Republican Party | ARLnow.com

All of Arlington stays in same congressional district after court strikes down redistricting

Published May 11, 2026 at 2:45PM

Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

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.

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GOP could back an independent for County Board if recruitment drive falls short

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 1, 2026 at 2:45PM

Independent County Board candidate William Bayne (via campaign website)

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.

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First Republican candidate in new 7th Congressional District pitches Arlington GOP

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 29, 2026 at 9:15AM

7th Congressional District candidate Doug Ollivant (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The first Republican contender in the redrawn 7th Congressional District made his pitch to Arlington Republicans this week.

Douglas Ollivant, a Culpeper County resident and managing partner of a strategic consulting firm, is for now the only announced candidate in the 7th District as approved by voters on April 21, although more could be on the way.

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GOP bill to return Arlington, Alexandria to D.C. condemned as ‘unconstitutional’ by Rep. Beyer

By Emily Leayman

Published April 24, 2026 at 8:30AM

A view of D.C. from Rosslyn (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A Republican legislator’s proposal to make Arlington and Alexandria part of D.C. has earned immediate condemnation from the region’s congressional representation.

U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) introduced the “Make DC Square Again Act” yesterday (Wednesday) in the wake of Virginia voters approving a redistricting referendum to benefit Democrats’ representation in Congress. McCormick’s legislation seeks to reunite Arlington, Alexandria and the District, which had been the case for 46 years in the 19th century.

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Misleading anti-redistricting mailers prompt outcry from AG Jones, Virginia NAACP

By Dan Egitto

Published April 1, 2026 at 3:45PM

An anti-redistricting mailer sent to Arlington households (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A public messaging brawl over Virginia’s upcoming redistricting referendum has gotten even messier with new mailers prominently displaying out-of-context quotes from former President Barack Obama.

The front of the mailers, which some Arlington households received last week, urges residents to vote against redistricting and quotes Obama as saying, “Let voters decide, not politicians.” Obama actually supports redistricting, and his quote is taken from a pro-redistricting ad released a few weeks ago.

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Campaign signs can stay on Arlington medians, but with new restrictions

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 16, 2026 at 9:15AM

A James DeVita campaign sign (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

The Arlington County Board has voted to restrict, but not eliminate, the placement of campaign signs and other signage on county medians.

In a 4-1 vote, a majority of Board members said the compromise is a reasonable middle ground that will reduce clutter without severely impacting candidates’ ability to get their messages out.

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As early voting begins on redistricting referendum, Arlington Dems and GOP seek to rally

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 6, 2026 at 9:15AM

An 'I voted in Arlington' sticker (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Arlington’s two main political parties are driving opposing messages as early voting on Virginia’s congressional redistricting referendum began this morning (Friday).

The Arlington County Democratic Committee’s rank and file voted to support the redrawing of the commonwealth’s 11 congressional districts at a Wednesday meeting.

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County’s political parties prep for ongoing combat throughout 2026

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 26, 2026 at 10:00AM | Updated February 26, 2026 at 10:54AM

Early voting at the Madison Community Center on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 (staff photo)

Arlington’s never-ending campaign cycle saw both Democrats and Republicans gearing up for battle over the past few weeks.

The Arlington County Democratic Committee is “focused on winning, doing everything we can to ensure Democrats win,” party chair Paul Ruiz said at Democrats’ monthly meeting on Feb. 4.

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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.

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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.

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Officials seek new early-voting site ahead of Madison Community Center renovations

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 18, 2025 at 2:45PM | Updated December 18, 2025 at 3:05PM

Early voting at the Madison Community Center on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 (staff photo)

Renovations at a North Arlington community center have county election officials on the lookout for a new early-voting site in 2026.

Madison Community Center (3829 N. Stafford Street), which is closing in the spring for about a year of renovations, serves as a regular polling place on Election Day and one of two satellite centers open for early voting in the weeks leading up to elections.

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Candidates for Arlington Democrats chair pitch agendas to rank-and-file

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 8, 2025 at 9:15AM

Arlington Democrats Chair candidates Paul Ruiz (left) and Tony Weaver (right) (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Candidates seeking to become Arlington’s next Democratic chair made their pitch to the party’s rank-and-file last week.

Tony Weaver and Paul Ruiz are vying to succeed Steve Baker, who has been at the Democratic helm for four years. Voting in early January will decide the race.