by Scott Dreyer
The Democrat-led General Assembly voted in recent days to raise the salary for State Delegates and Senators to $50,000 per year.
Virginia has always had a General Assembly made of part-time legislators. The idea was for them to have their primary jobs back at home, and their service in the legislature in Richmond was designed to occupy only a few weeks per year, with a modest stipend in accordance with that limited time.
The move to grant themselves salaries of $50,000 per year is already more than many Virginians make at their full-time jobs working year-round.
The Democrats ran on โaffordabilityโ as a major platform during the fall 2025 campaign.
The nearly 300% raises were passed on largely party lines, with Republicans opposing. Having passed both houses of the General Assembly, the measure now needs to be signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) to become law.
Per state law, legislators cannot vote themselves a pay raise during the same session as their vote.ย There must be a new election before the pay raise can take effect, therefore the 278% pay raise would not take effect until 2028.
Delegates are currently paid $17,650 a year; senators $18,000. Under the proposed increase, that would nearly tripleย to $50,000 a year for each.
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