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.
The two candidates vying for the Democratic School Board endorsement in Arlington say school leaders must do better in listening and acting on community input.
“Conversations need to be happening with staff, students and community,” said June Prakash, who is competing with Monique “Moe” Bryant for the seat being vacated by Board member Mary Kadera.
Arlington Democrats are moving back onto offense while the county’s GOP continues its work to build a candidate slate for November.
A monthly meeting of the Arlington County Democratic Committee last Wednesday attracted at least 100 people to Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School.
Another Democrat is entering the race for one of Arlington’s House of Delegates seats.
Sean Epstein formally kicked off his bid to unseat Del. Patrick Hope (D-1) on Wednesday. He will join Hope and Arjoon Srikanth on the ballot for the June 17 primary.
Both contenders in Arlington’s Democrat School Board primary argue that leaders should rethink a plan to close a program for preschoolers with disabilities.
At a Wednesday candidate forum, June Prakash and Monique “Moe” Bryant contended that Arlington Public Schools leadership should have engaged more with affected families before introducing the proposal to close the Integration Station and disperse its students to other classrooms.
