Virginia Senate

37°32′20.3″N 77°26′1.7″W / 37.538972°N 77.433806°W / 37.538972; -77.433806

Senate of Virginia
163rd Virginia General Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Coat of Arms of the Virginia Senate
Logo
Seal of the Virginia Senate
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 10, 2024
Leadership
Winsome Sears (R)
since January 15, 2022
Louise Lucas (D)
since January 8, 2020
Majority Leader
Scott Surovell (D)
since January 10, 2024
Minority Leader
Ryan McDougle (R)
since January 10, 2024
Structure
Seats40
Political groups
Majority
  •   Democratic (21)

Minority

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle IV, Virginia Constitution
Salary$18,000/year + per diem
Elections
Last election
November 7, 2023
(40 seats)
Next election
November 2, 2027
(40 seats)
RedistrictingCommission
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Virginia State Capitol
Richmond, Virginia
Website
Virginia General Assembly

The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the lieutenant governor of Virginia. Prior to the American War of Independence, the upper house of the General Assembly was represented by the Virginia Governor's Council, consisting of up to 12 executive counselors appointed by the colonial royal governor as advisers and jurists.

The lieutenant governor presides daily over the Virginia Senate. In the lieutenant governor's absence, the president pro tempore presides, usually a powerful member of the majority party. The Senate is equal with the House of Delegates, the lower chamber of the legislature, except that taxation bills must originate in the House, similar to the federal U.S. Congress. The 40 senatorial districts in Virginia elect their representatives every four years on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The last election took place in November 2023. There are no term limits for senators. The Senate also employs 36 pages (ages 13–14) to help with daily tasks during each general session in a full-time residential program of high regard.

Partisan makeup of the Virginia State Senate, 1900–2019