State legislators representing Alexandria called on constituents today (Sept. 8) to support a referendum to restore voting rights to former felons.
In the city’s Arlandria neighborhood, state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) was flanked by Del. R. Kirk McPike (D-5) and nonprofit leaders joining Virginians for the Right to Vote in asking for support for her constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights for former felons without having to make a request to the governor.
Few state legislators saw a more interesting General Assembly session than Alexandria’s state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39).
Bennett-Parker, whose Senate district includes all of Alexandria and portions of Arlington and Fairfax counties, started the 2026 session as a member of the House of Delegates.
The City of Alexandria is asking residents if and how it should change its legislative priorities for the next Virginia General Assembly session in 2027.
Because Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, localities can only use authority specifically granted by the General Assembly through a state law or city charter. The city sends requests to state lawmakers each year through its Legislative Agenda.
Five months ahead of a statewide referendum to repeal an unenforceable ban on same-sex marriage in Virginia, Alexandria Del. R. Kirk McPike (D-5) has been named the co-chair of a campaign to amend the Constitution of Virginia.
McPike, who is in a same-sex marriage, helped launch the Virginians for Marriage Equality campaign in Richmond on Monday (June 1) for the first day of Pride Month. McPike told ALXnow that the campaign will be visible and looking for volunteers to sign up at community Pride events this month across the Commonwealth.
Alexandria City School Board members are asking the public to help push for reforms to the nine-member board, including staggered elections, higher salaries and more.
The clock is ticking, School Board Members Ashley Simpson Baird and Kelly Carmichael Booz wrote in a recent blog post. The pair wrote that City Council must act this year by beginning a process to amend the City Charter — a change that would need to go to the Virginia General Assembly’s 2027 session for approval.
Two opposing events will be held in Alexandria this week ahead of the April 21 statewide referendum on redrawing congressional maps.
Virginia Democrats have been pursuing the mid-decade redistricting in response to similar actions in states across the country to gain party control of Congress in November’s midterm elections. A recent Washington Post-Schar School poll shows 52% of likely Virginia voters favoring redistricting. Even if redistricting advances in Alexandria, the city would remain within the 8th Congressional District.
A bill that would make it easier for churches to pursue affordable housing development on their properties is on its way to Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D). An Alexandria church leader whose church brought affordable housing to its property says the bill would help churches that have faced greater challenges with getting local approval.
The “Faith in Housing” bill would remove the rezoning step for faith-based organizations and other tax-exempt organizations seeking to develop housing on their land. Under the bill, the developments must be at least 60 percent affordable units for a minimum of 30 years. Church-based developments would be subject to property tax unless the locality chooses to exempt them.
As the General Assembly reaches mid-session, the City of Alexandria is supporting nearly 400 proposed bills, including restrictions on immigration enforcement.
Wendy Ginsberg, the city’s legislative director, provided a mid-session General Assembly update to City Council yesterday (Tuesday). According to Ginsberg, city staff have reviewed 584 bills for potential impacts to the city. During the presentation, Councilman Abdel Elnoubi requested an update on the immigration enforcement-related bills, which Ginsberg said are continuing to make progress.
Alexandria City Councilman Canek Aguirre has asked state lawmakers to oppose a bill that would legalize skill games in Virginia, citing harmful impacts of the games on local business owners.
The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Aaron Rouse (D-22), calls for the regulation and taxation of skill game machines. It would cap the number of machines in Virginia at 35,000, impose an $800 gaming tax per machine and limit wagers from users to $5 per play. It was rereferred last week to the Finance and Appropriations Committee.
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.
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.
