Virginia State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2023
Virginia Senate District 16
A district of about 222,000 people, 56% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+18.1 relative to the nation for president.
2023 election
Nov 7, 2023- Schuyler VanValkenburg (D) · won54.7%
- Siobhan S. Dunnavant (R)45.1%
Source: Virginia Department of ElectionsUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:42 PM ET
Where it sits among all 40 seats
Every Virginia State Senate 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
15 races since 1971. 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 | |||
| 2023 | Schuyler VanValkenburg (D) | Siobhan S. Dunnavant (R) | 9.5 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2019 | Joseph D. Morrissey (D) | Waylin K. Ross (I) | 29.6 |
| 2015 | Rosalyn R. Dance (D) | Joseph D. Morrissey (I) | 47.1 |
| 2014 special election | Rosalyn R. Dance (D) | Preston T. Brown (I) | 47.7 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2011 | Henry L. Marsh III (D) | Preston T. Brown (I) | 38.7 |
| 2007 | Henry L. Marsh III (D) | Robert R. Owens (I) | 33.6 |
| 2003 | Henry L. Marsh III (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 1999 | Henry L. Marsh III (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1995 | Henry L. Marsh III (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1991 | Henry L. Marsh III (D) | Dan A. Harrington Jr. (I) | 37.7 |
| 1987 | Elmon T. Gray (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1983 | Elmon T. Gray (D) | L. Chester Carter (I) | 65.4 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1979 | Elmon T. Gray (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1975 | Elmon T. Gray (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1971 | Elmon T. Gray (D) | Robert W. Daniel (R) | 24.4 |
Primaries: 2015 Democratic 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 16
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 16'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+18.0 |
| U.S. Senate | D+19.6 |
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 40 seats. Small marks are other seats in Virginia. The black marker is District 16.
Higher than 77% of seats.
Lower than 64% of seats.
Lower than 56% of seats.
Lower than 56% of seats.
Higher than 87% of seats.
Denser than 82% 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 3161% college gradsD+10.2Not up in 2026District 22
25% Black · 34% college gradsD+15.8Not up in 2026District 12
51% college gradsR+1.2Not up in 2026District 24
22% Black · 40% college gradsD+7.7Not 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