Virginia State Senate District 9
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Virginia State Senate District 9 is represented byTammy Mulchi (R).
As of the 2020 Census, Virginia state senators represented an average of216,364 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented200,943 residents.
About the office
Members of theVirginia State Senate servefour-year terms and are not subject toterm limits. Virginia legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January after the election.
Qualifications
In order to serve in theVirginia General Assembly, candidates must meet the following qualifications:[1]
- Be a citizen of the United States.
- Be at least twenty-one years of age on or before the date of the general or special election for the office sought
- Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the year immediately preceding the election
- Be a resident of the district they are seeking to represent
- Be a qualified voter in the district they are seeking to represent
- Not have been convicted of a felony (unless voting rights have been officially restored)
- Not have been adjudicated mentally incompetent (unless voting rights have been officially restored)
Salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2025[2] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $18,000/year for senators. $17,640/year for delegates. | $237/day |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in theVirginia 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, thegovernor shall call the special election. Within 30 days of a vacancy, the appropriate officeholder shall issue a writ of election. If an vacancy occurs between December 10 and March 1, the writ must declare the special election date be within 30 days of said vacancy. 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.[3][4]
See sources:Virginia Code § 24.2-216
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
The Virginia Supreme Court unanimously approved district maps for theVirginia House of Delegates andVirginia State Senate on December 28, 2021.[5] Democratic and Republican consultants submitted statewide map proposals for consideration to the Virginia Redistricting Commission on September 18, 2021.[6] The commission had reviewed earlier maps on August 31, 2021, that were focused solely on suburbs in northern Virginia that were drawn from scratch and did not consider legislative incumbents’ home addresses in keeping withearlier commission decisions.[7][8] After the commission missed its deadline for approving map proposals and theVirginia Supreme Court assumed authority over the process, the two special masters selected by the court released proposals for House and Senate districts on December 8, 2021.[9]These maps took effect for Virginia's 2023 legislative elections.
How does redistricting in Virginia work? On November 3, 2020, Virginia voters approved aconstitutional amendment establishing a commission-driven congressional and state legislative redistricting process. The 16-member commission comprises eight legislators and eight non-legislator members. Leaders of the legislature's two largest political parties select legislators to serve on the commission. The commission's eight citizen members are recommended by legislative leaders and selected by a committee of five retired circuit court judges. The commissioners themselves select one of the eight citizens to serve as chairperson.[10]
District maps are subject to the following consensus requirements:[10]
- Congressional maps: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators and six non-legislators.
- Virginia State Senate: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators (with three state senators) and six non-legislators.
- Virginia House of Delegates: Approval by 12 commissioners, including six legislators (with three state delegates) and six non-legislators.
The commission submits its maps to the General Assembly, which can vote to approve the maps or reject them. The General Assembly cannot amend the maps. If the General Assembly rejects a map, the commission must draft a second map. If the General Assembly rejects that map, the Virginia Supreme Court is tasked with enacting a new map.[10][11]
Virginia State Senate District 9
until January 9, 2024
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Virginia State Senate District 9
starting January 10, 2024
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
A special election forVirginia State SenateDistrict 9 was called for January 9, 2024. The candidate filing deadline was December 20, 2023.[12]
The seat became vacant afterFrank Ruff (R) announced his resignation on January 9, 2024.[13]
General election
Special general election for Virginia State Senate District 9
Tammy Mulchi defeatedTina Younger in the special general election for Virginia State Senate District 9 on January 9, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tammy Mulchi (R) | 62.7 | 13,243 |
 | Tina Younger (D) | 37.1 | 7,836 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 28 | ||
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 21,107 | ||
 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
2023
Regular election
See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2023
General election
General election for Virginia State Senate District 9
IncumbentFrank Ruff won election in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 9 on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Frank Ruff (R) | 92.6 | 41,877 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 7.4 | 3,354 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 45,231 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Trudy Bell Berry (D)
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled.Trudy Bell Berry advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 9.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. IncumbentFrank Ruff advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 9.
Special election
A special election forVirginia State SenateDistrict 9 was called for March 28, 2023. Candidates running for special elections in Virginia are selected through firehouse primaries administered by each political party. The candidate filing deadline was February 27, 2023.[14]
The special election was called afterJennifer McClellan (D) was elected to representVirginia's 4th Congressional District in aspecial election on February 21, 2023.[15]
General election
Special general election for Virginia State Senate District 9
Lamont Bagby defeatedSteve Imholt in the special general election for Virginia State Senate District 9 on March 28, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Lamont Bagby (D) | 90.1 | 13,552 |
| Steve Imholt (R) | 9.9 | 1,495 | ||
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 15,047 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
2019
Elections for theVirginia 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 9
IncumbentJennifer McClellan defeatedMark Lewis in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 9 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jennifer McClellan (D) | 80.1 | 49,451 |
 | Mark Lewis (L) | 19.0 | 11,707 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 613 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 61,771 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
2017
Aspecial election for the position ofVirginia State Senate District 9 was called for January 10.[16]
The seat was vacant followingDonald McEachin's (D) resignation in January 2017. He was elected tothe 4th Congressional District ofVirginia in November 2016.[17]
Del.Jennifer McClellan (D) defeatedCorey Maurice Fauconier (L) in the special election.[18][19]
| Virginia State Senate, District 9, Special Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Jennifer McClellan | 91.3% | 7,849 | |
| Libertarian | Corey Maurice Fauconier | 8.1% | 692 | |
| Other | Write-in | 0.6% | 55 | |
| Total Votes | 8,596 | |||
| Source:Virginia Board of Elections | ||||
2015
Elections for theVirginia State Senate took place in 2015. A primary election was held on June 9, 2015. The general election took place onNovember 3, 2015. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 26, 2015.[20] IncumbentDonald McEachin was unopposed in the Democratic primary. No Republican candidates filed for election. McEachin was unchallenged in the general election.[21]
2011
Elections for the office ofVirginia State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 23, 2011, and a general election onNovember 8, 2011.Democratic incumbentDonald McEachin was unchallenged in the general election. McEachin was unopposed in the Democratic primary election.[22][23][24]
Campaign contributions
From 2003 to 2024, candidates for Virginia State Senate District 9 raised a total of $2,207,523. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $200,684 on average. All figures come fromFollow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Virginia State Senate District 9 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $259,932 | 2 | $129,966 |
| 2023 | $719,293 | 4 | $179,823 |
| 2019 | $372,629 | 1 | $372,629 |
| 2011 | $213,363 | 1 | $213,363 |
| 2007 | $506,309 | 2 | $253,155 |
| 2003 | $135,997 | 1 | $135,997 |
| Total | $2,207,523 | 11 | $200,684 |
Other election results in district
The map below highlight's this state legislative district and provides election results from the most recent election. Using the dropdown on the left, you can choose to view results for the most recent presidential election or U.S. House district election instead. This will show you the votes cast in this district for that election. The dropdown on the right will let you see either the map colored by the percentage of votes the winning candidate received or let you know the number and type of votes cast by size and shade of the circle in each county.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑Virginia General Assembly, "Certificate of Candidate Qualification," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑National Conference of State Legislatures, "2025 Legislator Compensation," December 2, 2025
- ↑Virginia Law Library, "§ 24.2-216. Filling vacancies in the General Assembly," accessed February 16, 2021(Statute 24.2-216, Virginia Code)
- ↑Virginia Law Library, "§ 24.2-682. Times for special elections," accessed February 16, 2021
- ↑13News Now, "Virginia has new voting maps after redistricting process finishes," December 30, 2021
- ↑ABC 7, "Virginia bipartisan redistricting panel starts off with partisan maps," September 20, 2021
- ↑El Paso Inc., "First redistricting map drafts leave some lawmakers unhappy," September 2, 2021
- ↑Virginia Mercury, "Virginia’s Redistricting Commission has its first draft maps. They look… normal?" September 2, 2021
- ↑Associated Press, "Proposed congressional maps give Dems an edge in Virginia," December 9, 2021
- ↑10.010.110.2Virginia's Legislative Information System, "HJ 615 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission (first reference)," accessed November 18, 2020
- ↑All About Redistricting, "Virginia," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑Governor of Virginia, "Governor Glenn Youngkin Sets Special Election for 9th Senate District," accessed December 15, 2023
- ↑Cardinal News, "Sen. Ruff to resign for health reasons; Youngkin sets special election for Jan. 9," December 15, 2023
- ↑Senate of Virginia, "Writ Ordering Special Election," February 22, 2023
- ↑The New York Times, "McClellan Wins in Virginia and Will Be State’s First Black Woman in Congress," February 21, 2023
- ↑wdbj7, "Virginia to hold special elections for three open seats on January 10," accessed December 4, 2016
- ↑The Richmonder, "Donald McEachin to announce Congressional run tomorrow," March 14, 2016
- ↑wtvr.com, "Jennifer McClellan named Democratic nominee for 9th Senate District special election," accessed December 4, 2016
- ↑Virginia Board of Elections, "2017 January GA Specials," accessed January 10, 2017
- ↑Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑Virginia Board of Elections, "2015 General election candidates," accessed August 21, 2015
- ↑Virginia State Board of Elections,Official Democratic Primary Results, accessed October 28, 2013
- ↑Virginia State Board of Elections,Official Republican Primary Results, accessed October 28, 2013
- ↑Virginia State Board of Elections,Official General Election Results, accessed October 28, 2013
