Virginia State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2023
Virginia Senate District 8
A district of about 216,000 people, 33% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+35.9 relative to the nation for president.
2023 election
Nov 7, 2023- Mark Peake (R) · won70.1%
- Donna M. St. Clair (D)29.8%
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; the seat changed party 2 times. 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 | Mark Peake (R) | Donna M. St. Clair (D) | 40.3 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2019 | Bill DeSteph (R) | Melissa Cottersmasal (D) | 4.4 |
| 2015 | Bill DeSteph (R) | Harry D. Belote (D) | 17.8 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2011 | Jeffrey L. McWaters (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 2007 | Kenneth W. Stolle (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 2003 | Kenneth W. Stolle (R) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 1999 | Kenneth W. Stolle (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 1995 | Kenneth W. Stolle (R) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1991 | Kenneth W. Stolle (R)Flip | M. E. Stallings (D) | 8.2 |
| 1987 | M. E. Stallings (D)Flip | A. Joseph Canada Jr. (R) | 1.6 |
| 1983 | A. Joseph Canada Jr. (R) | Robert G. Jones (D) | 30.4 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1979 | A. Joseph Canada Jr. (R) | Bruce G. Murphy (D) | 35.9 |
| 1975 | A. Joseph Canada Jr. (R) | Robert H. Callis Jr. (D) | 8.3 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1971 | A. Joseph Canada Jr. (R) | Edward T. Caton III (I) | 10.6 |
Primaries: 2015 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 8
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 8'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 | R+49.2 |
| U.S. Senate | R+46.8 |
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 8.
Lower than 62% of seats.
Higher than 82% of seats.
Lower than 92% of seats.
Higher than 56% of seats.
Lower than 77% of seats.
Less dense 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 1032% college gradsR+26.6Not up in 2026District 3
29% college gradsR+29.1Not up in 2026District 26
42% college gradsR+20.0Not up in 2026District 28
32% college gradsR+25.3Not 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