Special Election Called to Fill Virginia Beach House Seat

Longtime Republican Delegate Barry Knight's seat is now vacant after his passing.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A special election will be held on March 17 to fill the vacancy in Virginia's 98th House District following the death of Del. Barry Knight, a Republican who represented Virginia Beach in the House of Delegates for 17 years. Knight, who was 71, had been battling health issues and had not attended the 2026 General Assembly session in Richmond. Early in-person voting will begin March 6 and continue through March 14.

Why it matters

Knight's passing creates a vacancy in a Republican-leaning district, which could shift the balance of power in the Virginia House of Delegates if the seat flips. The special election will be an important test of the political landscape in Virginia Beach ahead of the 2027 state elections.

The details

The 98th House District encompasses the southern part of Virginia Beach, including the city's most rural areas. The district has 65,134 registered voters and leans Republican, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Don Scott, speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, announced the special election on Saturday.

  • Knight died on Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • The special election will be held on March 17, 2026.
  • Early in-person voting will begin on March 6, 2026 and continue through March 14, 2026.

The players

Barry Knight

A Republican who represented Virginia Beach in the House of Delegates for 17 years until his death on February 20, 2026 at the age of 71.

Don Scott

The speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, who announced the special election to fill Knight's vacant seat.

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What’s next

The winner of the special election on March 17 will serve out the remainder of Knight's two-year term.

The takeaway

This special election in a Republican-leaning district could have broader implications for the balance of power in the Virginia House of Delegates, making it an important political contest to watch in the lead-up to the 2027 state elections.