99chambers

Virginia House of Delegates seat · lines in effect since 2023

Virginia House District 51

A district of about 81,000 people, 25% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+51.3 relative to the nation for president.

Eric Zehr (R) · since Nov 7, 2023Next election Nov 2, 2027

2025 election

Nov 4, 2025
  1. Eric Zehr (R) · won75.4%
  2. Joy A. Powers (D)24.5%

Full results →

Source: Virginia Department of ElectionsUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:45 PM ET

Where it sits among all 99 seats

Every Virginia House of Delegates seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.

R+51.394th most
Democratic
Most DemocraticMost Republican50th seat · the majority lineDistrict 51

Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET

Every election for this seat

31 races since 1969; the seat changed party 5 times. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.

YearWinnerRunner-upWon by
Lines first used in 2023
2025Eric Zehr (R)Joy A. Powers (D)50.9
2023Eric Zehr (R)Kimberly A. Moran (D)51.3
Lines first used in 2012
2021Briana Sewell (D)Timothy David Cox (R)6.9
2019Hala Sophia Ayala (D)Richard L. Anderson (R)9.2
2017Hala Sophia Ayala (D)FlipRichard L. Anderson (R)6.2
2015Richard L. Anderson (R)—Unopposed
2013Richard L. Anderson (R)R. Reed Heddleston (D)7.6
Lines first used in 2002
2011Richard L. Anderson (R)—Unopposed
2009Richard L. Anderson (R)FlipPaul F. Nichols (D)1.7
2007Paul F. Nichols (D)FlipFaisal M. Gill (R)4.1
2005Michele B. McQuigg (R)Earnest W. Porta Jr. (D)7.8
2003Michele B. McQuigg (R)—Unopposed
Lines first used in 1992
2001Michele B. McQuigg (R)D. M. Oppenhagen (D)30.3
1999Michele B. McQuigg (R)FlipV. M. Stephens (D)11.1
1997David G. Brickley (D)Debra A. Wilson (R)14.4
1995David G. Brickley (D)F. Clancy McQuigg (R)17.0
1993David G. Brickley (D)F. Clancy McQuigg (R)7.8
Lines first used in 1982
1991David G. Brickley (D)—Unopposed
1989David G. Brickley (D)Larry S. Newsom Jr. (R)29.6
1987David G. Brickley (D)—Unopposed
1985David G. Brickley (D)Mark A. Moorstein (R)34.7
1983David G. Brickley (D)—Unopposed
1982David G. Brickley (D)FlipF. Clancy McQuigg (R)24.9
1982 special electionF. Clancy McQuigg (R)Smith William Young (R)9.8
Lines first used in 1972
1981Vivian Watts · Robert E. Harris · James E. Dillard (DEM)M. J. Hershman (D)2.8
1979George W. Grayson (D)Barbara C. Murphy (R)20.7
1977George W. Grayson (D)David W. Ware Jr. (R)28.0
1975George W. Grayson (D)—Unopposed
1973George W. Grayson (D)Russell M. Carneal (I)1.2
Lines first used in 1962
1971Russell M. Carneal (D)—Unopposed
1969William Roy Smith (D)—Unopposed

Primaries: 1989 Republican primary · 1981 Republican primary · 1971 Democratic primary

Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Districts that overlap District 51

The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 51's area in each.

U.S. House
VA-5 60%, VA-9 40%
Virginia State Senate
SD-8 97%

Who lives here, compared

Grey bars show the spread of all 99 seats. Small marks are other seats in Virginia. The black marker is District 51.

Adults with a bachelor's degree25% 12th pct · 87th of 99 in VA

Lower than 88% of seats.

White adults without a degree62% 90th pct · 11th of 99 in VA

Higher than 90% of seats.

Hispanic residents3% 6th pct · 93rd of 99 in VA

Lower than 94% of seats.

Black residents11% 38th pct · 62nd of 99 in VA

Lower than 62% of seats.

Asian residents1% 16th pct · 83rd of 99 in VA

Lower than 84% of seats.

People per square mile86 15th pct · 84th of 99 in VA

Less dense than 85% of seats.

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET

Seats most like this one

Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.

District 39
29% college gradsR+40.2Not up in 2026District 44
24% college gradsR+53.2Not up in 2026District 35
27% college gradsR+43.4Not up in 2026District 37
26% college gradsR+39.9Not up in 2026

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET