If you’ve ever sat through a City Council meeting in Virginia Beach or just glanced at a ballot during an election year, you’ve probably noticed something a little weird. There are no "Rs" or "Ds" next to the names. Honestly, it’s a bit of a trip for anyone used to the hyper-partisan screaming matches we see on the national news.
The current Virginia Beach mayor political party situation is a classic example of "it’s complicated." Technically, the Mayor of Virginia Beach, Bobby Dyer, runs as a nonpartisan candidate. In fact, every single person sitting on that council is officially nonpartisan. But let's be real—humans have beliefs. They have leanings. And in a city as large and influential as Virginia Beach, those leanings matter immensely.
The Man Behind the Desk: Bobby Dyer’s Affiliation
Bobby Dyer has been the face of Virginia Beach leadership since 2018. If you look at his donor lists, his endorsements, or where he hangs out during state-level conventions, the "nonpartisan" label starts to look like a very thin veil.
Bobby Dyer is a Republican.
There’s no secret there. He’s a veteran (U.S. Marine Corps), a former physical therapist, and has taught government at Regent University, a school founded by Pat Robertson. His policy platform has consistently leaned into "pro-business" agendas. He’s the guy who loves to talk about bringing Amazon to the city and finally getting movement on the "Dome site" (Atlantic Park) after it sat empty for three decades.
In the most recent 2024 election, Dyer secured another four-year term, which keeps him in office until January 1, 2029. He didn't just win; he fended off a crowded field that included names like Sabrina Wooten and John Moss. Even though the ballot didn't say "Republican," the local GOP infrastructure certainly knew who their guy was.
The 2024 Election Results at a Glance
To give you an idea of how the "nonpartisan" race shook out, look at the numbers from the November 5, 2024, general election:
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- Bobby Dyer: 40.9% (Winner)
- Sabrina Wooten: 31.7%
- John Moss: 16.8%
- Chris Taylor: 7.7%
- Richard Kowalewitch: 2.5%
It was a split field. Wooten, who is widely recognized as having Democratic leanings, was his closest competitor. This highlights the real political divide in the city: even without party labels, the voters usually know exactly which "side" they are picking.
Why Doesn't the Party Appear on the Ballot?
Virginia is a bit of a stickler for tradition and specific legal structures. Under Virginia state law, most municipal elections—especially for city council and mayor—are designated as nonpartisan.
The idea is basically to keep "pothole politics" separate from "national politics." The theory goes that there isn't a "Republican way" to fix a sewer line or a "Democratic way" to zone a new park. You just want the person who can get it done.
Does it work? Sorta.
While it prevents the ballot from being a sea of red and blue, it puts the burden on you, the voter, to do the homework. You have to look up who endorsed whom. You have to see which PACs (Political Action Committees) are dropping mailers in your mailbox.
The Balance of Power on City Council
The Virginia Beach mayor political party is only one piece of the puzzle. The mayor in Virginia Beach isn't like the mayor in New York City. We use a council-manager system.
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Important Note: In Virginia Beach, the City Manager handles the actual day-to-day operations. The Mayor is essentially the Chairman of the Board. He has one vote, just like the other council members, though he does serve as the ceremonial head of the city.
As of early 2026, the 11-member council is a fascinating mix. Despite the nonpartisan rules, political analysts (and Ballotpedia) generally track the "true" affiliations of the members to understand how votes might go.
Currently, the council is almost split down the middle. You've got Republican-aligned members like Michael Berlucchi and Rosemary Wilson, sitting alongside Democratic-aligned members like Jennifer Rouse and David Hutcheson. This "purple" makeup is why Virginia Beach often feels like a battleground for every major policy shift, from short-term rental regulations to collective bargaining for city employees.
How the "10-1" System Changed Everything
You can't talk about Virginia Beach politics without mentioning the 10-1 system. For years, the city used a weird "at-large" system where everyone in the city voted for every seat, even if the candidate had to live in a specific district.
A federal judge basically said, "No, that's not fair," because it diluted the voting power of minority communities. Now, we have 10 districts where only the people living in that district vote for their representative, plus one at-large seat for the Mayor.
This change has made the Virginia Beach mayor political party identity even more significant. Since the Mayor is the only person every single resident votes for, that office has become the ultimate prize for both local Republicans and Democrats. It’s the one role that represents the "will of the whole city" rather than just one neighborhood.
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What This Means for You
So, does it matter that Bobby Dyer is a Republican if the office is nonpartisan?
Yes and no.
It matters because it influences the city's legislative agenda. For instance, Dyer’s administration has been very vocal about keeping taxes low and being "open for business." If a mayor with a different political background were in charge, the focus might shift more toward social programs or different environmental mandates.
However, because the Mayor has to work with a City Manager and ten other council members—many of whom don't share his party's views—the result is often a lot of compromise. You won't see the same kind of partisan gridlock you see in D.C., mostly because they actually have to pass a balanced budget every year or the city stops functioning.
Actionable Insights for Virginia Beach Residents
If you want to stay informed about how party politics is actually influencing your backyard, don't just look at the Mayor's office.
- Check the Campaign Finance Reports: Use the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP). It’s the gold standard. Look up "Bobby Dyer" or any council member to see which state-level party committees are giving them money.
- Watch the Endorsements: During election years, the Virginia Beach GOP and the Virginia Beach Democratic Committee will release "sample ballots." These are the "cheat sheets" that tell you which nonpartisan candidates align with which party.
- Follow the Votes on Collective Bargaining: This is currently one of the most partisan-coded issues in the city. How a council member votes on union rights for police or firemen usually tells you everything you need to know about their "real" political party.
- Engage with the City Manager's Office: Since the Mayor isn't an "executive mayor," many of your actual complaints about city services should go to the City Manager's staff, who are professional bureaucrats, not elected politicians.
Understanding the Virginia Beach mayor political party landscape requires looking past the labels. While the ballot says "Nonpartisan," the reality is a deeply nuanced tug-of-war between traditional conservative fiscal policies and a growing progressive movement in the state’s most populous city. Keeping an eye on who funds these campaigns is the only way to know which way the wind is truly blowing at 2401 Courthouse Drive.
To stay truly updated, attend the Tuesday evening City Council sessions or stream them online. It is the only way to see the real-time interaction between these "nonpartisan" officials and decide for yourself if the party labels even matter when it comes to the future of the boardwalk.