With the June 18 primary for Alexandria mayor and City Council around the corner, candidates have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for what is anticipated to be a low-turnout election.
The only seats in contention for the Democrat primaries are Mayor and City Council, and there is also a single candidate running for Council in a Republican primary.
As of June 6, City Council Member Alyia Gaskins raised $317,316 and had $34,165 on-hand. Her opponents, Vice Mayor Amy Jackson, raised $194,151 and has $8,233 on-hand, and retired real estate developer Steven Peterson, raised $103,405 with $8,244 on-hand.
In the City Council race, Jesse O’Connell outdid his Council opponents by raising $108,538, and as of June 6 had just $8,367 on-hand.
Mayoral candidates
Gaskins received 209 cash donations more than $100 totaling $182,799, 11 in-kind donations totaling $86,413, and 618 donations of $100 or less totaling $37,434, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
Gaskins’ top donor is super political action committee Workers Vote, which donated $65,000. Her second-largest contributor is Reginald James Brown, an attorney with Kirkland & Ellis, who donated $13,318 (and $20,500 since her 2021 campaign). Her third-largest contributor is Brown’s wife, Tiffeny Sanchez, who gave the candidate $20,000.
Gaskins has led with fundraising since this primary cycle began in December, showing her leading with $46,000 in campaign funds and Jackson with $17,000. The next report, released at the end of March, showed that Gaskins extended her lead.
Additionally for Gaskins:
- The Northern Virginia Labor Federation gave her $10,000
- Greater VA Carpenters PEC gave her $10,000
- NOVA Area Labor Federation gave her $10,000
- United Brotherhood of Carpenters gave her $10,000
- Unite Here Local 23 gave her $10,000
- The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers gave her $7,500
- The Northern Virginia Association of Realtors gave her $5,000
- The Service Employees International Union – Local 32BJ gave her $5,000
- Other notable contributions include $3,000 from retired City Council Member Del Pepper, $2,500 from the campaign funds of outgoing Mayor Justin Wilson, $1,000 from former Delegate Rob Krupicka, $500 from former City Council Member David Speck, and $200 from retired Sheriff Dana Lawhorne
Jackson loaned herself $118,198 for her campaign. She received 135 cash donations more than $100 totaling $44,459, 41 in-kind donations more than $100 totaling $7,655, 209 cash donations of $100 or less totaling $12,336, and 20 in-kind contributions more than $100 totaling $5,206.
Jackson is her own top donor, followed by her mother Martha Bickford, who donated $9,775. Former State Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw gave Jackson $3,000, and other notable contributions include:
- 2021 City Council candidate Bill Rossello gave her $2,500
- Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney David Lord gave her $1,349
- Clerk of Court Greg Parks gave her $600
- School Board Member Tammy Ignacio gave her $437
Peterson received 29 cash contributions more than $100 totaling $24,525, 13 contributions of $100 or less totaling $880 and one in-kind contribution of $20,000.
Peterson is also his own top donor, having given his campaign $58,000. His second-most contributor is Michael Sramek, who donated $10,000.
The City Council race
Jesse O’Connell, the former chair of the city’s Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee, leads in fundraising, followed by incumbent City Council Members Kirk McPike and John Taylor Chapman.
O’Connell received his biggest donations from Reginald Brown ($2,500) and the NOVA Area Labor Federation ($2,500).
McPike’s top donors include Reginald Brown ($7,500), himself ($6,600) and NOVA Labor ($5,000). Sheriff Sean Casey also contributed $250, and former City Council Member Del Pepper gave him $300.
Chapman received his biggest donations from Reginald Brown ($7,500), fibre space owner Danielle Romanetti ($5,000), and NOVA Labor ($5,000).
- Jesse O’Connell — Raised $108,538, with $8,367 on-hand
- City Council Member Kirk McPike — Raised $103,689, with $36,606 on-hand
- City Council Member John Taylor Chapman — Raised $100,601, with $31,117 on-hand
- City Council Member Canek Aguirre — Raised $81,356, with $19,156 on-hand
- School Board Member Abdel Elnoubi — Raised $73,401, with $12,066 on-hand
- City Council Member Sarah Bagley — Raised $73,179, with $3,877 on-hand
- School Board Member Jacinta Greene — Raised $50,599, with $30,963 on-hand
- Jonathan Huskey — Raised $45,271, with $4,642 on-hand
- James Lewis — $42,270 raised, with $7,285 on-hand
- Charlotte Scherer — Raised $42,867, with $13,491 on-hand
- Kevin Harris — Raised $19,853, with $1,782 on-hand
- Celianna Gunderson — Raised $4,518, with $4,309 on-hand
Additionally, one independent candidate is running on the ballot in November. Mason Butler has so far raised $1,173 and has $1,518 on-hand.
The City Council Democrat and Republican primaries are on June 18. Election day is Nov. 5.
