates was March 30, 2017. The filing deadline for non-party candidates and candidates nominated by methods other than a primary was June 13, 2017. Melissa Dart (D) and John McGuire (R) are running in the Virginia House of Delegates District 56 general election.

Melissa Dart defeated Lizzie Drucker-Basch in the Virginia House of Delegates District 56 Democratic primary.

The following candidates ran in the Virginia House of Delegates District 56 Republican primary.

2015

Elections for the office of Virginia House of Delegates 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 Peter Farrell was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

2013

Elections for the office of Virginia House of Delegates consisted of a primary election on June 11, 2013, and a general election on November 5, 2013. Republican incumbent Peter Farrell was unchallenged in the general election. Farrell was unopposed in the Republican primary election.

Campaign contributions

Since 2001, candidates for Virginia House of Delegates District 56 have raised a total of $1,539,319. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $153,932 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.