Virginia State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2023
Virginia Senate District 35
A district of about 208,000 people, 20% Hispanic and 21% Asian, 57% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+37.0 relative to the nation for president.
2023 election
Nov 7, 2023- Dave Marsden (D) · won67.6%
- Mark B. Vafiades (R)32.0%
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
14 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 | Dave Marsden (D) | Mark B. Vafiades (R) | 35.6 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2019 | Richard L. Saslaw (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 2015 | Richard L. Saslaw (D) | Terrence Wayne Modglin (I) | 50.4 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2011 | Richard L. Saslaw (D) | Robert C. Sarvis (R) | 25.7 |
| 2007 | Richard L. Saslaw (D) | Mario T. Palmiotto (I) | 57.6 |
| 2003 | Richard L. Saslaw (D) | C. W. Levy (I) | 66.7 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 1999 | Richard L. Saslaw (D) | R. H. Neitz (R) | 17.1 |
| 1995 | Richard L. Saslaw (D) | Paul R. Brubaker (R) | 14.1 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1991 | Richard L. Saslaw (D) | Christyanne Mari Collins (R) | 20.5 |
| 1987 | Richard L. Saslaw (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1983 | Richard L. Saslaw (D) | Nancy E. Schiffman (R) | 16.7 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1979 | Richard L. Saslaw (D) | James R. Tate (R) | 5.6 |
| 1975 | Omer L. Hirst (D) | Robert J. Murrin (R) | 7.9 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1971 | Omer L. Hirst (D) | Richard J. Ryder (R) | 12.6 |
Primaries: 1979 Republican primary · 1979 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 35
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 35'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+33.6 |
| U.S. Senate | D+35.3 |
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 40 seats. Small marks are other seats in Virginia. The black marker is District 35.
Higher than 79% of seats.
Lower than 82% of seats.
Higher than 85% of seats.
Lower than 67% of seats.
Higher than 92% of seats.
Denser than 90% 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 3771% college gradsD+42.4Not up in 2026District 38
74% college gradsD+40.8Not up in 2026District 34
21% Hispanic · 59% college gradsD+42.1Not up in 2026District 36
66% college gradsD+30.0Not 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