Arlington voters have been turning out in slightly higher numbers in today’s Democratic primary, tracking with trends statewide.
As of 1:30 p.m., about 4% of registered voters had cast ballots, according to the Arlington Elections Office. That’s slightly more than at the same point last year, when 3.7% of the county had voted in the Democratic primary.
With the filing deadline for candidates only about a week away, the race for one open position on the Arlington School Board has moved into general-election mode.
Democratic endorsee Monique “Moe” Bryant currently faces only one competitor in the Nov. 4 election, returning candidate Major Webb. At least one other candidate is also seeking to qualify before the June 17 filing deadline.
The Arlington County Republican Committee is trying to reinvigorate its precinct operations in the lead-up to November’s general election.
“Arlington Republicans are rebuilding our precinct operations from the ground up, recruiting members and volunteers to take responsibility over organizing neighborhoods, connecting with voters and communicating our Republican principles to thousands of Arlingtonians,” said Frederick Tarantino, who has been tapped by the Arlington Republican leadership to lead the effort.
The Arlington County Democratic Committee is considering potentially significant restrictions on who can vote for top leadership posts.
A proposed change to the party’s bylaws would limit eligible voters for party chair and other leadership positions to members of the county committee. That’s a group of around 200 people that includes top leadership, elected officials, precinct captains and others.
The race for the next chair of the Arlington County Democratic Committee has gotten off to an early start.
Tony Weaver, who previously sought the Democratic nomination for Arlington County Board in 2023, announced his candidacy earlier this month. He plans to host a formal kickoff event in the early summer.
The familiar political conflict of experience and new blood dominated a debate between Democratic contenders for the 1st District House of Delegates seat.
Incumbent Del. Patrick Hope worked to fend off criticisms by challenger Arjoon Srikanth in the Tuesday (May 13) forum, sponsored by the Arlington County Civic Federation.
A second independent has qualified to be on the County Board ballot in November, guaranteeing that the election again will be run under the still controversial ranked-choice format.
Jeramy Olmack has successfully filed paperwork to be on the Nov. 4 County Board ballot, election officials have confirmed to ARLnow.
Monique “Moe” Bryant defeated June Prakash in the Arlington County Democratic Committee caucus, moving on to the Nov. 4 general election.
Bryant, executive director of Challenging Racism, won 1,288 votes (69%) to 582 for Prakash, president of the Arlington Education Association.
Debate over housing and urbanization once again took center stage as candidates for the Democratic County Board nomination squared off at a forum last week.
Current County Board Chair Takis Karantonis met his sole challenger, James DeVita, at an Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting that attracted about 150 people on Wednesday.
County Board Chair Takis Karantonis has picked up the support of three of his four colleagues as he seeks to beat back a primary challenge.
The Karantonis campaign last week announced it had received endorsements from County Board members Matt de Ferranti, Maureen Coffey and JD Spain, Sr. Also announced as supporters were School Board members Mary Kadera and Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, and several environmental and labor organizations.
While election officials in Arlington and Falls Church are not expecting an early rush to vote in the Democratic primary, they’re ready for those who do come.
Arlington elections director Gretchen Reinemeyer told ARLnow she expects a relatively modest first-day turnout when early voting begins on Friday.
Arlington’s superintendent earns passing grades from the two Democratic candidates vying for a post on the School Board.
At an online candidate forum hosted by the Arlington NAACP, Monique “Moe” Bryant and June Prakash voiced support for Superintendent Francisco Durán but challenged other aspects of Arlington Public Schools leadership.
