Voters in tomorrow’s Democratic firehouse primary will have four candidates to choose from after Fairfax County Public Schools teacher Gregory Darrall entered the race this weekend.
Darrall, a self-described “proud progressive,” is a special education teacher and vice president of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers. His name will appear on District 5 voters’ ballots tomorrow alongside City Councilmember R. Kirk McPike, former School Board member Eileen Cassidy Rivera and defense attorney Chris Leibig.
His priorities include strengthening the state’s health care marketplace and expanding existing programs, “so that every Virginian can access high-quality, affordable coverage,” according to his campaign website.
Darrall is also a “proud member and staunch supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community,” in addition to advocating for causes like “social and economic justice, worker, immigrant and women’s rights, and bold action to combat climate change.”
All four candidates’ websites are accessible through the Alexandria Democratic Committee’s website.
Voting tomorrow begins at 8:30 a.m. and will last until 7 p.m. at the following locations.
- Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Library, 5005 Duke Street
- Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street
Voters must be registered to vote in District 5 and provide “written certification that they identify as a Democrat,” according to ADC Chair Jon DeNunzio.
The candidates are competing to run for Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker’s seat following her resignation announcement. She is currently running against Republican Julie Robben Lineberry to replace outgoing State Sen. Adam Ebbin in the 39th District after Ebbin joins Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s new administration.
The winner of tomorrow’s primary has a confirmed opponent in the forthcoming special election: Mason Butler. The Alexandria Republican City Committee announced Butler’s candidacy over the weekend.
Butler, a self-described moderate and an I.T. executive of 20 years, previously ran for City Council as an independent in 2024. He was the sole applicant to Republicans’ canceled canvassing event to select a candidate.
Affordability is his top concern, he said in an announcement.
“Lowering the cost of living for all Alexandrians isn’t just a talking point for me — it’s the reason I’m in this race,” Butler said. “Whether you’re a young professional trying to afford your first apartment, a family struggling with childcare costs, or a senior on a fixed income, you deserve a delegate who’s fighting to keep more money in your pocket.”
If Democrats elect McPike during tomorrow’s primary and he resigns from City Council, it could trigger a third special election for Alexandria’s voters so far this year.
