House of Delegates District 31 (Virginia General Assembly)

Overview: Clarke County in its entirety forms the core of Virginia’s 31st House of Delegates District, along with parts of adjacent Frederick and Warren counties. Created during the 2021 redistricting, House District 31 covers the northern Shenandoah Valley region – including Berryville and surrounding Clarke communities, plus portions of Frederick (near Winchester) and Warren (near Front Royal). The district’s population is about 86,500 (each Virginia House district represents roughly that many residents). Geographically, it spans from Clarke’s farmland and small towns to some suburban neighborhoods of Winchester and Front Royal. The political lean is strongly Republican – VPAP categorizes the 31st as a “Strong Republican” district in the Shenandoah Valley region, reflecting recent election results.

Representation: The 31st District is represented by Delegate Delores R. Oates (R), who took office in January 2024. Delores Oates, a resident of Warren County, won the first election for this redrawn seat in Nov. 2023. She is a freshman delegate and a member of the Republican caucus. Oates represents Clarke County and parts of Frederick and Warren (the localities comprising the 31st). Her district office is in Front Royal, and she serves a two-year term in Richmond.

Voting Patterns: Though newly created, the district’s election results confirm its GOP lean. In the November 2023 general election, Del. Oates won about 60.2% of the vote district-wide, defeating Democrat Steven Foreman (who received ~35.0%) and independent candidate Grace Morrison. Oates carried all three counties in the district. For instance, Clarke County gave her 55.9% to Foreman’s 40.8%, and the more populous portions in Frederick and Warren favored Oates by even larger margins (63% in Warren). These results underscore the Republican advantage in the 31st. Prior statewide elections also suggest a red tilt – had this district existed in previous years, it would have voted for GOP candidates like Glenn Youngkin in 2021 by comfortable margins. Given the Valley’s conservative bent, Democrats face an uphill battle here. Going forward, House District 31 will likely continue the region’s pattern of voting Republican, barring significant demographic or political shifts.

Unique Facts: House District 31 is rooted in Clarke County’s identity. The district encompasses historic Berryville (Clarke’s seat) and nearly all of Clarke’s villages and countryside. This means one delegate effectively voices all of Clarke at the state capitol. Historically, much of this area was once part of a differently numbered district before redistricting (in the previous map, Clarke was split and paired with parts of Loudoun or Frederick). Now Clarke’s population has an undivided delegate seat, potentially increasing its influence in Richmond. A folksy note: the new 31st District reunites communities that share agricultural and small-town traditions. For example, Clarke and Warren Counties are known for apple orchards and farm fairs, and the delegate often attends events like the Clarke County Fair in Berryville or the Apple Blossom festivities in Winchester – forging a personal connection with constituents. With Delores Oates being a third-generation local resident, the district’s representation is closely tied to its rural values and community spirit. (Fun fact: The 31st District’s predecessor in numbering was a Northern Virginia district represented by Democrat Elizabeth Guzmán, but after 2021 the “31st” moved out to the Valley. In essence, Clarke traded places with Prince William County when the maps were redrawn!) 2:21 PM