The winner of today’s Democratic firehouse primary for a seat in the House of Delegates will run against Republican Mason Butler next month.
The Alexandria Republican City Committee canceled its party canvas and announced Butler’s candidacy over the weekend. Butler, an IT consultant who has lived in Alexandria for more than a decade, previously ran as an independent candidate for City Council in 2024.
Butler is running on a platform of lowering the cost of living; increasing salaries for teachers, firefighters and police; increasing education funding from Richmond and state investments in the city’s flooding and road infrastructure.
“When I ran for City Council, my message was one of economic development and fiscal responsibility,” Butler announced Sunday. “That, along with cost of living, will be my focus in my race to represent Alexandria’s 5th District in the General Assembly. As your representative to the House of Delegates, I will work with political leaders from both parties to make our streets safer, broaden our commercial tax base, and fortify Alexandria as a global tourist destination! Alexandria needs results-driven leadership in Richmond that help fund initiatives for all Virginians enjoy in Alexandria.”
Butler spent years as a board member with The Campagna Center and a member of the Rotary Club of Alexandria, in addition to volunteering at Jones Point Park Gardens and the Founder’s Park Community Association.
“Richmond is going to be blue and that’s ok, but there has to be common sense elected officials that can help the new administration,” Butler said in an email campaign announcement. “From DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) to other federal cuts, and the rising price of real estate, Alexandrians need an advocate in Richmond that can bring money back home.”
The special election for the 5th District House of Delegates seat and 39th District State Senate seat is Tuesday, Feb. 10. Early voting will be available from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7.
Today’s firehouse primary
Polls are open until 7 p.m. today at two precincts — Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street) and Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke Street).
Four candidates are facing off in today’s Democratic firehouse primary for 5th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. The candidates are City Councilmember R. Kirk McPike, former Alexandria City School Board member Eileen Cassidy Rivera, Fairfax County teacher’s union vice president Gregory Darrall and defense attorney Chris Leibig.
It’s the second firehouse primary in Alexandria in two weeks since Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39) announced his resignation to join Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration.
Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) defeated three opponents on Jan. 13, and soon after announced her resignation from the House of Delegates.
Also on Feb. 10, Bennett-Parker will face Republican Julie Robben Lineberry for the State Senate special election.
An election timeline is available below, according to the city of Alexandria.
Early voting: Saturday, Jan. 31 through Saturday, Feb. 7
Last day to register to vote or update existing registration: Feb. 3
Same day registration begins: Feb. 4
Last day to apply for a mail ballot: 5 p.m., Jan. 30
Election Day: Tuesday, Feb. 10; Polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Mail ballots returned by mail must be: Postmarked on or before Tuesday, Feb. 10, and received by noon (12 p.m.) on Friday, Feb. 13
