Virginia Beach: Special Election Set for House District 98 After Delegate Knight’s Death
- Virginia Beach will hold a special election on March 17th to fill the vacancy in the 98th House District, created by the death of Del.
- Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, Don Scott, announced the special election on Saturday.
- Knight was serving at the beginning of a two-year term when he died, having most recently won re-election in November 2025, securing 57% of the vote against Democrat...
Special Election Set for Virginia Beach House District 98 Following Delegate Knight’s Death
Virginia Beach will hold a special election on March 17th to fill the vacancy in the 98th House District, created by the death of Del. Barry Knight. Knight, a Republican who had represented the district for 17 years, passed away on Thursday at the age of 71 after battling health issues, and had not attended the 2026 General Assembly session in Richmond.
Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, Don Scott, announced the special election on Saturday. Early in-person voting will be available from March 6th through March 14th, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.
Knight was serving at the beginning of a two-year term when he died, having most recently won re-election in November 2025, securing 57% of the vote against Democrat Cheryl Bubeck Smith, who received 43%.
House District 98 encompasses the southern portion of Virginia Beach, including the city’s more rural areas. The district is home to 65,134 registered voters and leans Republican, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project.
Knight was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2009 and had been a fixture in Virginia Beach politics for nearly two decades. His passing leaves a significant void in the state legislature.
The upcoming special election will be closely watched as both parties vie for control of the seat. The outcome could potentially impact the balance of power in the Virginia House of Delegates, which is currently led by Democratic Speaker Don Scott.
Details regarding candidate filing and further election information will be released by the Virginia Department of Elections in the coming days. Residents of House District 98 are encouraged to register to vote and participate in the upcoming special election.