Mayor Alyia Gaskins has been chosen to join 21 other rising Democratic state and local leaders from around the country to trade ideas on local governance.
Gaskins is joining NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a network of center-left elected officials, for a year. The mayor will participate in virtual webinars to share ideas and discuss challenges such as rising costs, housing, energy and childcare. She will also take part in the NewDEAL Annual Conference from Nov. 18-20 in D.C.
The NewDEAL organization said Gaskins was chosen “in part because of her dedication to working families, public safety, and health equity.”
“I’m proud of the progress we are making in Alexandria and also know how much more there is to do,” Gaskins said in a release. “I look forward to sharing my experience and learning from other leaders to continue the work of building healthier, more vibrant communities, and I am proud to be part of NewDEAL’s efforts to make government work better across the country.”
Current NewDEAL members from Virginia include State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39), Virginia Secretary of Finance Mark Sickles and Del. Kathy Tran (D-18). Former members who joined as state or local leaders include former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Delaware Rep. Sarah McBride.
This is the second time this year that Gaskins has been selected to exchange insights on local governance. Earlier this year, she participated in the ninth cohort of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative.
The 2026 NewDEAL class includes:
- Alaska: Fairbanks Mayor Mindy O’Neall
- Arizona: Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar
- Colorado: Routt County Commissioner Angelica Salinas
- Connecticut: State Treasurer Erick Russell
- Delaware: Sen. Tizzy Lockman
- Georgia: Rep. Omari Crawford
- Illinois: Sen. Mike Halpin
- Indiana: Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn
- Kentucky: Rep. Adam Moore
- Missouri: Rep. Ashley Aune
- Nebraska: Sen. Dunixi Guereca
- New Hampshire: Portsmouth Assistant Mayor JoAnna Kelley
- New Mexico: Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta
- New York: New York City Councilmember Virginia Maloney
- New York: Suffolk County Legislator Rebecca Sanin
- North Carolina: Fletcher Mayor Preston Blakely
- Ohio: Rep. Dani Isaacsohn
- Pennsylvania: Bucks County Sheriff Danny Ceisler
- Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor
- South Carolina: Columbia City Councilmember Sam Johnson
- Vermont: State Treasurer Mike Pieciak
- Virginia: Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins
