The county’s Democratic leadership is advising local voters to take no chances as the Nov. 3 general election draws closer.
“I am concerned about threats to voting,” Arlington County Democratic Committee chair Paul Ruiz said at the party’s monthly meeting on Sept. 2.
Ruiz said there was no indication that Virginia is being targeted by efforts to suppress or otherwise interfere with voting, but suggested that the public could still take precautions.
“You should vote as early as you can, vote in person if you can,” he said.
Democrats are all but assured success in Arlington elections this year, given historic patterns, and most analysts see U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) as likely to retain his seat.
However, the county’s turnout rates could impact three constitutional amendments on the ballot.
“It is incredibly important we maximize turnout in Northern Virginia,” said Tony Weaver, one of four co-chairs of the 2026 Democratic Joint Campaign.
The three constitutional amendments concern abortion access, same-sex marriage and voting rights for registered felons. County Democrats support all three, while the Arlington County Republican Committee opposes each.
Early voting begins Sept. 18 across Virginia.
“Democratic votes this year — I really mean it — are so important,” Ruiz said. “The stakes couldn’t be higher.”
Outside of local races, Democrats’ “Beyond Arlington” initiative is warming up, focusing on races in the battleground states of Texas and Ohio, as well as competitive congressional races in downstate Virginia.
Local Democrats have been calling Texas residents, asking them to vote for U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico over Republican Ken Paxton.
In late August, five members of the Beyond Arlington initiative traveled to Columbus, Ohio, to support Democrats up and down the ballot.
Four more trips to the Columbus area are slated for the coming weeks.
Prosecutor preps for next campaign: The 2027 campaign for local offices is already beginning to take shape, with Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti hosting a fundraiser on Sept. 19.
The event was announced at the Sept. 2 Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting.
Dehghani-Tafti has informally confirmed plans to seek a third term. In 2019, she defeated incumbent Theo Stamos in the Democratic primary, and in 2023 she defeated Josh Katcher in the primary. She was unopposed in each general election.
Also on the November 2027 ballot will be the County Board seats held by Maureen Coffey and Susan Cunningham; the School Board seat held by Miranda Turner; and three other constitutional offices, currently held by Treasurer Kim Rucker, Commissioner of Revenue Kim Klingler and Sheriff Jose Quiroz.
Incumbents and potential challengers are likely to formally announce their plans between December and March.
Democrats announce lifetime-service award: County Democrats will salute Mary Detweiler and Jack Kincaid at their annual “Honoring a Distinguished Democrat” event.
The award, equivalent to a lifetime-achievement honor, will be presented on Saturday, Oct. 3.
“We are really proud — they have done so much and gotten so many Democrats elected over the years,” said Laura Saul Edwards, who is helping to coordinate the event.
