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Virginia state executive official elections, 2021
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Governor • Lt. Gov • Attorney General • State executive offices • State House • Special state legislative • Local ballot measures • Municipal • How to run for office |
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2025 →
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| Virginia state executive official elections |
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| Election details |
| Filing deadline: March 25, 2021 |
| Primary: June 8, 2021 General: November 2, 2021 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Virginia |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2021 Impact of term limits in 2021 State government trifectas and triplexes |
| Other state executive elections |
Three state executive offices were up for election in Virginia in 2021:
Governor
Lieutenant governor
Attorney general
Candidates and election results
Governor
General election
General election for Governor of Virginia
Glenn Youngkin defeated Terry McAuliffe, Princess Blanding, and Paul Davis in the general election for Governor of Virginia on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Glenn Youngkin (R) | 50.6 | 1,663,596 | |
| Terry McAuliffe (D) | 48.6 | 1,600,116 | ||
| Princess Blanding (Liberation Party) | 0.7 | 23,125 | ||
| Paul Davis (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 2,593 | ||
| Total votes: 3,289,430 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brad Froman (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia
Terry McAuliffe defeated Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Jennifer McClellan, Justin Fairfax, and Lee Carter in the Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia on June 8, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Terry McAuliffe | 62.1 | 307,367 | |
| Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | 19.8 | 98,052 | ||
| Jennifer McClellan | 11.8 | 58,213 | ||
| Justin Fairfax | 3.6 | 17,606 | ||
| Lee Carter | 2.8 | 13,694 | ||
| Total votes: 494,932 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican Convention for Governor of Virginia
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Glenn Youngkin in round 6 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
| Total votes: 12,555 |
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Merle Rutledge (R)
- Kurt Santini (R)
- Paul Davis (R)
Lieutenant Governor
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Winsome Earle-Sears defeated Hala Ayala in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Winsome Earle-Sears (R) | 50.7 | 1,658,767 | |
| Hala Ayala (D) | 49.2 | 1,608,691 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 3,808 | ||
| Total votes: 3,271,266 | ||||
| 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
- Bobby Junes (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia on June 8, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Hala Ayala | 37.6 | 181,168 | |
| Sam Rasoul | 24.3 | 116,816 | ||
| Mark Levine | 11.2 | 53,735 | ||
| Andria McClellan | 10.6 | 51,015 | ||
| Sean Perryman | 8.1 | 38,925 | ||
| Xavier Warren | 4.1 | 19,903 | ||
| Elizabeth Guzman (Unofficially withdrew) | 4.1 | 19,803 | ||
| Total votes: 481,365 | ||||
| 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
- Kellen Squire (D)
- Paul Goldman (D)
Republican convention
Republican Convention for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Winsome Earle-Sears in round 5 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
| Total votes: 12,555 |
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Attorney General
General election
General election for Attorney General of Virginia
Jason Miyares defeated incumbent Mark Herring in the general election for Attorney General of Virginia on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jason Miyares (R) | 50.4 | 1,647,534 | |
| Mark Herring (D) | 49.6 | 1,621,227 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 2,996 | ||
| Total votes: 3,271,757 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Virginia
Incumbent Mark Herring defeated Jerrauld Jones in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Virginia on June 8, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mark Herring | 56.6 | 274,736 | |
| Jerrauld Jones | 43.4 | 210,365 | ||
| Total votes: 485,101 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican Convention for Attorney General of Virginia
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Jason Miyares in round 3 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
| Total votes: 12,553 |
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Context of the 2021 elections
Party control in Virginia
Virginia Party Control: 1992-2025
Four years of Democratic trifectas • Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | S | S | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | S | S | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | D | D |
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Virginia utilizes an open primary process in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[1][2]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Virginia, all polls open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[3]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Virginia, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of Virginia, and at least 18 years of age.[4]
Registration can be completed online, in person at a local voter registration office, or by mail. Voters can also register at the following locations:[4]
| “ |
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| —Virginia Department of Elections | ||
The deadline to register is the 11th day before a primary or general election, but a voter may register to voter after this deadline through the state's same-day registration system and vote a provisional ballot.[4][6]
Automatic registration
On April 12, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam (D) signed SB219 into law, establishing automatic voter registration for individuals conducting business with the Department of Motor Vehicles.[7]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Virginia has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Virginia allows same-day voter registration in-person at local registrars' offices, satellite early voting sites during the early voting period, and at the precinct on Election Day.[4]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Virginia, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.
Verification of citizenship
Virginia does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who makes a materially false statement may be "sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, or up to 12 months in jail and/or fined up to $2,500."[8]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[9] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
This page, run by the Virginia Department of elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Early voting
Virginia permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website. Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
All Virginia voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail. There are no special requirements to be eligible to vote absentee/by mail. Voters may request an absentee ballot online or complete a paper absentee ballot request form and return it to their local voter registration office by mail, fax, or email. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. at least 11 days before Election Day.[10][11]
Completed ballots must be returned to the local registrar's office or an official drop off location by 7 p.m. on Election Day. If mailed, completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within three days of the election in order to be counted.[10]
On April 12, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam (D) signed HB1 and SB111 into law, establishing no-excuse absentee voting 45 days prior to an election. The legislation was in effect for the November 3, 2020 election.[7]
On the same day, Northam also signed HB238 and SB455, providing for absentee ballots postmarked on or before the date of an election to be counted if received by noon on the third day after the election.[7]
Past elections
2017
- Virginia gubernatorial election, 2017
- Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2017
- Virginia Attorney General election, 2017
See also
| Virginia | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections,"Casting a Ballot," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Election and Voter FAQ," accessed May 3, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Virginia Department of Elections, "How to Register," accessed May 3, 2023 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "vareg" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Same-Day Voter Registration," accessed May 12, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Office of the Governor of Virginia, "Governor Northam Signs Sweeping New Laws to Expand Access to Voting," April 12, 2020
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Virginia Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Virginia Department of Elections, "Absentee and Early Voting," accessed October 4, 2024
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Virginia Absentee Ballot Application Form,"accessed October 7, 2024
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