Arlington’s never-ending campaign cycle saw both Democrats and Republicans gearing up for battle over the past few weeks.
The Arlington County Democratic Committee is “focused on winning, doing everything we can to ensure Democrats win,” party chair Paul Ruiz said at Democrats’ monthly meeting on Feb. 4.
“We’re fired up,” said Ruiz, who in January was elected party chair to succeed Steve Baker.
Three days after Democrats met, the Arlington County Republican Committee gathered for a day of strategizing.
“There’s no shortage of opportunities to get involved,” party chair Matthew Hurtt told a group of about 60 who came together in Clarendon.
Participants joined breakout sessions addressing topics including precinct operations, candidate recruitment and public policy.
“This committee can do anything if we have the manpower and the bandwidth and the resources,” Hurtt said, putting out a call for “a few more people who will step up just a little bit more.”
Arlington Republicans in 2025 did better in fundraising and outreach than the party had in years, but still found the party’s candidates crushed up and down the ballot.
The GOP candidate for County Board, Bob Cambridge, finished third with 12% of the vote. He trailed Democratic incumbent Takis Karantonis (65%) and perpetual protest candidate Audrey Clement (15%).
The party also will have to go replenish its finances, as the committee’s coffers after significant spending in 2025 were down to $2,129 in early February.
“We got very few donations in January,” party treasurer Pat Spann said.
Arlington’s Democratic and Republican committees already have squared off in their first 2026 skirmish — the Feb. 10 special election to fill the seat of Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39), who resigned to accept a post in the Spanberger administration.
As expected, Democratic Del. Elizabeth Bennett Parker (D-5) won the seat over Republican Julie Robben Lineberry.
Speaking three days before the election, Lineberry acknowledged she had an uphill battle, but had no reservations about making a run.
“Don’t let there be an election where there is no Republican on the ballot,” she told the party faithful on Feb. 7. “Somebody has to stand up for our values.”
Citing her long participation in civil life, Hurtt said Lineberry is the “kind of candidate voters in Northern Virginia are looking for.”
“She’s educated on the local issues,” Hurtt said.
The 39th Senate District is centered in Alexandria and only incorporates six of Arlington’s 54 precincts. The upcoming race to fill Bennett-Parker’s seat in the House of Delegates will not include any Arlington precincts.
In other local political news:
Democrats loosen rules for bylaws changes: At their Feb. 4 meeting, Arlington County Democratic Committee members voted to ease the threshold for amending party bylaws.
In a vote that saw no recorded opposition, party members approved a reduction from the current two-thirds majority required to 50% plus one.
Proposed changes to bylaws at times have been contentious. Last year, a proposal to limit who was able to vote for party chair was scrapped before a final vote due to opposition from the rank-and-file.
Party chair Paul Ruiz currently is setting up a bylaws committee for 2026. Any proposed changes could come before the full committee in springtime, parliamentarian Bryant Atkins said.
Republicans set reorganization meeting: The Arlington County Republican Committee will host its biennial organizational meeting on Monday, March 23.
The agenda will include election of a chair and up to 200 at-large members of the county committee.
If only one person files for chair and fewer than 200 seek committee slots, the organizational meeting will be cancelled but the regular GOP meeting being held that night will still take place.
Membership in the Arlington GOP is $70 for the two-year period if paid in one lump sum, or two annual payments of $40.
