Virginia Electoral College Guide
Virginia casts 13 electoral votes in presidential elections. Virginia's 13 EV have been Democratic since 2008 when Obama flipped the state for the first time since 1964. Northern Virginia's growth makes these EV increasingly safe.
Role in the Electoral College
Virginia's 13 EV have been Democratic since 2008 when Obama flipped the state for the first time since 1964. Northern Virginia's growth makes these EV increasingly safe.
Electoral Vote History
Obama flipped in 2008. Every Democratic presidential candidate has won since. Republicans compete in state-level races but not effectively at presidential level.
Electoral College Basics
The United States uses an Electoral College system to elect the president. Each state receives electoral votes equal to its total congressional representation: number of House seats + 2 (senators). Virginia has 11 House seats + 2 senators = 13 electoral votes.
A candidate needs 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win the presidency. Virginia’s 13 electoral votes represent 2.4% of the total needed.
Most states use a winner-take-all system — the popular vote winner receives all electoral votes. The exception is Maine and Nebraska, which allocate electoral votes by congressional district. Virginia uses the winner-take-all system.