Three members of Arlington’s delegation to the House of Delegates launched re-election bids last week.
Dels. Adele McClure (D-2), Patrick Hope (D-1) and Alfonso Lopez (D-3) were widely expected to seek new terms.
They waited until after the 2025 legislative session had wrapped up before making it official at the monthly meeting of the Arlington County Democratic Committee on March 5.
“There is still so much to do, especially now,” McClure said in remarks at Lubber Run Community Center. “Every person in this room knows exactly what we are up against.”
Hope, the senior member of the county’s House delegation, said his experience merited a return to Richmond.
“I’ve delivered for Arlington and I know how to get things done,” he said in kicking off a bid for his ninth two-year term.
Lopez said he had been a champion of Arlington values in Richmond.
“There’s nothing more rewarding than helping people,” he said. “We need to create more prosperity and do it in a way where everyone wins.”
All three seats are considered Democratic strongholds, making the party nominee in each district the presumptive winner in the general election.
At the moment, McClure and Lopez have no intra-party competition, but on Feb. 5 Arjoon Srikanth launched a challenge to Hope.
Thursday, April 3 is the deadline for Democratic candidates to file with the party. Contested nominations will be decided in a June 17 primary.
The 40 Virginia Senate seats, including those held by Sens. Barbara Favola and Adam Ebbin, are not on the ballot until 2027.
Democrats currently hold slim majorities in both houses of the state legislature. In addition to delegate races, they’re contending for the seats of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
“We’re well-positioned to win. We need turnout, we need margin, we need to make sure we vote up and down the ballot,” said Kip Malinosky, a former county Democratic chair who currently heads up “Beyond Arlington” efforts to support candidates across the commonwealth.
Democratic School Board Field Stands at Two: No additional candidates emerged prior to the Feb. 28 filing deadline, so the field in the Democratic caucus for School Board stands at two.
Monique “Moe” Bryant and June Prakash will square off in caucus voting to be held April 19 to May 10 online as well as at two in-person sites in early May.
Bryant and Prakash announced their candidacies at the Feb. 5 Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting.
The winner moves on to the Nov. 4 general election, and as the Democratic endorsee will be the presumptive favorite. No non-Democrat has won the general election since Republican-backed independent Dave Foster’s twin victories of 1999 and 2003.
In January, incumbent School Board member Mary Kadera announced she would not seek a second four-year term. Kadera’s School Board seat is the only one on the Nov. 4 ballot.
In Virginia, seats on school boards are officially classified as nonpartisan posts. Those seeking to run in the general election have until mid-June to file paperwork.
Young Republicans Tap 2025 Leadership: The Arlington-Alexandria-Falls Church Young Republicans recently elected Daniel Turner to serve as chair for 2025.
Danielle Kochar was elected vice chair, Vikram Prasad treasurer, Brigette Maggio secretary and Katelyn Stotzky director of communications.
“These YR leaders will continue their efforts to organize Young Republicans across the area to help boost our efforts through the 2025 election cycle,” GOP leaders said.
The organization’s next meeting is March 17.
