Democratic Party | ARLnow.com

Gov. Spanberger swings at Trump on affordability in State of the Union response

By Emily Leayman and The Associated Press

Published February 25, 2026 at 10:00AM

FILE - Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers her State of the Commonwealth address before a joint session of the Virginia General Assembly at the Capitol, Jan. 19, 2026, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivered a Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address yesterday (Tuesday), questioning whether the president was improving affordability and keeping Americans safe.

Spanberger took aim at Trump’s policies including tariffs, the One Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress, federal immigration enforcement tied to the deaths of two Americans, federal workforce reductions through DOGE, withholding of the Epstein files, and the threat of a war with Iran.

Schools

School Board chair announces reelection campaign, taking swipes at Trump

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 10, 2026 at 2:45PM

School Board Chair Bethany Zecher Sutton at campaign kickoff (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

School Board Chair Bethany Zecher Sutton launched her reelection bid last week with a pledge to fight for students — and against the Trump administration.

“We’re all feeling the impact of this administration’s attacks on our values. We will not back down,” Zecher Sutton said during Wednesday remarks to about 200 people at the monthly Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting.

News

Beyer faces challenges on his age and possible redistricting shakeup in reelection bid

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 9, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated February 10, 2026 at 9:02AM

Rep. Don Beyer at 2026 campaign kickoff before Arlington Democrats (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) is taking on challenges about his age and the possibility of a dramatically different constituency as he seeks reelection.

Beyer, who turns 76 in June, addressed the age issue at last week’s meeting of the Arlington County Democratic Committee. He also discussed potential congressional redistricting in a press release on Friday.

News

Ex-reality TV star from Falls Church to primary Sen. Mark Warner

By Jared Serre

Published January 21, 2026 at 1:45PM

U.S. Senate candidate Mark Moran (via Mark Moran/X)

Another candidate has entered a challenge against Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) in the lawmaker’s first primary election in his 18 years on the Senate.

Mark Moran, a former reality television star and Wall Street investment banker who lives in Falls Church, announced his candidacy today (Wednesday), one year and one day after President Trump was sworn into office.

News

Gov. Spanberger’s inauguration raises expectations for wave of bills coming out of N. Va.

By Dan Egitto

Published January 20, 2026 at 8:45AM

Surrounded by her family, Gov. Abigail Spanberger gets sworn into office, Jan. 17, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Northern Virginia Democrats were in high spirits at the inauguration of Gov. Abigail Spanberger this weekend, looking toward new opportunities for a variety of bills held back by the previous administration.

Legislators and political observers expect fewer vetoes and more collaboration with Democratic policymakers — including those in Northern Virginia — under Spanberger, a centrist Democrat who emphasized bipartisan solutions to issues like housing and health care costs on the campaign trail and in her inauguration speech.

News

Arlington Democrats elect Paul Ruiz as new party chair after record voting participation

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 12, 2026 at 2:45PM

Arlington County Democratic Committee chair Paul Ruiz (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Members of the Arlington County Democratic Committee have elected a chair after a spirited race.

Paul Ruiz, who had served as deputy chair for the past two years, defeated finance chair Tony Weaver on Jan. 7 to succeed Steve Baker as party leader.

News

Vote on Democratic nominee to replace Sen. Ebbin is tomorrow

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 12, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated January 13, 2026 at 7:14AM

Voting sign (staff photo)

Aurora Hills Library will be the lone Arlington polling place for Democratic voters to choose a nominee for February’s special election tomorrow (Tuesday).

Polls in the firehouse primary to replace State Sen. Adam Ebbin, who announced last week that he is taking a position in the Spanberger administration, will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the library, located at 735 18th Street S.

News

Spanberger becomes governor next week at full weekend of festivities in Richmond

By Emily Leayman

Published January 9, 2026 at 3:45PM

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger speaks during a campaign event with former President Barack Obama, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Abigail Spanberger is set to be sworn in as Virginia’s first female governor next week at an inauguration bookended by other events and festivities in Richmond.

The Democrat is scheduled to take the oath of office at noon on Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Virginia State Capitol Building, in the centerpiece of an inauguration weekend with the theme “United for Virginia’s Future.”

News

De Ferranti launches County Board reelection bid, facing returning challenger

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 9, 2026 at 8:30AM

County Board candidates James DeVita and Matt de Ferranti (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti formally announced his reelection campaign this week, and he has already picked up a challenger in the June primary.

Both de Ferranti and returning candidate James DeVita announced their bids for County Board at a Wednesday meeting of the Arlington County Democratic Committee.

News

Ebbin takes cannabis role in Richmond, kicking off race for his Va. Senate seat

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 8, 2026 at 8:30AM

Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-39, speaks to Arlington Democrats (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The race is on to succeed State Sen. Adam Ebbin, who announced Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 7) he would resign in February to take a post in the Spanberger administration.

In the hours after his announcement, one current and one former member of the House of Delegates launched bids for the seat.

News

Arlington Electoral Board seat to shift from red to blue after governor’s election

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 2, 2026 at 8:30AM

Voting in Courthouse (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A Democrat is taking over for a Republican on the Arlington Electoral Board in the new year.

David Leichtman, a veteran political activist, will succeed electoral board vice chair Richard Samp, a Republican whose term expires Dec. 31.

News

Democratic chair views his 4-year tenure as a mixture of successes, shortfalls

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 26, 2025 at 2:45PM | Updated December 26, 2025 at 5:05PM

Arlington County Democratic Committee chair Steve Baker (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The Arlington County Democratic Committee’s outgoing chair gives himself mixed grades as he closes out four years at the helm.

Steve Baker noted some successes in his goals for the party, but also some areas where those efforts fell short, at the Dec. 16 luncheon of Arlington Senior Democrats.