congress

News

NEW: House committee blasts Arlington’s ‘sanctuary’ policies in latest escalation

By Dan Egitto
A woman in a blue dress speaks at a microphone podium while protesters hold signs behind her, including a cardboard sign that reads ‘STOP ICE CRUELTY’ and ‘Families First.’
Commonwealth's Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti speaks at a recent anti-ICE demonstration (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

The House Judiciary Committee continued a war of words with many of Arlington’s local leaders in a new report slamming attempts to shield undocumented immigrants.

Building on aggressive letters to several local agencies earlier this year and an ongoing public dispute with Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, the committee took aim at policies at the Arlington County Police Department, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office and Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office in a 23-page interim staff report reviewed by ARLnow.

Go to NEW: House committee blasts Arlington’s ‘sanctuary’ policies in latest escalation Read more
News

Beyer warns Congress ‘may not receive another warning shot’ on AI

By ARLnow.com
Male congressman speaking at a podium in a large legislative chamber with a microphone in front of him.
Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) delivering remarks on the House floor (courtesy photo)

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) has a message for House leaders: Congress may not get another chance to get ahead of artificial intelligence.

Beyer, who co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional AI Caucus, led nine colleagues from both parties in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) pressing them to move AI legislation immediately. The group released the letter yesterday (Wednesday) and made its case at a morning press conference on Capitol Hill.

Go to Beyer warns Congress ‘may not receive another warning shot’ on AI Read more
News

Rep. Beyer and challengers clash over ICE, data centers, Trump’s triumphal arch

By Scott McCaffrey
Two men in suits sit at a panel table, one speaking into a microphone while the other looks on, with water bottles and papers in front of them.
Rep. Don Beyer, D-8, and Republican challenger Tony Sabio (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Northern Virginia congressional candidates are facing off on the future of immigration enforcement, a proposed triumphal arch and the role of AI and data centers.

The issues all took center stage in a Sept. 8 candidate forum sponsored by the Arlington County Civic Federation, where Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) faced three challengers.

Go to Rep. Beyer and challengers clash over ICE, data centers, Trump’s triumphal arch Read more
News

N. Va. congressional candidate retweets Hitler video after antisemitism allegations

By Dan Egitto
Shelly Arnoldi (via Shelly Arnoldi for Virginia/Facebook)

A Northern Virginia congressional candidate who has faced strong criticism from Jewish leaders recently retweeted an antisemitic rant depicting Adolf Hitler.

Shelly Arnoldi, the Libertarian candidate in Congressional District 8, which includes Arlington, reposted a video last week that begins with Hitler shouting about “Jewish globalization” and alleges a plan to “exterminate the European race.”

Go to N. Va. congressional candidate retweets Hitler video after antisemitism allegations Read more
News

Libertarian takes on Rep. Beyer, pledging to cut government waste, support civil liberties

By Scott McCaffrey
Shelly Arnoldi (via Shelly Arnoldi for Virginia/Facebook)

A congressional candidate with the backing of the Libertarian Party of Northern Virginia is challenging U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) on the November ballot.

Shelly Arnoldi understands the uphill battle for anyone taking on Beyer in a district that, in recent years, has been a Democratic political fortress. However, she says her effort to unseat him will bring important issues into the local political discussion.

Go to Libertarian takes on Rep. Beyer, pledging to cut government waste, support civil liberties Read more
News

All local candidates will take part in Civic Federation debates next month

By Scott McCaffrey
A voting dropbox in Courthouse (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

All 11 candidates running for local office in Arlington have agreed to appear at the Arlington County Civic Federation’s annual candidate forum.

The event will be held on Tuesday, Sep. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Hazel Conference Center at VHC Health (Virginia Hospital Center). It will also be livestreamed and archived for later viewing.

Go to All local candidates will take part in Civic Federation debates next month Read more
News

Independent candidate challenges Rep. Beyer, targeting ‘frustrated’ voters

By Scott McCaffrey
Smiling middle-aged man with short gray hair in a white shirt, standing in front of framed art photographs on a wall behind him.
8th District independent candidate Tim Sharman (courtesy Sharman campaign)

An independent candidate challenging U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) on Nov. 3 knows the odds are stacked against him, but thinks he can break through with voters.

“I’m running to win,” Tim Sharman told ARLnow after the Virginia Department of Elections certified his campaign paperwork.

Go to Independent candidate challenges Rep. Beyer, targeting ‘frustrated’ voters Read more
News

Arlington Democrats seek to support swing districts, keep local dominance

By Scott McCaffrey
A man in a light blue polo speaks into a microphone while three adults stand nearby, listening in a room with a wood door behind them.
2026 Democratic Joint Campaign Committee members Liz Urschel, Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, Tony Weaver and Mohsin Syed (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

With a contentious primary season behind them, county Democrats have settled on a strategy for the general election.

Without taking local races for granted, the party plans to use its organizational muscle to support Democratic candidates in battleground elections statewide and nationally.

Go to Arlington Democrats seek to support swing districts, keep local dominance Read more
News

D.C.’s higher tax rates on commercial property may benefit Arlington

By Scott McCaffrey
Rosslyn skyline and the Potomac River, as seen from Georgetown (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Arlington’s commercial real estate market has many challenges, but one factor working in its favor may be D.C.’s tax code.

Taxes across the Potomac have come into the crosshairs of Republican lawmakers since a wave of progressive politicians swept the Democratic primaries in D.C.

Go to D.C.’s higher tax rates on commercial property may benefit Arlington Read more
News

De Ferranti, Beyer pivot to general election after strong wins in primary

By Scott McCaffrey
Two people cast ballots at a red voting booth set up in a gymnasium.
Two Arlington voters cast ballots at Innovation Elementary School in Lyon Village (staff photo by Ryan Cole)

Arlington Democrats and Republicans will each gather tonight (Wednesday) to dissect last night’s primary results and plot road maps to the Nov. 3 general election.

The meetings follow local primaries that played out mostly as expected.

Go to De Ferranti, Beyer pivot to general election after strong wins in primary Read more
News

Arlington Republicans push for strong turnout in U.S. Senate primary

By Scott McCaffrey
Two men in suits smiling for a selfie with American flags and a formal room backdrop behind them accessibly in the background.
Senate candidate Bert Mizusawa with Vice President JD Vance (campaign website)

Arlington Republicans are being encouraged by party leadership to cast ballots in next Tuesday’s U.S. Senate primary.

While the campaign involving Republicans Bert Mizusawa, Kim Farington and David Williams has flown largely under the radar in mostly Democratic Northern Virginia, participating in the selection of a nominee is important, GOP Chair Matthew Hurtt said.

Go to Arlington Republicans push for strong turnout in U.S. Senate primary Read more
News

Rep. Beyer and challengers hit final sprint ahead of Democratic primary

By Scott McCaffrey
Rep. Don Beyer speaks with constituent at July 2026 Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

With just one week to go until the primary, the four challengers to U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) are trying to stand out from the crowd.

Lorena Bruner, Michael Duffin, Adam Dunigan and Mo Seifeldein are attempting to overtake Beyer in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Beyer was first elected to Congress in 2014.

Go to Rep. Beyer and challengers hit final sprint ahead of Democratic primary Read more
View More Stories