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Alexandria Democrats reorganize with new leadership during first meeting of 2026

By James Cullum
The Alexandria Democratic Committee elected new leadership at its first meeting of the year, Jan. 5, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Democratic Committee voted in new leadership for two-year terms at its first organizational meeting of the year last night (Monday).

Longtime ADC member and former journalist Jon DeNunzio ran unopposed to succeed outgoing Chair Sandy Marks. He and more than a dozen ADC leadership positions were approved by members at the meeting, which was held in the cafeteria of Alexandria City High School’s King Street campus.

DeNunzio said the political group needs to ensure Democrats hold onto Congressional and Senate seats this November, while maintaining a solid block of party support as Virginia looks to redraw Congressional boundaries.

“Politics has changed,” DeNunzio, who owns marketing firm Squarely Digital, told members. “We need to make sure we keep up, ensuring that the time our members spend with us is used as effectively as possible.”

DeNunzio said he wants to build on the ADC’s accomplishments and hear from its members. He intends to hold office hours once a month from the committee’s new office on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray.

“What I really want to do is start talking to people, and the new executive committee is the first group that I’ll be talking to,” DeNunzio said. “It’s a new group. Some people know each other, some don’t, and we need to get together to brainstorm. I want to make it clear that, hey, if you have ideas, pitch them to me and let’s talk.”

Jon DeNunzio, the new chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, Jan. 5, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The ADC’s executive committee leadership is below.

  • Chair — Jon DeNunzio
  • Vice Chair for Finance and Administration — Eva Hartman
  • Vice Chair for Precinct Operations, East (School District A) — Blake Ballard
  • Vice Chair for Precinct Operations, Central (School District B) — The team of Erin Lee and Laura Plaia
  • Vice Chair for Precinct Operations, West (School District C) — The team of Natalie Rogers and Dustin Narcisse
  • Secretary — Nigel Mease
  • Treasurer — Chalin Smith
  • Vice Chair for Communications — Joelle Jordan
  • Vice Chair for Data + Membership —  Jacki Garry
  • Vice Chair for Resolutions — John Connor
  • Leadership Circle Chair — The team of David Lord and Greg Parks
  • Vice Chair for Community Outreach — Eileen Cassidy Rivera
  • Vice Chair for Volunteer Coordination — David Paladin-Fernandez
  • Vice Chair for Democrats to Go — Steve Verdier
  • Vice Chair for Dining for Delegates — Sharon Widmayer

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.