Virginia State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2023
Virginia Senate District 36
A district of about 209,000 people, 29% Asian, 66% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+30.0 relative to the nation for president.
2023 election
Nov 7, 2023- Stella Pekarsky (D) · won60.8%
- Julie Anna Perry (R)38.8%
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 | Stella Pekarsky (D) | Julie Anna Perry (R) | 22.1 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2019 | Scott Surovell (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 2015 | Scott Surovell (D) | Gerald M. Foreman II (R) | 21.2 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2011 | Linda T. Puller (D) | Jeffrey M. Frederick (R) | 10.6 |
| 2007 | Linda T. Puller (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 2003 | Linda T. Puller (D) | C. N. Braunlich (R) | 10.9 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 1999 | Linda T. Puller (D) | D. F. Rinzel (R) | 4.8 |
| 1995 | Joseph V. Gartlan Jr. (D) | Stanford E. Parris (R) | 5.5 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1991 | Joseph V. Gartlan Jr. (D) | John M. Griswold (R) | 2.5 |
| 1987 | Joseph V. Gartlan Jr. (D) | C. Ronald Smith (R) | 16.6 |
| 1983 | Joseph V. Gartlan Jr. (D) | Jean C. Hunt (R) | 17.7 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1979 | Joseph V. Gartlan Jr. (D) | John B. Watkins (R) | 12.9 |
| 1975 | Joseph V. Gartlan Jr. (D) | John B. Watkins (R) | 4.7 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1971 | Joseph V. Gartlan Jr. (D) | Arthur E. Morrissette (R) | 13.4 |
Primaries: 1987 Republican 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 36
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 36'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+26.8 |
| U.S. Senate | D+27.8 |
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 36.
Higher than 92% of seats.
Lower than 87% of seats.
Higher than 72% of seats.
Lower than 82% of seats.
Higher than 97% of seats.
Denser than 67% 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 3266% college gradsD+25.3Not up in 2026District 37
71% college gradsD+42.4Not up in 2026District 35
20% Hispanic · 57% college gradsD+37.0Not up in 2026District 38
74% college gradsD+40.8Not 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