Arlington Democrats are now targeting a third state in their “Beyond Arlington” get-out-the-vote effort.
Local Democrats yesterday (Sunday) spent three hours writing postcards to Iowa voters, encouraging them to vote for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek over Republican Ashley Hinson.
Turek and Hinson are vying to succeed Sen. Joni Ernst (R), who did not seek re-election.
In recent months, county Democrats have been calling voters in Texas in support of Senate candidate James Talarico. They have also been making trips to Ohio to campaign for Democrats there.
With political winds appearing to move in the Democrats’ favor, the decision was made to add Iowa to the list.
The Cook Political Report moved the Iowa Senate race from “Lean Republican” to “Toss-Up” in August. Despite Republicans having a “strong candidate” in Hinson, “the Hawkeye State is ground zero for backlash to the effect of Trump’s tariffs and the Iran war on the agriculture industry,” analysts said in revising the ranking.
Iowa is one of seven Senate races that the Cook Political Report lists as toss-ups, joining Arkansas, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Texas.
Six of those seats are currently held by Republicans, with only the Michigan seat occupied by a Democrat.
In their outreach efforts locally and nationally, Democrats will be using President Donald Trump’s own words against him, said Liz Urschel, a member of the Arlington Joint Campaign Committee.
“Our president told us to pretend he was on the ballot — so let’s pretend,” she said. “We can send a message.”
At the Oct. 7 Democratic Committee meeting, deputy party chair Sarah Flourance said the local party’s out-of-state efforts do not mean it is taking local political outcomes for granted. She views local efforts as vital to securing the passage of statewide constitutional amendments.
“All three depend on Arlington votes — we have to work to make it happen,” Flourance said.
In other local political news:
Election officials reiterate rules on polling-place gatherings: Arlington election officials say they are anticipating the possibility of several large rallies outside Arlington early-voting locations on Saturday, Oct. 17.
“We just want to remind everybody of the rules,” Electoral Board vice chair Dave Leichtman said at the board’s Oct. 6 meeting.
Among the requirements: Any event must be at least 40 feet away from a polling place’s entrance; access to the polling places cannot be impeded; and no loudspeakers can be placed within 300 feet of a polling place.
Electoral Board secretary Dominick Schirripa urged event organizers to coordinate with election officials to ensure that both the right to assembly and voters’ rights to cast ballots are respected.
“If you have questions or concerns about what the rules are, please contact the office or one of us,” he said.
In addition to the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center in Courthouse, early voting is taking place at the Langston-Brown and Walter Reed community centers.
New election officers approved: Electoral Board members on Oct. 6 approved the applications of 89 prospective officers of elections.
They will be eligible to serve at polling places for elections held through February 2029, including the presidential election in November 2028.
Democrats set Election Night plans: Arlington Democrats will wait out Election Night results at Astro Beer Hall in Shirlington, party officials announced on Oct. 7.
The Nov. 3 watch party will also include an election-prediction competition and other activities as the results roll in locally and across the nation.
County Republicans also typically hold Election Night gatherings. The party’s plans for Nov. 3 have not been publicly announced.
At the monthly Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting, party chair Paul Ruiz said it was time for the rank-and-file to intensify efforts.
“Before we throw a party, we’ve got to do the work,” he said.
