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The death of an Arlington civic leader earlier this year closed the history books on one of the most interesting political campaigns in county history.
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.
Arlington Democrats appear to have their nominee for the upcoming special election for treasurer, while Republicans are seeking to recruit a challenger.
Kim Rucker, who became treasurer upon incumbent Carla de la Pava’s retirement earlier this month, was the only candidate to file for the Democratic endorsement, Democratic officials told ARLnow.
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.
Arlington Republicans have voted to oppose three state constitutional amendments in November, focusing most efforts on fighting a measure to codify abortion access.
After some debate and a voice vote on Monday night, the county GOP opted to oppose three ballot measures that would provide formal constitutional support for reproductive rights, same-sex marriage and voting rights for felons.
Arlington Republicans are deciding on whether to take a position on upcoming referendums connected to several controversial topics.
The local party is expected to decide on Monday, June 22 whether to take a public stance on amendments approved by Democratic majorities in the General Assembly.
David Sisson has become the second independent to qualify for the County Board election in November.
Sisson — a member of the county’s Transit Advisory Committee and executive vice chair at the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance (NVAHA) — joins perennial protest candidate Audrey Clement in having filed paperwork and the requisite 125 petition signatures.
The clock continues ticking as Arlington Republicans work to find contenders for County Board and School Board races.
Chris Wright, who heads candidate recruitment for the local GOP, said that so far, efforts have not paid off.
Republicans have their candidate in place for the 8th District U.S. House of Representatives race.
Tony Sabio, a national-security professional and self-described Reagan conservative, was the lone Republican to file for the party’s nomination by the May 26 at 5 p.m. deadline.
Arlington voters next year will be able to select up to 10 candidates in ranked-choice elections, more than triple the number currently available.
New ballot scanners set to arrive in Arlington before this year’s Aug. 4 state primary allow for ranking up to 10 contenders. But existing ballot markers, used to assist voters with disabilities, will not be replaced until next year.
Arlington will remain in a single congressional district after the Virginia Supreme Court on May 8 invalidated redistricting approved by Virginia voters just weeks before.
Unless the U.S. Supreme Court decides to intervene or Democrats can conceive another end-around to overturn the decision, district boundaries revert to where they had been. For Arlington voters, this means all of the county remains in the 8th District, where Rep. Don Beyer will attempt to fend off several primary challengers in August.
Local Republicans might end up endorsing an independent for County Board if the party can’t come up with its own nominee.
The Arlington County Republican Committee “has not made a decision” on a slate of candidates, party chair Matthew Hurtt said at the April 27 committee meeting.
