Changes to Arlington voting equipment could increase the number of candidates voters are able to rank.
Arlington voters are currently able to rank only three candidates when participating in ranked-choice voting. However, planned upgrades to voting systems would raise that number to at least five.
Stressful relations with former colleagues and the challenges of spring campaigning are among the reasons the Arlington School Board’s chair says she isn’t seeking another term.
“If I didn’t love the work so much, then the toxicity aimed at me, personally, from some of my former colleagues would have driven me out the door already,” Kadera told members of the Arlington County Democratic Committee on Wednesday (Dec. 8) as she announced she won’t be running for re-election this year.
The Democratic field for the lone County Board seat on Arlington’s 2025 ballot ticked up to two on Wednesday night (Jan. 8).
As expected, incumbent Takis Karantonis launched a re-election bid at the monthly meeting of the Arlington County Democratic Committee.
Next year’s Arlington 8th-graders with a passion for geography won’t have the chance to take intensified coursework in the subject.
But those arriving after the 2025-26 school year likely will.
With the holiday season coming to a close, Arlington’s main political parties already are focusing on another election season.
And the cash that will be required to compete in it.
The accession of JD Spain, Sr., to the County Board on Wednesday (Jan. 1) marks the first time in nearly 45 years that the seat changed hands via a general, rather than special, election.
Spain’s three immediate predecessors in the seat — Libby Garvey, Barbara Favola and James Hunter III — each came to office via a special election after their predecessors resigned:
The organization most vigorously pressing for Arlington governance changes has affirmed its desire to see the General Assembly bestow blessings on the efforts.
The Arlington County Civic Federation earlier this month approved its 2025 legislative-priorities package, which includes requests to support measures related to changes in the county government’s governance structure.
An Arlington resident and former federal prosecutor is running for Virginia lieutenant governor.
Victor Salgado, the fifth declared candidate vying to be the Democratic Party’s nominee in November, knows he’s a political outsider. But he told ARLnow that possible federal policy changes inspired him to enter the political arena.
As the Arlington NAACP approaches its first leadership change in two years, the organization aims to build on its advocacy efforts.
On issues ranging from housing and education to voting rights and criminal-justice reform, “our branch has been leading the way,” outgoing president Michael Hemminger said at the body’s last meeting of the year, held Monday (Dec. 16).
Distilling the essence of Libby Garvey’s 28 years in Arlington public life would have required far longer than the 75 minutes allotted at the Tuesday (Dec. 17) County Board meeting.
But a number of local civic and political leaders gave it their best shot.
Incoming County Board member JD Spain, Sr., used his ceremonial swearing-in ceremony to promote the spirit of collaboration and community.
During the Dec. 14 ceremony, Spain — a Democrat — pledged to support a community “where everyone feels valued and safe.”
Donald Trump did slightly better in Arlington in 2024 than 2020 and 2016. But the difference was slight, the chair of the Arlington County Democratic Committee told his party’s rank-and-file.
“Arlington did its job” in turning out the vote for presidential candidate Kamala Harris, Democratic chair Steve Baker said at the committee’s Dec. 4 monthly meeting.
