Closest U.S. Senate elections in Virginia
The closest U.S. Senate election in Virginia history was in 1978, a margin of 0.38 points. John William Warner beat Andrew P. Miller, 613,232 to 608,511. Next closest are 2006 (0.39 points) and 2014 (0.81 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Virginia has held, special elections included, see the Virginia U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Virginia history?
The Virginia Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1978, 0.38 points. John William Warner beat Andrew P. Miller, 613,232 to 608,511. The next closest were 2006 (0.39 points) and 2014 (0.81 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Virginia’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Virginia Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Virginia election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1978 | John William Warner R def. Andrew P. Miller D | 613,232 – 608,511 | 0.38 points |
| 2 | 2006 | James H. Jim Webb Jr. D def. George F. Allen R | 1,175,606 – 1,166,277 | 0.39 points |
| 3 | 2014 | Mark R. Warner D def. Ed. W. Gillespie R | 1,073,667 – 1,055,940 | 0.81 points |
| 4 | 1982 | Paul S. Trible Jr. R def. Richard J. Davis D | 724,571 – 690,839 | 2.4 points |
| 5 | 1994 | Charles S. Robb D def. Oliver L. Ollie North R | 938,376 – 882,213 | 2.7 points |
| 6 | 2000 | George F. Allen R def. Charles S. Robb D | 1,420,460 – 1,296,093 | 4.6 points |
| 7 | 1996 | John William Warner R def. Mark R. Warner D | 1,235,744 – 1,115,982 | 5.1 points |
| 8 | 1972 | William R. Scott R def. Wiliiam B. Spong D | 718,337 – 643,963 | 5.3 points |
| 9 | 2012 | Tim Kaine D def. George F. Allen R | 2,010,067 – 1,785,542 | 5.9 points |
| 10 | 2024 | Tim Kaine D def. Hung Cao R | 2,417,115 – 2,019,911 | 8.9 points |
| 11 | 2020 | Mark R. Warner D def. Daniel M. Gade R | 2,466,500 – 1,934,199 | 12.1 points |
| 12 | 2018 | Tim Kaine D def. Corey A. Stewart R | 1,910,370 – 1,374,313 | 16.0 points |
| 13 | 1976 | Harry F. Byrd Jr. I def. E. R. Zumwalt D | 890,778 – 596,009 | 18.9 points |
| 14 | 1970 | Harry F. Byrd Jr. I def. George C. Rawlings D | 506,633 – 295,057 | 22.3 points |
| 15 | 1966 | Wiliiam B. Spong D def. James P. Ould R | 429,855 – 245,681 | 25.1 points |
| 16 | 2008 | Mark R. Warner D def. James S. Jim Gilmore III R | 2,369,327 – 1,228,830 | 31.3 points |
| 17 | 1946 | Harry F. Byrd Sr. D def. Lester S. Parsons R | 163,960 – 77,005 | 34.4 points |
| 18 | 1948 | A. Willis Robertson D def. Robert H. Woods R | 253,865 – 119,366 | 34.8 points |
| 19 | 1984 | John William Warner R def. Edythe C. Edie Harrison D | 1,406,194 – 601,142 | 40.1 points |
| 20 | 1988 | Charles S. Robb D def. Maurice A. Dawkins R | 1,474,086 – 593,652 | 42.6 points |
| 21 | 1958 | Harry F. Byrd Sr. D def. Clarke T. Robb D | 317,221 – 120,224 | 43.0 points |
| 22 | 1964 | Harry F. Byrd Sr. D def. Richard A. May R | 592,260 – 176,624 | 44.8 points |
| 23 | 1922 | Claude A. Swanson D def. J. W. McGavock R | 116,393 – 42,903 | 45.4 points |
| 24 | 1924 | Carter Glass D def. W. M. Doak R | 151,498 – 50,092 | 48.9 points |
| 25 | 1934 | Harry F. Byrd Sr. D def. Lawrence C. Page R | 109,963 – 30,289 | 55.0 points |