The Virginia legislature: how it works
What your state legislature controls covers the general powers. This page profiles Virginia's legislature.
The basics
The Virginia General Assembly is bicameral: the House of Delegates has 100 members serving 2-year terms, and the Senate of Virginia has 40 members serving 4-year terms. Virginia is unusual in electing its entire state legislature in odd-numbered years, a cycle that does not line up with federal elections. All 100 House seats were last on the ballot in November 2025, and the full legislature is next up together in November 2027, meaning 2026 is not a Virginia General Assembly election year (isolated special elections can still occur). Session length depends on the year: the state constitution caps sessions convened in even years at 60 days and odd years at 30 days. The 2026 session, a 60-day long session, convened January 14 and adjourned March 14, followed by a reconvened session April 22 to act on the Governor's vetoes and amendments. Virginia is classified as a hybrid, or citizen, legislature, with modest base pay: $17,640 a year for Delegates and $18,000 for Senators.
Who controls it now
Democrats hold 64 of 100 House of Delegates seats and 21 of 40 Senate of Virginia seats, controlling both chambers alongside a Democratic governor, a Democratic trifecta.
Where to go
- Virginia General Assembly: https://vga.virginia.gov/about/virginias-legislature/
- Session calendars: https://dls.virginia.gov/pubs_calendar.html