state legislature | ALXnow

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

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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Office of Historic Alexandria director wins primary for Va. House seat in Fairfax

By Katie Taranto

Published December 17, 2025 at 10:30AM

Gretchen Bulova, director of the Office of Historic Alexandria at the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town, Dec. 6, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Gretchen Bulova, director of the Office of Historic Alexandria, won a decisive victory last night (Tuesday) in a firehouse Democratic primary for delegate of the 11th District.

Alexandria’s OHA director is now one step closer to fulfilling the delegate seat of her husband, David Bulova, who resigned last Friday after accepting an appointment in Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration. He spent 19 years in the House of Delegates.

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Free school breakfast bill will return to General Assembly, Del. Bennett-Parker says

By James Cullum

Published November 26, 2025 at 2:48PM

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker reads a proclamation at Art on the Avenue in Del Ray, Oct. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A bill to provide elementary and secondary school students across Virginia with free breakfasts is heading back to the Virginia General Assembly.

The proposed bill by Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) was killed in the House Appropriation’s Elementary & Secondary Education subcommittee in January due largely to its $29.2 million price tag.

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Domestic violence survivors call for more program funding at Old Town discussion with prosecutors

By James Cullum

Published November 19, 2025 at 3:45PM

NaQuetta Mitchell talks to Commonwealth's Attorneys in Old Town, Nov. 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Amid deepening federal funding cuts to programs for crime victims, commonwealth’s attorneys gathered in Alexandria today (Wednesday) to listen to survivors’ stories.

The public officials attended the discussion at the National Organization of Victim Advocacy on 510 King Street. Among them were Steve Descano of Fairfax County, Parisa Dehghani-Tafti of Arlington and Falls Church and Remin Fatehi of Norfolk.

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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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Here’s the last available voting turnout numbers in Alexandria before polls close

By James Cullum

Published June 17, 2025 at 5:00PM | Updated June 18, 2025 at 6:04AM

The 4 p.m. count on primary day, June 17, 2025 (via City of Alexandria)

There’s less than three hours before polls close in Alexandria.

Here’s how the numbers are looking, as of 4 p.m.:

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Here’s the latest turnout numbers in today’s Democratic Primary in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 17, 2025 at 1:30PM | Updated June 18, 2025 at 6:05AM

Voter numbers in Alexandria on primary day, June 17, 2025 (via City of Alexandria)

Voters are trickling into Alexandria’s precincts on this rainy Tuesday (June 17).

Today’s the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor and attorney general. As of noon, 3,258 Alexandrians (3.33% of registered voters) cast in-person ballots, and 5,511 voted absentee — adding up to 8,769 ballots cast (8.7%).

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With just two Democratic races on the ballot, Alexandria’s early primary votes start trickling in

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2025 at 12:15PM | Updated June 18, 2025 at 6:05AM

'I voted' stickers on Election Day in Alexandria, Nov. 5, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

There are only 40 days left until the June 17 Democratic primary for Virginia lieutenant governor and attorney general, and early votes are trickling in in Alexandria.

Early voting started on May 2, and 7,309 mail-in ballots were sent to early voters, according Alexandria’s election dashboard. So far, 71 Alexandria residents have cast in-person ballots, and 19 have returned mail-in ballots.

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Virginia House Majority Leader Del. Charniele Herring kicks off reelection campaign

By James Cullum

Published April 4, 2025 at 3:15PM

Del. Charniele Herring at her campaign kickoff at Clyde's at 1700 N. Beauregard Street on April 3, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Facing no opposition in November, Virginia House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D-4) launched her reelection campaign in Alexandria on Thursday night (April 3).

Herring was joined at Clyde’s (1700 N. Beauregard Street) in the West End by prominent Democrats, including U.S. Reps. Eugene Vindman (D-7th) and Don Beyer (D-8th), members of the General Assembly, as well as Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and members of City Council.

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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.

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Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker named most progressive legislator in Virginia; files reelection paperwork

By James Cullum

Published March 20, 2025 at 3:50PM | Updated March 20, 2025 at 4:18PM

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

On the heels of being named the most progressive legislator in Virginia, Alexandria Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th) just filed paperwork for a third two-year term in office.

Bennett-Parker says that her recent designation from the Virginia Progressive Legislative Alert Network (VAPLAN) reflects a commitment to Alexandria’s values.