Virginia State Senate · District 22

Proven in Virginia Beach.
Ready for Richmond.

I'm Bobby Dyer — a Marine veteran, your three-time Mayor of Virginia Beach, and your neighbor in Centerville. I'm running for the State Senate to take the leadership that kept Virginia Beach strong, safe, and affordable to Richmond.

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— days until Election Day Tuesday, November 2, 2027
Bobby Dyer, Mayor of Virginia Beach and candidate for Virginia State Senate, District 22
Mayor Bobby Dyer · U.S. Marine Veteran · Ph.D.
20+Years of elected service to Virginia Beach
3Times elected Mayor — 2018, 2020, and 2024
1stVeteran and first Ph.D. elected Mayor of Virginia Beach
LowestReal-estate tax rate of any Hampton Roads city

The Dyer Plan

Four commitments, in writing.

Bobby isn't promising what he would do — Virginia Beach shows what he's already done. Here's what he'll fight for in Richmond.

  1. Low Taxes & a Strong Economy

    Keep more of your paycheck in your pocket — in Virginia Beach and across Virginia.

    As Mayor, Bobby kept real-estate taxes and restaurant meal taxes the lowest of any city in Hampton Roads — while the economy grew. In the Senate he'll bring that same discipline to Richmond: no new burdens on families and small businesses, and a government that lives within its means.

  2. Safe Streets & Back the Blue

    Fund the police, pay them well, and keep Virginia Beach among the safest large cities in America.

    Bobby was one of the first mayors in America to publicly oppose defunding the police. He made Virginia Beach officers among the highest paid in the region and put a step pay plan in place for first responders. Safety isn't a slogan — it's a budget line, and Bobby funds it.

  3. Flood Protection & Coastal Resilience

    Protect our homes with flood infrastructure that is actually funded — and actually built.

    Bobby helped pass and implement the flood-protection bond referendum, investing hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade Virginia Beach's stormwater and flood-mitigation systems. Coastal Virginia needs senators who treat resilience as infrastructure, not talk.

  4. Strong Schools & Working Families

    Fully fund our schools — and make sure the people who serve this city can afford to live in it.

    Every single year as Mayor, Bobby fully funded the School Board's budget requests. He made attainable housing a top city priority and fixed pay compression for first responders and city staff. In Richmond, he'll stand with the families who keep our communities running.

The Story

Fifty years of showing up.

Mayor Bobby Dyer being interviewed at the Virginia Beach oceanfront
At the oceanfront he fought to reopen.
Virginia Beach proved you can have low taxes, safe streets, and fully funded schools — all at the same time. That's not a slogan, that's our record. Now let's take it to Richmond. — Mayor Bobby Dyer
Mayor Bobby Dyer speaking at a campaign event
On the campaign trail.
  1. 1972

    A Marine first.

    Bobby Dyer completes his service as a United States Marine — the start of a lifetime of answering the call.

    A young Bobby Dyer in United States Marine Corps dress blues Bobby Dyer standing in formation with fellow Marines aboard ship Bobby Dyer in Marine utilities while stationed overseas

    United States Marine Corps, early 1970s.

  2. The healer years

    Physical therapist, professor, Ph.D.

    A home-care physical therapist who worked in hospitals and medical centers and served on the New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy. He earned a bachelor's degree from Saint Louis University, an M.P.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent — then spent decades teaching future leaders at Hampton University, Old Dominion, and South University. Today he teaches full-time at Regent University's Schools of Leadership and Government.

  3. 2004

    Centerville sends him to City Hall.

    Elected to City Council from the Centerville district — much of which sits in today's Senate District 22 — and re-elected in 2008, 2012, and 2016.

  4. 2018

    Mayor of Virginia Beach.

    The first veteran and the first Ph.D. ever to hold the office. He led the city through its toughest times and tragedies.

  5. 2020

    Reopens the oceanfront.

    When the beach was shut down, Bobby negotiated with a Democratic governor to fully reopen it — then helped businesses survive with regulatory relief and suspended meal taxes. Re-elected that November.

  6. 2024

    Re-elected by a wide margin.

    Recognized by Newsmax as one of the top mayors in the United States, with Virginia Beach among the safest large cities in America. Bobby and his wife, Trish, still live in Lake Christopher, in the heart of District 22 — two children, five grandchildren.

  7. 2027

    The next chapter: Richmond.

    On the ballot for Virginia State Senate, District 22 — Tuesday, November 2, 2027.

The Résumé

Ready on day one.

Education

  • Ph.D., Organizational Leadership — Regent University
  • M.P.A., Public Administration — Fairleigh Dickinson University
  • Bachelor's degree — Saint Louis University

Public Service

  • U.S. Marine Corps — served until 1972
  • Virginia Beach City Council, Centerville District — 2004–2018
  • Mayor of Virginia Beach — 2018–present
  • New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy — former member

Career & Teaching

  • Physical therapist — home care, hospitals, and medical centers
  • Teaches full-time — Regent University Schools of Leadership and Government
  • Assistant Professor — Hampton University; instructor — Old Dominion University; adjunct — South University

Honors

  • 3rd Best Mayor in America — 2020
  • Best Mayor on the East Coast
  • Inside Business Top 25 Power List — 2026

Join the campaign

Every big win starts on a front porch.

District 22 will be decided by neighbors talking to neighbors. One conversation, one yard sign, one shared post genuinely moves the numbers. Pick whatever you have time for — even fifteen minutes helps.

Prefer to just say hello? Email info@mayordyerforsenate.com.

Mayor Bobby Dyer for State Senate yard sign
The yard sign — check the first box and we'll get you one.

Sign up to help

I'd like to…

Goes straight to the campaign. We'll be in touch about what fits your schedule.

November 2

Make your plan for November 2.

Bobby Dyer is on the ballot for Virginia State Senate, District 22 on Tuesday, November 2, 2027. Odd-year elections are decided by the neighbors who show up — make your plan now.

  1. Tuesday, Nov 2, 2027

    Election Day

    Polls are open 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. If you're in line at 7:00 p.m., stay in line — you can vote.
  2. Dates coming soon

    Early voting & registration

    Early in-person voting dates and the registration and mail-ballot deadlines will be posted here as soon as they're locked in.
Check your registration Find your polling place

More dates will be added as they are confirmed with the Virginia Department of Elections.

Direct line

Talk to Bobby.

A question about the district, an issue Richmond keeps getting wrong, or a problem in your neighborhood? Bobby has spent twenty years answering to his neighbors — and he'd rather hear from you before the election than after.

Send the campaign a message

Goes straight to the campaign at info@mayordyerforsenate.com.

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