County Democrats are aiming to use their 2026 success as a springboard to 2027 and the all-important 2028 presidential election.
“The work we did is still incomplete,” newly re-elected County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said at the Nov. 4 monthly meeting of the Arlington County Democratic Committee.
De Ferranti, who won 70% of the vote in a three-candidate field, said Arlington leaders would continue efforts to resist and soften the impacts of decisions by the Trump administration in a variety of areas.
But the national election results suggested more allies are on the way, he said.
“You can see the light of the morning dawn — the light is coming,” de Ferranti said.
County Democrats went undefeated on Election Day, with their candidates winning races for County Board, School Board, treasurer, House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. The party’s position also prevailed on the three state constitutional amendments and five county bond referendums.
Since the start of the year, county Democrats have recruited a large number of new volunteers, party chair Paul Ruiz said.
“People are fired up and want to help,” he said.
“We have a very crucial year ahead of us,” Ruiz said, urging supporters to “be positive ambassadors and representatives of our message.”
As for the following year, when the presidency is next on the line, Ruiz was optimistic.
“Groups that have drifted away from us have come back,” he said. “I want this party to be strong going into 2028. If the tide can turn Texas blue, it can turn anywhere blue.”
Local Democrats spent much of the past three months making phone calls to Texas voters, hoping to help secure victory for Senate candidate James Talarico. Lone Star State voters not only elected Talarico, but elevated Democrat Gina Hinojosa into the Governor’s Mansion and delivered a Democratic majority to the 150-member Texas House of Representatives.
Kip Malinosky, who leads “Beyond Arlington” efforts for county Democrats, said the local effort represented “a very small part” of work on behalf of Texas Democrats. Ruiz countered that the work done locally played a more significant role than Malinosky let on.
“It’s no small part,” he said.
The Nov. 4 meeting continued a victory lap for county Democrats, who also held an election night watch party in Shirlington, followed by their post-election luncheon at Nam-Viet in Clarendon.
At the monthly meeting, de Ferranti, School Board member Bethany Zecher Sutton and Treasurer Kim Rucker each delivered remarks to a gathering of about 100 at Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School.
“We are all put on this earth to be useful,” Zecher Sutton said, borrowing from her late father and praising all those who worked on 2027 campaigns.
Zecher Sutton defeated James “Vell” Rives IV to win a second four-year term.
“I love doing it,” she said of School Board work.
Like nearly everyone in the political sphere, many in the room were left exhausted by the end of the election.
“I’m running on low speed, like we all are,” said Liz Urschel, a member of the Democratic Joint Campaign Committee.
Treasurer confirms plans to seek full term
The newly elected county treasurer confirmed Nov. 4 that she plans to seek a full four-year term in 2027.
“I will be speaking to you very soon,” Rucker said at the monthly meeting of the Arlington County Democratic Committee, held a day after she won election to fill the remaining year of the term of retired Treasurer Carla de la Pava.
Having been the only candidate to seek the Democratic nomination in the special election, Rucker went on to trounce challenger Aasim Rawoot, 86% to 13%, according to preliminary figures from the Virginia Department of Elections.
Serving as chief deputy for most of de la Pava’s 12 years in office, Rucker is only the third person to have served as treasurer since Frank O’Leary was elected in 1983. De la Pava served as chief deputy to O’Leary, who similarly retired a year before the end of his final term.
Rucker has spent her entire working life in the office, starting out of high school. On the campaign trail, she promised to maintain what is working and improve what isn’t.
“I intend to continue to earn your trust,” she said at the Nov. 4 meeting.
Rucker said she planned to continue offering options for those in the community facing short-term challenges impacting the ability to pay local taxes.
“Our residents and our businesses are really feeling the strain” of current economic conditions, she said.
First-time candidate thanks supporters
The lone first-time candidate on this year’s County Board ballot said he appreciated those who supported his efforts.
“Nearly 8,000 of you cast your vote for me in this campaign, and I don’t take a single one for granted,” David Sisson said in a post-election note to supporters.
Running as an independent, Sisson received about 8% of the vote, trailing Audrey Clement (21%) and Democratic incumbent Matt de Ferranti (70%), according to preliminary figures from the Virginia Department of Elections. The remaining 1% — about 850 voters — cast write-ins for the County Board race.
“To every person who knocked on a door, put up a sign, showed up to a forum, or simply took the time to talk with me about what matters to them, I want to thank you,” Sisson said, adding:
“I ran because I believed we could make Arlington a better place to live for everyone. I believe that we must be bolder in building the housing our neighbors need and invest in the transit and walkability that connect us. Those convictions haven’t changed, and I will continue to push for the change I want to see in Arlington.”
In his message, Sisson congratulated de Ferrani on his victory and Clement for “her spirited campaign and long commitment to civic engagement.”
He also thanked groups such as the League of Women Voters, Arlington County Civic Federation, Arlington Chamber of Commerce and neighborhood civic groups for sponsoring candidate forums.
While running as an independent, Sisson had the endorsement of the Forward Party, which also backed James “Vell” Rives IV in his bid for School Board.
