2011 Virginia Senate election

2011 Virginia Senate election

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All 40 seats in the Senate of Virginia 21[a] seats needed for a majority
Turnout	1,398,172
Majority party Minority party   Leader Tommy Norment Dick Saslaw Party Republican Democratic Leader since January 9, 2008 January 10, 1996 Leader's seat 3rd district 35th district Last election 19 21 Seats before 18 22 Seats won 20 20 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 768,914 535,703 Percentage 55% 38.3%
Results:      Democratic hold      Republican hold      Republican gain
Majority leader before election Dick Saslaw Democratic Elected Majority leader Tommy Norment Republican

Prior to the election, Democrats held 22 seats, and Republicans held 18 seats. Redistricting caused the 13th district to be moved from Hampton Roads to Northern Virginia and the 22nd district to be moved from the Roanoke area to a district stretching from Lynchburg to Richmond. Republicans gained two seats, making the Senate tied with 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans. This allowed Republicans to reclaim a majority, as the Republican Lieutenant Governor broke the tie. However, from January 28 to June 12, 2014, Democrats held a majority as they won the Lieutenant Governorship in the 2013 elections, but then later lost a seat in a special election, thereby giving Republicans a 21-19 majority.^[1]

Four incumbent senators chose to retire: Fred Quayle (R-13), Patsy Ticer (D-30), Mary Margaret Whipple (D-31), and William Wampler Jr. (R-40). In addition, two senators, Ralph K. Smith (R-22) and Bill Stanley (R-19) chose to seek re-election in new districts: Smith went from the 22nd to Stanley's 19th, while Stanley opted to challenge incumbent Democrat Roscoe Reynolds in the 20th.