voter referendum | ARLnow.com

Arlington looks toward two congressional districts after local voters overwhelmingly back change

Published April 22, 2026 at 10:00AM

A voter fills out a ballot at a polling place on April 21, 2026 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Arlington stands to be divided into two congressional districts following last night’s statewide referendum, which narrowly passed with overwhelming support from local voters.

The “yes” vote rolled up about 80% of the vote in Arlington, based on preliminary vote totals released last night by the Virginia Department of Elections. This helped the measure squeak by statewide with about 51.5% of the vote — a majority of about 90,000 votes out of more than 3 million cast, according to preliminary figures.

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Local redistricting advocate and opponent debate ‘new rules of the game’

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 13, 2026 at 8:30AM

Redistricting signs outside of the Bozman building in Courthouse (Flickr pool photo by Alan Kotok)

A supporter and an opponent of Virginia’s April 21 congressional redistricting referendum found themselves in agreement on at least one thing during an April 8 forum sponsored by Advance Arlington.

Del. Marcus Simon (D-13), speaking in favor of the referendum, and former Arlington Electoral Board member Richard Samp, who opposes it, both suggested that an ever-escalating national political tit-for-tat on gerrymandering is not the way to run a country.

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Ranked-choice advocates see opportunity in potential elections scrambles after redistricting

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 6, 2026 at 10:00AM

Arlington voter casts a ballot in the 2024 general election (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Backers of ranked-choice voting (RCV) believe this fall’s congressional races may bolster their case for changing the format of statewide elections.

If Virginia voters approve the congressional redistricting constitutional amendment on April 21, crowded ballots in many parts of the state could lead to future representatives being selected by an unusually small sliver of the overall electorate.

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A $25 minimum wage in D.C. could shift business to N. Va., restaurant association says

By Emily Leayman

Published March 24, 2026 at 11:45AM

Outdoor seating at Padaek restaurant (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A $25 minimum wage proposal in D.C. could push some restaurant workers into Northern Virginia in the short term and, in the long term, potentially drive businesses to relocate as well, the head of the region’s restaurant association says.

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington — an outspoken opponent of D.C.’s Initiative 82, which sought to phase out the tip credit for tipped workers — is opposing One Fair Wage’s proposal to raise the District’s minimum wage to $25 per hour by July 2029.

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Falls Church voters advised to avoid Postal Service when casting referendum ballots

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 13, 2026 at 12:45PM

Falls Church's voting dropbox at City Hall (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The Falls Church city registrar is advising against using the Postal Service to send mail-in ballots in Virginia’s statewide redistricting referendum.

Especially when it gets close to the April 21 vote, city registrar David Bjerke warned that mailing ballots back to the city’s election office too close to the deadline could result in their invalidation.

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What a possible $25 D.C. minimum wage could mean for the region’s restaurant industry

By Emily Leayman

Published March 11, 2026 at 3:45PM

The dining room of Locket in Rosslyn (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A ballot measure to substantially increase D.C.’s minimum wage would undoubtedly have major effects on Arlington’s neighbor, but the region-wide impacts are murkier.

One Fair Wage’s proposal to raise the District’s minimum wage to $25 per hour by July 2029 has earned support from labor advocates seeking to make D.C. more affordable for the working class, but criticism from business owners worried about going out of business or having to lay off employees.

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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.

News

Local congressional races are ‘full steam ahead’ despite districting uncertainty

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 18, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated February 18, 2026 at 5:09PM

Voting at Arlington Central Library on Nov. 7, 2023 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

While questions around congressional redistricting will remain unresolved for months, campaigns for two seats that could represent Arlington are in full swing.

For now, all eyes are on an April 21 statewide referendum on whether to authorize dramatically redrawn districts for the U.S. House of Representatives. But that isn’t stopping candidates, political parties and officials in Arlington from launching into election season.

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Abortion access amendment clears General Assembly, is expected to go to Virginia voters

By Emily Leayman

Published January 16, 2026 at 3:45PM

An attendee holds a sign at a rally of Washington-Liberty High students that followed a walkout (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A constitutional amendment to codify abortion access has cleared the last major hurdle before likely going to Virginia voters for a referendum in November.

Today (Friday), the Virginia Senate advanced an amendment to protect abortion in the Constitution of Virginia 21-18, following an earlier 64-34 vote by the Virginia House of Delegates. A simple majority of voters would need to vote in favor for the legislation to be approved.