Adam Ebbin | ALXnow

JUST IN: Democratic firehouse primary for Del. Bennett-Parker’s seat scheduled for Tuesday

Published January 16, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated January 16, 2026 at 12:08PM

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th) at the No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, Oct. 18, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Democrats are in for deja vu as this month’s second Democratic firehouse primary will take place Tuesday to fulfill outgoing Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker’s seat, after her resignation announcement.

The firehouse primary is happening this Tuesday, Jan. 20, according to the Alexandria Democratic Committee. So far, two candidates have entered the race vying for Bennett-Parker’s 5th District seat: City Councilmember R. Kirk McPike and former Alexandria City School Board member Eileen Cassidy Rivera.

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Second firehouse primary scheduled next week as Del. Bennett-Parker runs for State Senate

By James Cullum

Published January 16, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated January 16, 2026 at 12:03PM

Virginia Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th) at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus ribbon cutting, Feb. 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Fresh from her firehouse Democratic primary win for a State Senate seat, Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) has announced her resignation from the House of Delegates.

The resignation will go into effect Feb. 18, Bennett-Parker said in an email yesterday (Thursday). The delegate won the firehouse primary for the 39th District State Senate in the early morning hours on Wednesday. Now, another firehouse primary to fill her 5th District seat has been scheduled for next Tuesday, as of late Friday morning.

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JUST IN: Bennett-Parker wins Democratic firehouse primary for State Senate seat

By James Cullum

Published January 14, 2026 at 2:35AM | Updated January 14, 2026 at 8:35AM

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker speaks to a voter outside Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town, across from opponent, former Del. Mark Levine, with his dog, Falafel, on his left shoulder, on the day of the firehouse primary for Virginia's 39th Senate District, Jan. 13, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) has been declared the winner in a firehouse primary for Virginia’s 39th District Senate seat, defeating three opponents with 70.6% of the 4,647 ballots cast.

Bennett Parker received 3,281 votes, followed by former Del. Mark Levine with 807 votes (17.4%), Charles Sumpter with 321 votes (6.9%) and former Vice Mayor Amy Jackson with 238 votes (5.1%), according to ballots counted by the Alexandria Democratic Committee.

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Alexandria Republicans announce state Senate candidate for February special election

By Katie Taranto

Published January 13, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated January 14, 2026 at 12:20PM

Julie Robben Lineberry (courtesy of the Arlington GOP)

The Alexandria Republican City Committee has selected a candidate to compete in February’s special election to replace Sen. Adam Ebbin (D).

Realtor Julie Robben Lineberry will serve as the party’s candidate in the 39th Senate District, according to a mass email sent this morning (Tuesday) by Arlington GOP Chair Matthew Hurtt.

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JUST IN: Alexandria Democrats schedule firehouse primary to replace Sen. Ebbin

By Katie Taranto

Published January 9, 2026 at 11:20PM | Updated January 11, 2026 at 4:55PM

State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39) reads a resolution at Alexandria's 275th birthday celebration along the waterfront in Old Town, July 13, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Democrats have announced a firehouse primary to replace State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39), after he announced his resignation this week to fulfill a role in Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration.

The primary will be held from 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. this Tuesday, Jan. 13, according to the Alexandria Democratic Committee — less than a week out from Ebbin’s Jan. 7 announcement. ADC announced the primary over social media around 11 p.m. Friday.

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Political domino effect hits Alexandria as Sen. Ebbin resigns to join Spanberger administration

By James Cullum

Published January 7, 2026 at 9:20PM | Updated January 7, 2026 at 9:45PM

State Sen. Adam Ebbin speaks at the No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, June 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Rumors in Alexandria have finally been confirmed as State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39) announced Wednesday night that he will be resigning to join Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration.

Ebbin will be the senior advisor at the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, according to a press release, and his resignation will go into effect Feb. 18. Soon after Ebbin’s announcement, Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) and former Del. Mark Levine (D-45) announced their intention to run for Ebbin’s seat.

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Sen. Ebbin scores victory as his transit-funding panel sends its plan to legislature

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 7, 2025 at 1:45PM

Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-39, chairing last SJ28 Subcommittee meeting (screenshot via SJ28 Subcommittee)

For Sen. Adam Ebbin, the task of securing dedicated revenue streams for Northern Virginia transit is now 50% complete, as the region’s transit subcommittee approved a new spending package proposal this week.

In conversations with the Northern Virginia Growing Needs of Public Transit Joint Subcommittee, Ebbin (D-39) successfully shepherded near-unanimous support for the package, which calls for $400 million annually in new spending.

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PHOTOS: Thousands attend No Kings Rally in Old Town, Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 14, 2025 at 10:21PM | Updated June 15, 2025 at 5:53AM

The No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, June 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria leaders railed against the Trump administration at Alexandria’s Market Square on Saturday, just across the Potomac River from the military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, which also coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.

Alexandria’s No Kings Rally was attended by thousands. The rally also comes as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reportedly preparing to deploy tactical units to Northern Virginia and four major cities across the country.

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Alexandria elected officials to speak at anti-Trump protest outside City Hall

By James Cullum

Published June 10, 2025 at 10:45AM

There's a "No Kings in Alexandria" protest against the Trump administration on Saturday, June 14, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Market Square at 301 King Street in Old Town (via AlexDems)

Alexandria leaders will participate in an anti-Trump protest in front of City Hall at Market Square (301 King Street) on Saturday.

Confirmed speakers at the event, which runs from 3 to 5 p.m., include U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8), Virginia House majority leader Charniele Herring (D-4), Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39), and Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter. Mayor Alyia Gaskins is tentatively scheduled to speak.

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Beyer, Herring, Ebbin launch speaking tour to combat billions in threatened federal health care cuts

By James Cullum

Published May 30, 2025 at 12:15PM

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) at the ribbon cutting for Metro's Integrated Command and Communications Center in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood, Oct. 27, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Facing billions in federal health care cuts in Virginia, Alexandria Congressman Don Beyer (D-8) is joining Virginia House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D-4) and State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39) next week for three in-person panel discussions across Virginia.

The $715 billion in federal health care cuts would impact Medicaid and Planned Parenthood. The trio of Northern Virginia legislators will hold their first panel at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 2, at the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke St, Alexandria). The trio will then conduct similar panels later in the day in Norfolk and Richmond.

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Northern Virginia legislators decry Youngkin’s veto on bill limiting firearm transfers from domestic abusers

By James Cullum

Published March 25, 2025 at 12:30PM | Updated March 25, 2025 at 3:14PM

Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus ribbon cutting, Feb. 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Northern Virginia legislators are decrying Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s recent veto of a bill to keep firearms from the homes of domestic abusers.

Youngkin vetoed 157 bills on Monday (March 24), including Sen. Barbara Favola’s (D-40) Senate Bill 744 and Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker’s House Bill 1960 — identical pieces of legislation that amend existing Virginia law by removing firearms from the hands of convicted domestic abusers.