A wave of Democratic victories in Congress is raising hopes for local leaders hungry for checks on the Trump administration and its impacts on Northern Virginia.
Democrats representing Arlington celebrated their party retaking the House and Senate at crowded watch parties last night and in statements today (Wednesday).
While the election results held few surprises at the local level, Democratic leaders — many of whom have spent the past two years decrying federal job cuts, economic instability, healthcare rollbacks, immigration enforcement and uncertainty around federal funding — voiced optimism about what the dramatic power shift in Congress may mean for Arlington.
“The American people have had enough,” U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8), who cruised to victory in his re-election bid last night, said in a press release. “Their anger and disgust rose yesterday in a historic tsunami that swept Republicans from power, including many who few expected to face serious competition.”
“People want a Congress that will listen to them, work for them, and fix their problems, rather than catering to the insane whims of a mad king,” he continued.
Beyer pledged to “fight to end Trump’s illegal war, repeal his price-raising tariffs, and undo his cost-increasing health care cuts that left millions without coverage,” while also delivering “accountability” for members of the Trump administration.
County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti, who likewise clinched a convincing victory last night, told ARLnow that he is hopeful his party’s resounding success will reduce risks for some federal funding streams in Arlington and help improve affordability in areas such as housing and electricity costs.
However, many of de Ferranti’s goals remain the same as the county continues to reckon with job losses, cuts to federal programs such as Medicaid, and big-picture problems that predate the current administration, from the housing supply to food insecurity.
“I’m hopeful that we can get change and I’m thrilled about the national results, but I am also aware that we are not through the moment of challenge that started in January 2025,” de Ferranti said.
Democrats celebrate local races
Several hundred Democrats gathered at an election night watch party held at Astro Beer Hall in Shirlington. As expected, the night brought easy victories in the three local races in Arlington.
“Arlington voters have again shown their commitment to effective government and the fundamental freedoms that define our Commonwealth,” Arlington County Democratic Committee chair Paul Ruiz said in a press release this morning. “We congratulate our entire Democratic ticket on their victories and are especially grateful to the thousands of volunteers who knocked on doors, greeted voters at the polls, and worked tirelessly to make these results possible.”
De Ferranti secured a third four-year term, receiving 70% of the vote in preliminary data reported by the Virginia Department of Elections.
Audrey Clement, a perennial candidate backed this year by county Republicans, won 21% of the vote, with David Sisson, endorsed by the Forward Party, garnering 8%.
Because de Ferranti easily cleared 50%, the county’s ranked-choice voting apparatus was not needed to determine a winner. In all three County Board general elections held using ranked-choice voting — 2024, 2025 and now 2026 — Democratic nominees have easily received majorities on the first ballot.
Democratic School Board endorsee Bethany Zecher Sutton defeated James “Vell” Rives, IV, who had support of Republicans and the Forward Party. Sutton won 78% of the vote, Rives 21%.
The biggest local vote-getter in the three local races on Arlington’s ballot was Kim Rucker, competing in a special election for treasurer. She garnered 79,702 votes in preliminary totals, receiving 86% of the vote against independent Aasim Rawoot.
In contrast, Zecher Sutton received 72,359 votes in her victory. De Ferranti received 65,730 in his, according to preliminary data.
Rucker has served in the treasurer’s office for more than three decades and was chief deputy treasurer under Carla de la Pava, who retired earlier this year, setting up the special election.
On election night, Rucker confirmed she planned to seek a full four-year term next November.
“I will be back again, but for now, let’s celebrate,” she said in brief remarks to the Shirlington crowd.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner received nearly 85% of the county vote against Republican Bert Mizusawa, and Beyer won 82.4% of Arlington votes in a four-candidate field.
Carol Fontein, who for years led precinct operations for local Democrats, said the party never takes success for granted.
“We did a lot of work” this year, she told ARLnow.
Ramping up turnout in Arlington is helpful to statewide candidates and ballot questions, Fontein said.
“Arlington helped,” she said as Warner and Beyer were being declared victors early in the night.
County Democrats supported passage of the three state constitutional amendments and five county bond referendums, each of which won support of at least 75% of county voters.
Democrats will convene tonight at Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School for their monthly meeting, which likely will include both a celebration and a look ahead to next year.
Republicans receive poor showing
For Arlington Republicans, the poor showing locally added to the sting of a calamitous night for the party nationally.
Republicans have not been at parity with Democrats in Arlington politics since the early 1980s, and the party had another rough night on Nov. 3.
In an email to GOP rank-and-file the day before the election, county Republican chair Matthew Hurtt said the party had made an impact at the local level this cycle, helping to get the word out about its contenders and positions:
“Through your generous investment and by volunteering countless hours to distribute sample ballots, serve as poll watchers and election officials, and put up yard signs, Arlington Republicans have flexed our civic muscle in the closing days of this campaign.”
County Republicans, however, were hobbled by an inability to field nominees for County Board, School Board and the special election for treasurer.
The party ultimately backed Clement for County Board and Rives for School Board, while being somewhat hands-off in its embrace of the two. The local GOP took no position on the treasurer’s race, and opposed the three state constitutional amendments and all five county bond referendums.
While Democrats gathered in Shirlington for Election Night results-watching, the Arlington County Republican Committee and Arlington-Alexandria-Falls Church Young Republicans met at a restaurant in Crystal City to await the verdict of voters.
The GOP will gather later this month to dissect the results and develop a road map for 2027.
For Clement, the loss was her 16th in a string of campaigns dating back to 2011. Her best showing came in 2013, when Clement received 31.1% of the vote in a one-on-one showdown against Democratic incumbent Jay Fisette.
Rives has been on the School Board ballot each of the last four general elections.
More local races coming in 2027
With the 2026 campaign now done, eyes will turn to next year. On the 2027 ballot in Arlington will be:
- County Board: Two seats, currently occupied by Maureen Coffey and Susan Cunningham
- School Board: The seat currently held by Miranda Turner
- General Assembly: House of Delegates seats currently occupied by Patrick Hope, Alfonso Lopez and Adele McClure and Senate seats held by Barbara Favola and Elizabeth Bennett-Parker
- Constitutional offices: Races will be held for commonwealth’s attorney (currently held by Parisa Dehghani-Tafti and shared with Falls Church), treasurer (Rucker), sheriff (Jose Quiroz) and commissioner of revenue (Kim Klingler)
Most incumbents are expected to seek re-election. Favola, Dehghani-Tafti, Quiroz and Rucker have each informally told ARLnow they plan to run.
Formal announcements are expected to begin at the December Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting and run through February or March. Any intra-Democratic races that materialize will be settled in a June primary except for School Board, which would be decided through a party-run caucus, likely in May.
The Arlington County Republican Party will have until mid-June to select its 2027 candidates. Independents also have until then to file paperwork.
