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State Senate

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Senate races on your ballot.

  • Incumbent Democratic Senator Dave Marsden is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Senator Marsden has lived in Burke since 1977 with his wife Julia and three sons. He graduated from W.T. Woodson High School in 1966, Randolph-Macon College in 1970, and began a career in juvenile justice as a probation officer with the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. He went on to establish and operate Fairfax County’s shelter home for youth with severe family problems and was later appointed as the first Superintendent of Fairfax County’s Juvenile Detention Center. He served in the House of Delegates for four years before he was elected to the state Senate in 2009.
    Senator Marsden has been a voice for reproductive health care access throughout his service. Most recently, he voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans and voted to establish the Reproductive Health Protection Act. In previous sessions, he voted against a measure to prohibit state funding of abortion services and voted to repeal the requirement for an ultrasound prior to an abortion, a bill he co-sponsored.

    Senator Marsden has also been a reliable voice for civil rights and liberties. In 2020, he voted to prohibit No-knock Search Warrants. He also voted to repeal the State statutory same-sex marriage ban and amend state documents to include gender-neutral terms. Additionally, he voted to establish the Dress Code Equity Act, prohibit state funding of conversion therapy on minors, and amend the anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure he also co-sponsored.

    Senator Marsden’s advocacy for civil liberties extends to criminal justice. In the most recent session, he voted to establish an independent policing auditor to oversee civilian law enforcement oversight groups. He voted against a measure to require school principals to report student misdemeanors to law enforcement, a measure supported by civil rights groups. He voted to expand voting rights of returning citizens. He also voted to require law enforcement officers to inform drivers why they are being stopped.

    Senator Marsden has also supported measures to expand healthcare and make it more affordable throughout his career. In recent sessions, he voted to establish a COVID-19 Relief Fund. He also voted to limit the cost of Insulin to $50 per 30-day supply. Earlier in his career, he voted to require health insurance coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder. He also voted to prohibit smoking in a vehicle with minors and in restaurants.

    Senator Marsden is facing a challenge from Republican Mark Vafiades, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy. Vafiades uses dog-whistles to push his agenda, attacking civil rights movements and cozying up to hard-line Republicans. He attacks environmental regulations as radical special interests. He supports Republican efforts to police content in schools and calls measures for equity and respect defiance of parents.

    Given his advocacy for civil liberties, reproductive justice, affordable healthcare, and criminal justice, Senator Marsden is the progressive choice in this race.
    Last updated: 2023-10-23

    Dave Marsden

    Incumbent Democratic Senator Dave Marsden is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Senator Marsden has lived in Burke since 1977 with his wife Julia and three sons. He graduated from W.T.

    Incumbent Democratic Senator Dave Marsden is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Senator Marsden has lived in Burke since 1977 with his wife Julia and three sons. He graduated from W.T. Woodson High School in 1966, Randolph-Macon College in 1970, and began a career in juvenile justice as a probation officer with the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. He went on to establish and operate Fairfax County’s shelter home for youth with severe family problems and was later appointed as the first Superintendent of Fairfax County’s Juvenile Detention Center. He served in the House of Delegates for four years before he was elected to the state Senate in 2009.
    Senator Marsden has been a voice for reproductive health care access throughout his service. Most recently, he voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans and voted to establish the Reproductive Health Protection Act. In previous sessions, he voted against a measure to prohibit state funding of abortion services and voted to repeal the requirement for an ultrasound prior to an abortion, a bill he co-sponsored.

    Senator Marsden has also been a reliable voice for civil rights and liberties. In 2020, he voted to prohibit No-knock Search Warrants. He also voted to repeal the State statutory same-sex marriage ban and amend state documents to include gender-neutral terms. Additionally, he voted to establish the Dress Code Equity Act, prohibit state funding of conversion therapy on minors, and amend the anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure he also co-sponsored.

    Senator Marsden’s advocacy for civil liberties extends to criminal justice. In the most recent session, he voted to establish an independent policing auditor to oversee civilian law enforcement oversight groups. He voted against a measure to require school principals to report student misdemeanors to law enforcement, a measure supported by civil rights groups. He voted to expand voting rights of returning citizens. He also voted to require law enforcement officers to inform drivers why they are being stopped.

    Senator Marsden has also supported measures to expand healthcare and make it more affordable throughout his career. In recent sessions, he voted to establish a COVID-19 Relief Fund. He also voted to limit the cost of Insulin to $50 per 30-day supply. Earlier in his career, he voted to require health insurance coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder. He also voted to prohibit smoking in a vehicle with minors and in restaurants.

    Senator Marsden is facing a challenge from Republican Mark Vafiades, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy. Vafiades uses dog-whistles to push his agenda, attacking civil rights movements and cozying up to hard-line Republicans. He attacks environmental regulations as radical special interests. He supports Republican efforts to police content in schools and calls measures for equity and respect defiance of parents.

    Given his advocacy for civil liberties, reproductive justice, affordable healthcare, and criminal justice, Senator Marsden is the progressive choice in this race.

    Dave Marsden

    Incumbent Democratic Senator Dave Marsden is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Senator Marsden has lived in Burke since 1977 with his wife Julia and three sons. He graduated from W.T.

  • Incumbent Democratic Senator Dave Marsden is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Senator Marsden has lived in Burke since 1977 with his wife Julia and three sons. He graduated from W.T. Woodson High School in 1966, Randolph-Macon College in 1970, and began a career in juvenile justice as a probation officer with the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. He went on to establish and operate Fairfax County’s shelter home for youth with severe family problems and was later appointed as the first Superintendent of Fairfax County’s Juvenile Detention Center. He served in the House of Delegates for four years before he was elected to the state Senate in 2009.
    Senator Marsden has been a voice for reproductive health care access throughout his service. Most recently, he voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans and voted to establish the Reproductive Health Protection Act. In previous sessions, he voted against a measure to prohibit state funding of abortion services and voted to repeal the requirement for an ultrasound prior to an abortion, a bill he co-sponsored.

    Senator Marsden has also been a reliable voice for civil rights and liberties. In 2020, he voted to prohibit No-knock Search Warrants. He also voted to repeal the State statutory same-sex marriage ban and amend state documents to include gender-neutral terms. Additionally, he voted to establish the Dress Code Equity Act, prohibit state funding of conversion therapy on minors, and amend the anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure he also co-sponsored.

    Senator Marsden’s advocacy for civil liberties extends to criminal justice. In the most recent session, he voted to establish an independent policing auditor to oversee civilian law enforcement oversight groups. He voted against a measure to require school principals to report student misdemeanors to law enforcement, a measure supported by civil rights groups. He voted to expand voting rights of returning citizens. He also voted to require law enforcement officers to inform drivers why they are being stopped.

    Senator Marsden has also supported measures to expand healthcare and make it more affordable throughout his career. In recent sessions, he voted to establish a COVID-19 Relief Fund. He also voted to limit the cost of Insulin to $50 per 30-day supply. Earlier in his career, he voted to require health insurance coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder. He also voted to prohibit smoking in a vehicle with minors and in restaurants.

    Senator Marsden is facing a challenge from Republican Mark Vafiades, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy. Vafiades uses dog-whistles to push his agenda, attacking civil rights movements and cozying up to hard-line Republicans. He attacks environmental regulations as radical special interests. He supports Republican efforts to police content in schools and calls measures for equity and respect defiance of parents.

    Given his advocacy for civil liberties, reproductive justice, affordable healthcare, and criminal justice, Senator Marsden is the progressive choice in this race.
    Last updated: 2023-10-27

    Dave Marsden

    Incumbent Democratic Senator Dave Marsden is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Senator Marsden has lived in Burke since 1977 with his wife Julia and three sons. He graduated from W.T.

    Incumbent Democratic Senator Dave Marsden is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Senator Marsden has lived in Burke since 1977 with his wife Julia and three sons. He graduated from W.T. Woodson High School in 1966, Randolph-Macon College in 1970, and began a career in juvenile justice as a probation officer with the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. He went on to establish and operate Fairfax County’s shelter home for youth with severe family problems and was later appointed as the first Superintendent of Fairfax County’s Juvenile Detention Center. He served in the House of Delegates for four years before he was elected to the state Senate in 2009.
    Senator Marsden has been a voice for reproductive health care access throughout his service. Most recently, he voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans and voted to establish the Reproductive Health Protection Act. In previous sessions, he voted against a measure to prohibit state funding of abortion services and voted to repeal the requirement for an ultrasound prior to an abortion, a bill he co-sponsored.

    Senator Marsden has also been a reliable voice for civil rights and liberties. In 2020, he voted to prohibit No-knock Search Warrants. He also voted to repeal the State statutory same-sex marriage ban and amend state documents to include gender-neutral terms. Additionally, he voted to establish the Dress Code Equity Act, prohibit state funding of conversion therapy on minors, and amend the anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure he also co-sponsored.

    Senator Marsden’s advocacy for civil liberties extends to criminal justice. In the most recent session, he voted to establish an independent policing auditor to oversee civilian law enforcement oversight groups. He voted against a measure to require school principals to report student misdemeanors to law enforcement, a measure supported by civil rights groups. He voted to expand voting rights of returning citizens. He also voted to require law enforcement officers to inform drivers why they are being stopped.

    Senator Marsden has also supported measures to expand healthcare and make it more affordable throughout his career. In recent sessions, he voted to establish a COVID-19 Relief Fund. He also voted to limit the cost of Insulin to $50 per 30-day supply. Earlier in his career, he voted to require health insurance coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder. He also voted to prohibit smoking in a vehicle with minors and in restaurants.

    Senator Marsden is facing a challenge from Republican Mark Vafiades, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy. Vafiades uses dog-whistles to push his agenda, attacking civil rights movements and cozying up to hard-line Republicans. He attacks environmental regulations as radical special interests. He supports Republican efforts to police content in schools and calls measures for equity and respect defiance of parents.

    Given his advocacy for civil liberties, reproductive justice, affordable healthcare, and criminal justice, Senator Marsden is the progressive choice in this race.

    Dave Marsden

    Incumbent Democratic Senator Dave Marsden is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Senator Marsden has lived in Burke since 1977 with his wife Julia and three sons. He graduated from W.T.

  • Virginia’s new 36th State Senate district encompasses parts of Fairfax County. With over 151,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.
    This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Democratic candidate Stella Pekarsky and Republican candidate Julie Perry will face each other in the general election for Virginia’s new 36th State Senate district. Perry ran in the 2021 District 86 House of Delegates race, losing to Delegate Irene Shin.
    Stella Pekarsky is a small business owner and teacher who graduated from George Mason University with a degree in Government & Politics and a Masters in Multicultural & Multilingual Education. Pekarsky has served as the Sully District representative on the Fairfax County School Board since 2020. She is a youth advocate who is leading the lawsuit against Glenn Youngkin’s attempt to steal local control from our schools. She is also a member of the NAACP Education Committee.

    The central issue in Pekarsky’s campaign is education and public schools. She believes in investing in our students, teachers, and schools while creating a robust learning environment. She supports increasing teacher pay and has already allocated over $100 million in funding for teacher pay increases and school infrastructure upgrades in the 36th District during her time on the school board. Pekarsky also believes in funding early childhood education programs and supports expanding programs to serve all types of students and their learning needs. Pekarsky promises to stand up and fight against Governor Youngkin’s attacks on education.

    Pekarsky supports abortion access and supports a constitutional amendment to the Virginia constitution to ensure all Virginians have access to abortion and reproductive health care. Pekarsky has been able to help expand access to menstrual products for people across Virginia by volunteering her time with Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelters (BRAWS). Additionally, Perkarsky has worked to pass comprehensive sex education and Title IX instruction policies in her time on the Board.

    Pekarsky believes that no one in our community should live in fear of gun violence. She supports commonsense gun violence prevention measures such as an assault weapons ban and a ban on high-capacity magazines as well as mandatory background checks for gun owners. Pekarsky also opposes allowing out-of-state concealed carry permit holders in Virginia if they are from states without proper gun law precautions such as universal background checks. As a member of the school board, she worked to close loopholes and ensure that guns never even make it to school property and expanded the gun violence prevention curriculum in our schools.

    Pekarsky also wants to ensure we have a clean and healthy environment for the next generation. She has refused money from lobbyists like Dominion Power and would support a ban on all campaign contributions from state-regulated utilities. Pekarsky supports a transition to 100% renewable energy while also creating high-quality jobs and lower energy costs in the Commonwealth. While on the school board, Pekarsky supported the electrification of the FCPS school bus fleet and invested in new, energy-efficient school facilities.

    Stella Pekarsky is running against Julie Perry.

    Republican candidate Julie Perry does not support abortion access and would vote to ban abortion in Virginia. She would give police more funding, but less accountability for their actions. Perry’s tax plan would cut taxes for the richest among us while cutting funding for critical programs we all need.

    Due to her views on reproductive rights, environmental rights, gun violence prevention, and her advocacy for investing in our teachers and schools, Stella Pekarsky is the progressive choice for this race.
  • This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Republican Will Davis is running unopposed in the general election for Virginia’s new 39th House of Delegates district. This is Davis’ first general election.
    Incumbent Democratic Senator Adam Ebbin took office in 2012 after serving for eight years in the House of Delegates. A graduate of American University, Ebbin has resided in Alexandria since 1989. Additionally, Ebbin was a Flemming Foundation for Legislative Leadership in 2006, and attended the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership in 2000. He also attended Harvard University’s Kennedy School program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.

    Senator Ebbin has fought to advance progressive priorities including establishing legislation to fight for equality in the Commonwealth. In 2022, Sen. Ebbin unsuccessfully passed SJ5, a bill that reapeals and replaces the ban on same-sex marriage in the Virginia Constitution with the right to marry affirmation. Two years prior, Sen. Ebbin also passed comprehensive ban on discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, making Virginia the first southern state to create legislation to protect the LGBTQ+ community.

    Senator Ebbin understands the need for commonsense gun laws. He champions preventing gun violence most recently by introducing legislation that makes the selling of guns without serial numbers, or ghost guns, illegal. Sen. Ebbin also sponsored SB643, legislation that would’ve allowed law enforcement to prosecute those who are found with illegal firearms. Sen. Ebbin also serves as the co-chair of the General Assembly Gun Violence Prevention Caucus, where he was able to ban firearms in state buildings.

    He is a member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, the School Readiness Committee, the Commission on Economic Opportunity for Virginians in Aspiring and Diverse Communities, the Task force to Commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote, and the Joint Commission on Technology and Science.

    Running against Senator Ebbin is Republican Sophia Moshasha. A self-described technology advocate and community builder, as well as the vice president of the DC Chapter of the VR/AR Association, Moshasha prioritizes building sustainable solutions for Virginia’s growing economy, interested in lowering taxes small businesses, which will take away from funding in education and other programs. Moshasha also advocates for Glenn Youngkin’s Parental Rights in education, which is just another way of saying she does not trust our teachers to teach our student correct historically accurate information about school curriculum.

    Because of his dedication to create commensense gun laws andhis fight for equality, Senator Ebbin is the progressive choice in this race.