In the face of growing election doubts within the Democratic Party, Arlington progressives are planning a push for voter turnout in what is historically a Democratic stronghold.
Arlington tends to heavily favor Democrat in presidential elections. President Joe Biden received 80.7% of Arlington votes in 2020, while Hillary Clinton carried 75.8% of the county’s votes in 2016.
Not a single Arlington precinct handed more votes to former President Trump than Clinton, according to Virginia Department of Elections data. And in 2020 — when the vast majority of Arlington ballots were absentee and in-person votes leaned more conservative — just four Arlington precincts went for Trump.
Those were Rock Spring and Yorktown on the northern side of the county, and East Falls Church and Madison Manor on the western end.
Among Virginia localities, Arlington was Biden’s fifth strongest supporter in 2020 and Clinton’s fourth biggest supporter in 2016.
While denizens of the District may perceive affluent suburban areas like Arlington to be more conservative, the reality is that the county is one of the biggest net vote producers for Democratic candidates in statewide races.
We wish! https://t.co/xZPQPaXFId
— Arlington GOP (@goparlington) July 10, 2024
“Arlington continues to be a very Democratic community,” Arlington Democrats Chair Steve Baker told ARLnow. “Past election results can speak for themselves. We work to make certain that our government is effective and serves the needs of the community, including those who might otherwise be left behind.”
Overall, polling data predicts an uphill battle for Democrats this election cycle, as a growing number of party members call for Biden to drop out and let someone else take up the mantle at the top of the ticket — perhaps Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump continues to pull ahead of Biden in nationwide polls and a new poll from Virginia Commonwealth University-Wilder School shows Trump leading by three percentage points in Virginia.
With the Arlington County Democratic Committee announcing plans to recruit more than 700 volunteers to staff precincts on Election Day, Baker said local Dems “have a commitment and resolve to turn out all of our voters in November.”
Baker’s comments touched on Biden policies around infrastructure, healthcare, climate, inflation and unemployment and warned against “heading down the path to autocracy.” He also accused the Republican Party of seeking “to divide us, not unite us” by placing Ohio Senator J.D. Vance on the presidential ticket.
However, Baker condemned this past weekend’s assassination attempt against Trump.
“The last week has been really tough,” he said. “Violence has no place in our political process — it is un-American. We are grateful the former President’s injuries were not any worse and our hearts go out to the family of fireman Corey Comperatore and to the two other persons who were seriously injured.”
Still, Arlington Democrats are pulling hard for votes in November to win Virginia and defeat the Trump-Vance ticket.
“Democrats are going to stand up for reproductive rights, voting rights and our constitution,” Baker said. “Here at home, Arlington Democrats will be out talking to voters at every opportunity to make certain they know what is at stake.”
