Alyia Gaskins | ALXnow

Alexandria candidates launch campaigns, Gaskins and Chapman lead in fundraising

Published January 29, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated January 29, 2024 at 6:07PM

Alexandria City Council Member Alyia Gaskins kicking off her mayoral campaign at Indochen in Cameron Station, Jan. 28, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s political scene is heating up, as a number of Democrat candidates formally launched their campaigns over the weekend.

City Council Member Alyia Gaskins held a packed kickoff at Indochen in Cameron Station on Sunday, following her opponent Vice Mayor Amy Jackson’s kickoff on Jan. 21 at Doyle’s Outpost in the West End. On Saturday, City Council Member Kirk McPike launched his campaign at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray and City Council Member John Taylor Chapman did the same at Port City Brewing Company.

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JUST IN: Real estate developer Steven Peterson is running as a democrat for mayor of Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published January 11, 2024 at 3:45PM | Updated April 4, 2024 at 7:43PM

Real estate Developer Steven Peterson is running for mayor, and is pictured here with his wife, Martha (courtesy photo)

Steven Peterson, former president of the Peterson Companies real estate development firm, confirmed to ALXnow today that he is intending to run for mayor of Alexandria as a Democrat in the June 18 primary.

“It is my intention to run as a Democrat for mayor of Alexandria,” Peterson said.

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Mayoral candidates announce intentions to Alexandria Democratic Committee

By James Cullum

Published January 3, 2024 at 3:30PM | Updated January 4, 2024 at 12:04AM

Alexandria mayoral candidates City Council Member Alyia Gaskins (on left) and Vice Mayor Amy Jackson speak at the Alexandria Democratic Committee meeting about their campaigns on Jan. 2, 2024 (staff photos by James Cullum)

(Updated at 11:45 p.m.) The race for the next mayor of Alexandria has officially begun, sort of.

Last night, Vice Mayor Amy Jackson formally announced her candidacy to the Alexandria Democratic Committee (ADC), a rite of passage in Alexandria elected politics since the city has only ever elected a Republican mayor once, in 1872. Jackson’s opponent, City Council Member Alyia Gaskins, made her own announcement to the ADC on Dec. 2, and used the opportunity last night to announce her latest endorsements.

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Northern Virginia Association of Realtors says Amy Jackson’s mayoral endorsement never happened

By James Cullum

Published December 14, 2023 at 1:30PM

A screenshot from a social media post from Amy Jackson thanking NVAR for their endorsement in her (via Facebook)

Alexandria mayoral candidate Amy Jackson excitedly announced an endorsement from the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors on Monday, but the organization says they haven’t endorsed anyone in the mayoral race and have been trying to contact her to correct the misunderstanding.

Josh Veverka, NVAR’s senior director of government affairs, has been trying to get ahold of Jackson after the announcement was posted. He says that the organization has yet to conduct interviews with mayoral candidates, a process that will be conducted in March or April — in time for the June 18 primary.

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Check out our photos of the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published December 4, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated December 4, 2023 at 9:36PM

Santa Claus waves at the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 9:35 p.m.) It was overcast and cool — the perfect weather for the Campagna Center’s 52nd Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.

The parade is one of the most popular events in the city, bringing thousands of participants, including Irish dancers, historic reenactors and the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums. It is considered the highlight of a weekend full of events.

News

JUST IN: Two City Council members vie to replace Alexandria Mayor

By Vernon Miles

Published December 4, 2023 at 9:55AM | Updated December 4, 2023 at 10:59AM

(L-R) Alexandria Vice Mayor Amy Jackson, Council member Alyia Gaskins and acting Police Chief Don Hayes at a retirement ceremony for former Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, April 5, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 10:50 a.m.) With Mayor Justin Wilson announcing last week that he won’t seek reelection, two members of Alexandria’s City Council have tossed their hats into the ring to replace him.

City Council member Alyia Gaskins announced this morning (Monday) that she would be running for mayor.