Several priorities in Alexandria City Council’s latest state legislative package are making progress in the General Assembly.
The City of Alexandria is supporting proposals that aim to make it easier for localities to expand housing and increase its affordability. The latest General Assembly Legislative Package outlines state bills it would support, citing increasing housing costs for city residents and essential workers being priced out of the city.
Special election candidates for State Senate in the 39th District fielded questions about immigration, taxes, snow removal and more during a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City yesterday (Sunday).
Democrat Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) and Republican Julie Robben Lineberry attended the virtual forum, which was moderated by LWV Vote 411 Director Anna Weber. Candidates were each given two minutes each to respond to questions.
Members of City Council traveled to Richmond yesterday (Thursday) to advocate for more authority to expand housing options and increase state funding for school construction, among other goals.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, Councilmembers John Taylor Chapman, R. Kirk McPike, Abdel Elnoubi and Canek Aguirre visited the state Capitol for a lobby day to advocate for their legislative priorities, which were set in December. They met with several lawmakers and members of Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration.
Deadlines are approaching for voter registration and mail-in ballot requests to participate in the Feb. 10 special election.
Early in-person voting kicks off this Saturday at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections (132 N. Royal Street, Suite 100). By-mail ballot requests must be received by the office by 5 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 30, while voter registration and updates must be completed by Tuesday, Feb. 3.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Virginia judge ruled Tuesday that a proposed constitutional amendment letting Democrats redraw the state’s Congressional maps was illegal, setting back the party’s efforts to pick up seats in the U.S. House in November. In Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore testified for a new map that could enable Democrats to defeat the state’s only House Republican.
The latest developments are part of a national battle over unusual mid-decade redistricting attempts, launched last summer by President Donald Trump who urged Republican officials in Texas to redraw maps to help the GOP win more seats. He did so in hopes of holding on to a narrow House majority in the face of political headwinds that typically favor the party out of power in midterms.
R. Kirk McPike will resign from Alexandria City Council next month as he prepares to run for the House of Delegates, he announced during a legislative meeting tonight (Tuesday).
McPike made the announcement to his colleagues virtually, due to weather conditions, and said his resignation will go into effect on Monday, Feb. 9 — one day before the special election for 5th District delegate, where he’ll run against Republican Mason Butler to succeed outgoing Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker.
Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker has expressed interest in participating in a virtual forum after special election opponent Julie Robben Lineberry proposed a series of debates yesterday (Tuesday).
Lineberry, the Republican nominee, “challenged” Bennett-Parker to participate in three debates in a press release yesterday afternoon. In a statement to ALXnow, Bennett-Parker said Lineberry contacted her after publicizing the challenge.
City Councilman R. Kirk McPike has been declared the winner in today’s Democratic firehouse primary to succeed outgoing Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5).
McPike secured 60.5% of the vote Tuesday among 5th District Democrats, defeating three other candidates in the running. A total of 2,115 voters participated in the primary, placing district turnout at around 3%, according to tallies from the Alexandria Democratic Committee and data from the Virginia Public Access Project.
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.
At least two well-known Alexandria Democrats are interested in running for Elizabeth Bennett-Parker’s 5th District seat in the House of Delegates, following her firehouse primary win last night.
City Councilman R. Kirk McPike and former Alexandria City School Board Member Eileen Cassidy Rivera have confirmed to ALXnow they intend to run to fill Bennett-Parker’s 5th District seat, which she has held since 2021. They have also each published campaign websites.
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.
