Virginia House of Delegates seat · lines in effect since 2023
Virginia House District 65
A district of about 84,000 people, 43% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+10.3 relative to the nation for president.
2025 election
Nov 4, 2025- Josh Cole (D) · won58.9%
- Sean C. Steinway (R)40.9%
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.
Democratic
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
23 races since 1982. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2023 | |||
| 2025 | Josh Cole (D) | Sean C. Steinway (R) | 18.0 |
| 2023 | Josh Cole (D) | Lee Peters III (R) | 6.0 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2021 | Lee Ware (R) | Caitlin Alexis Coakley (D) | 32.2 |
| 2019 | Lee Ware (R) | Michael Patrick Asip (D) | 30.2 |
| 2017 | Lee Ware (R) | Francis M. Stevens (D) | 28.2 |
| 2015 | Lee Ware (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 2013 | Lee Ware (R) | William E. Quarles Jr. (D) | 35.5 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2011 | Lee Ware (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 2009 | Lee Ware (R) | Gary R. Reinhardt (I) | 43.1 |
| 2007 | Lee Ware (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 2005 | Lee Ware (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 2003 | Lee Ware (R) | R. E. Williams (D) | 50.3 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2001 | Lee Ware (R) | C. K. Lowrie (D) | 51.9 |
| 1999 | Lee Ware (R) | T. R. Belton (I) | 54.3 |
| 1997 | John C. Watkins (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 1995 | John C. Watkins (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 1993 | John C. Watkins (R) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1991 | John C. Watkins (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 1989 | John C. Watkins (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 1987 | John C. Watkins (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 1985 | John C. Watkins (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 1983 | John C. Watkins (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 1982 | John C. Watkins (R) | — | Unopposed |
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 65
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 65's area in each.
Every race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2024 | |
|---|---|
| President | D+10.0 |
| U.S. Senate | D+12.3 |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
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 65.
Higher than 60% of seats.
Higher than 53% of seats.
Higher than 69% of seats.
Higher than 60% of seats.
Lower than 54% of seats.
Denser than 51% 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 9436% college gradsD+15.8Not up in 2026District 64
21% Black · 44% college gradsR+1.3Not up in 2026District 97
35% college gradsD+9.0Not up in 2026District 69
44% college gradsR+2.6Not 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