Four candidates made the 4 p.m. filing deadline Sunday to participate in Tuesday’s firehouse Democratic primary for Virginia’s 39th senate district.
Democratic candidates who paid the $360 fee to meet the Alexandria Democratic Committee’s filing deadline were Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5), former Del. Mark Levine (D-45), former Alexandria Vice Mayor Amy Jackson and World Wildlife Fund senior executive Charles Sumpter.
The public will have a chance to see most of the candidates at a debate from 7-9 p.m. tonight (Monday) at Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street) in Old Town, and Network Nova will livestream the event. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
Jackson has indicated that she will not attend this evening’s debate, according to social media posts.
The 39th district encompasses Alexandria, Crystal City and Pentagon City in Arlington County and Bailey’s Crossroads and Seven Corners in Fairfax County.
The primary will be held from 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. at four polling places:
- Aurora Hills Library, 735 South 18th Street, Arlington
- Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria
- Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street, Alexandria
- John Calvin Presbyterian Church, 6531 Columbia Pike, Annandale
The Alexandria Republican City Committee has a deadline of 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12 to submit candidacy forms for the Republican nomination. A special party canvas will be held at Alexandria GOP headquarters (221 S. Henry Street) between 6-8 p.m., after which the nominee’s name will be sent to the Virginia Department of Elections, according to Alexandria GOP.
The special election to replace Sen. Adam Ebbin, who announced his resignation last week to join Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration will be held Feb. 10.
Campaign announcements
Bennett-Parker launched her campaign less than an hour after Ebbin’s announcement. She has since gotten dozens of big name endorsements, including Spanberger, Ebbin, Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, Speaker of the House of Delegates Don Scott, House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Amy Jackson, as well as City Council Members John Taylor Chapman and R. Kirk McPike, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay and more.
“All of my endorsements happened this week,” Bennett-Parker told ALXnow. “I’ve spent most of the past few days on the phone. In some cases I asked, in some cases they were offered — which is to say some people called or texted me. These endorsements came together quickly because I’ve built strong relationships with years of collaboration, mutual respect and shared work.”
Bennett-Parker held a packed campaign kickoff event in Del Ray on Friday at Evening Star Cafe, and has spent the last several days canvassing with supporters. She also made a brief appearance on Sunday at the “ICE Out For Good” protest in Arlandria.
Mark Levine formally launched his campaign at a supporter’s house in Old Town on Sunday, Jan. 11. An attorney and former radio talk show host, Levine held his seat for Virginia’s 45th District from 2015 until losing to Bennett-Parker in a primary in 2021. He also lost a primary race in that same cycle for lieutenant governor.
Levine’s camp launched his website and helped organize the debate on Monday night. He says that if elected, he will introduce a bill to get rid of “snap elections.”
“Obviously, I don’t think this is the way democracy should be run,” Levine said. “If I get in the Senate, I will pass a law getting rid of Virginia snap elections. I’ve already put forward a proposal to how I would do it.”
Levine isn’t ruling out running for Bennett-Parker’s seat, should she win the primary on Tuesday and then the election on Feb. 10.
“Let’s see what happens on Tuesday, then we’ll talk,” Levine said. “Everyone’s telling me I can’t win. You know what? Not the people who are filling my home, not the people who are going out there and canvassing. This isn’t a paid army of canvassers. These are just good people working for me right now, and I’m so proud of them, and I’m so proud of this race, as short as it is.”
At around 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, Charles Sumpter took the microphone at Diko Lounge Hookah Bar and Lounge (5245 Duke Street) to announce his campaign. Sumpter said that his supporters aren’t aware of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, but are people in the community.
“I’ve been talking to my people, my base, who are not part of the establishment,” Sumpter said. “But what they know is that I care about people, and about specific issues that resonate with them.”
Sumpter also launched a campaign website, listing affordable housing, community-based mental health care and expanding workforce pathways for students.
Like his opponents, Sumpter said he hasn’t slept well since Ebbin announced his resignation.
“I’ve been taking phone calls, going out to print shops, going out and talking to voters,” he said. “I think voters need a choice, and that’s why I jumped into this race. These aren’t new issues to me — apprenticeship programs, mental health resources for youth. I think the state can do something about it.”
On Sunday, former Vice Mayor Amy Jackson announced her candidacy for the seat on social media. Jackson won two races for city council, in 2018 and 2021. In the latter election, she received the most votes of any council candidate and was voted vice mayor by her peers. She ran for mayor in 2024, losing to now-Mayor Alyia Gaskins.
“I am thrilled to be a Democratic candidate for State Senate District 39,” Jackson wrote early Monday morning on social media. “It’s moving quickly with voting scheduled for one day only – tomorrow! I humbly ask for your vote to continue my work in our community in this capacity as your representative in Richmond.”
Jackson lists a number of her accomplishments while on city council on her website, and her commitments to affordable housing, protecting the environment, education funding and LGBTQ+ diversity and inclusion.
In her video campaign announcement, Jackson said she put her name on the ballot along with a number of courageous people, to “help shape a progressive future for Alexandria.”
Image via ADC/Facebook.
