Progressive Voters Guide Powered by Progress Virginia
Michelle Rief photo
Independent

Michelle Rief

Website Facebook

Incumbent School Board Member Michelle Rief was first elected in 2018. Growing up in a military family, she attended public schools across the country and earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University. She earned a doctorate in African American Studies from Temple University. Previously, Rief held leadership roles in the Mount Vernon Community School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the Alexandria PTA Council. She has lived in Alexandria for 15 years and her three children attend local schools.

Rief advocates for policies to increase equity in Alexandria Public Schools. She supports changes to increase the number of Black and Brown students involved in the district’s Talented and Gifted Program. While serving on the school board, she helped implement a new strategic plan to ensure students have equal access to academic enrichment and advanced coursework, regardless of race. This plan also carried out new policies to facilitate restorative practices between teachers and students to build trust and community.

As a former union member with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Rief has worked to represent teachers’ interests on the school board. She supports competitive pay so that the district is able to recruit the best teachers. She would like to increase opportunities for professional development for the district’s teachers. She advocates for collective bargaining for public employees, including teachers’ right to unionize. She was endorsed by the AFT for her dedication to improving school employees’ pay and working environment.

Rief has supported infrastructure investment to keep the district’s schools up-to-date and students safe and healthy. She’s advocated for the acceleration of modernization projects of school buildings as well as increased maintenance. Since the pandemic, she’s worked to update the districts’ ventilation systems so that the return to school can be as safe as possible. Additionally, during the pandemic, she supported the superintendent’s efforts to provide laptops and internet access to all students who needed them for virtual learning.

Additionally, Rief supported the renaming of TC Williams High School, which was named after the district’s pro-segregationist superintendent, and Matthew Maury Elementary School, named after a Confederate Navy Veteran. She supported the removal of School Resource Officers from schools. Though this was not successfully completed by the school board but rather carried out by the city council, she supported the policy and helped divert the funds to mental health resources. She also supported putting charter schools under the school board’s control and increasing their transparency and access to ensure educational funding is supporting all students equally.

Due to her support for equity, teachers, and infrastructure, Michelle Rief is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Incumbent School Board Member Michelle Rief was first elected in 2018. Growing up in a military family, she attended public schools across the country and earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University. She earned a doctorate in African American Studies from Temple University. Previously, Rief held leadership roles in the Mount Vernon Community School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the Alexandria PTA Council. She has lived in Alexandria for 15 years and her three children attend local schools.

Rief advocates for policies to increase equity in Alexandria Public Schools. She supports changes to increase the number of Black and Brown students involved in the district’s Talented and Gifted Program. While serving on the school board, she helped implement a new strategic plan to ensure students have equal access to academic enrichment and advanced coursework, regardless of race. This plan also carried out new policies to facilitate restorative practices between teachers and students to build trust and community.

As a former union member with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Rief has worked to represent teachers’ interests on the school board. She supports competitive pay so that the district is able to recruit the best teachers. She would like to increase opportunities for professional development for the district’s teachers. She advocates for collective bargaining for public employees, including teachers’ right to unionize. She was endorsed by the AFT for her dedication to improving school employees’ pay and working environment.

Rief has supported infrastructure investment to keep the district’s schools up-to-date and students safe and healthy. She’s advocated for the acceleration of modernization projects of school buildings as well as increased maintenance. Since the pandemic, she’s worked to update the districts’ ventilation systems so that the return to school can be as safe as possible. Additionally, during the pandemic, she supported the superintendent’s efforts to provide laptops and internet access to all students who needed them for virtual learning.

Additionally, Rief supported the renaming of TC Williams High School, which was named after the district’s pro-segregationist superintendent, and Matthew Maury Elementary School, named after a Confederate Navy Veteran. She supported the removal of School Resource Officers from schools. Though this was not successfully completed by the school board but rather carried out by the city council, she supported the policy and helped divert the funds to mental health resources. She also supported putting charter schools under the school board’s control and increasing their transparency and access to ensure educational funding is supporting all students equally.

Due to her support for equity, teachers, and infrastructure, Michelle Rief is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

City of Alexandria

Not in City of Alexandria? Find your state's guide.

Election Day November 2, 2021
Find Drop Box Locations
Ballot Drop Boxes

Statewide Races

Governor

Terry McAuliffe photo
Democrat

Terry McAuliffe

Website Facebook (Twitter)

Democratic candidate for governor, Terry McAuliffe, was the 72nd Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia from 2014 to 2018. McAuliffe was unable to seek reelection in 2017 due to a state law that bars sitting governors from serving consecutive terms. McAuliffe attended The Catholic University of America and Georgetown University Law Center. A lifelong businessman and entrepreneur, McAuliffe has lived in Fairfax County for more than 20 years with his wife, Dorothy. The couple has raised five children together.

McAuliffe is centering his campaign on building a strong Virginia economy that works for everyone. He plans to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024, two years ahead of the current schedule. He wants to require employers to provide paid sick days along with paid family and medical leave to all workers. Because Virginia is the 10th most expensive state for childcare in the country, McAuliffe wants to assist families burdened with childcare costs by providing subsidies, funneling federal money to families, and making it easier for people to qualify for assistance.

McAuliffe plans to invest $2 billion in Virginia’s education system every year so that teachers are paid above the national average, children have access to universal pre-K, and every student can get online. To make college more affordable to students, McAuliffe will offer more financial aid and expand on current Governor Ralph Northam’s program that makes community college free to low- and middle-income students studying in certain fields. McAuliffe also wants to boost enrollment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities by providing free tuition to students who promise to teach for five years in the state’s high-need areas.

While serving as Governor of Virginia, McAuliffe took action to reduce carbon emissions in the state and received a $120.5 million federal grant to combat the rising sea level on Virginia’s coast. He wants Virginia to reach 100% clean energy by 2035 and make access to clean energy and transportation infrastructure more affordable by providing subsidies for solar usage and public transit construction. McAuliffe also plans to address the racial impacts of climate change by providing funding to communities hit by extreme heat and rising sea levels.

McAuliffe pushed for Medicaid expansion during his first term and wants to increase access to affordable healthcare by supporting Virginia’s plan to create a state-run health insurance marketplace. He backs lowering prescription drug costs, reducing health insurance premiums, and creating a Medicaid buy-in option for people who make too much to qualify for the program but still can’t afford out-of-pocket costs on the marketplace. When he was governor, McAuliffe vetoed Republican legislation that would have limited abortion access. If reelected, McAuliffe plans to incorporate Roe v. Wade into Virginia’s constitution to guarantee that abortion access is protected.

McAuliffe is running against multimillionaire Republican Glenn Youngkin, the former president of Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private equity firms. Youngkin wants to channel the state’s money from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to fund private schools. Youngkin has admitted that he opposes abortion access and will work to dismantle protections for reproductive freedom in the Commonwealth. Youngkin is also against making health coverage more affordable in Virginia.

McAuliffe is also facing a challenge from activist and educator Princess Blanding, an Independent candidate. Blanding is the sister of Marcus David-Peters, a young Black man who was killed by police in 2018. Blanding wants to hold police accountable by ending qualified immunity and shifting funding away from police departments to invest in community services. She also wants to make health coverage more affordable by creating a public healthcare system.

Due to his record in providing leadership for the Commonwealth and his support of Virginia working families, the environment, affordable health coverage, and reproductive rights, Terry McAuliffe is the most progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Democratic candidate for governor, Terry McAuliffe, was the 72nd Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia from 2014 to 2018. McAuliffe was unable to seek reelection in 2017 due to a state law that bars sitting governors from serving consecutive terms. McAuliffe attended The Catholic University of America and Georgetown University Law Center. A lifelong businessman and entrepreneur, McAuliffe has lived in Fairfax County for more than 20 years with his wife, Dorothy. The couple has raised five children together.

McAuliffe is centering his campaign on building a strong Virginia economy that works for everyone. He plans to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024, two years ahead of the current schedule. He wants to require employers to provide paid sick days along with paid family and medical leave to all workers. Because Virginia is the 10th most expensive state for childcare in the country, McAuliffe wants to assist families burdened with childcare costs by providing subsidies, funneling federal money to families, and making it easier for people to qualify for assistance.

McAuliffe plans to invest $2 billion in Virginia’s education system every year so that teachers are paid above the national average, children have access to universal pre-K, and every student can get online. To make college more affordable to students, McAuliffe will offer more financial aid and expand on current Governor Ralph Northam’s program that makes community college free to low- and middle-income students studying in certain fields. McAuliffe also wants to boost enrollment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities by providing free tuition to students who promise to teach for five years in the state’s high-need areas.

While serving as Governor of Virginia, McAuliffe took action to reduce carbon emissions in the state and received a $120.5 million federal grant to combat the rising sea level on Virginia’s coast. He wants Virginia to reach 100% clean energy by 2035 and make access to clean energy and transportation infrastructure more affordable by providing subsidies for solar usage and public transit construction. McAuliffe also plans to address the racial impacts of climate change by providing funding to communities hit by extreme heat and rising sea levels.

McAuliffe pushed for Medicaid expansion during his first term and wants to increase access to affordable healthcare by supporting Virginia’s plan to create a state-run health insurance marketplace. He backs lowering prescription drug costs, reducing health insurance premiums, and creating a Medicaid buy-in option for people who make too much to qualify for the program but still can’t afford out-of-pocket costs on the marketplace. When he was governor, McAuliffe vetoed Republican legislation that would have limited abortion access. If reelected, McAuliffe plans to incorporate Roe v. Wade into Virginia’s constitution to guarantee that abortion access is protected.

McAuliffe is running against multimillionaire Republican Glenn Youngkin, the former president of Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private equity firms. Youngkin wants to channel the state’s money from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to fund private schools. Youngkin has admitted that he opposes abortion access and will work to dismantle protections for reproductive freedom in the Commonwealth. Youngkin is also against making health coverage more affordable in Virginia.

McAuliffe is also facing a challenge from activist and educator Princess Blanding, an Independent candidate. Blanding is the sister of Marcus David-Peters, a young Black man who was killed by police in 2018. Blanding wants to hold police accountable by ending qualified immunity and shifting funding away from police departments to invest in community services. She also wants to make health coverage more affordable by creating a public healthcare system.

Due to his record in providing leadership for the Commonwealth and his support of Virginia working families, the environment, affordable health coverage, and reproductive rights, Terry McAuliffe is the most progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Lieutenant Governor

Hala Ayala photo
Democrat

Hala Ayala

Website Facebook (Twitter)

The daughter of a Salvadorian and North African immigrant father and a Lebanese and Irish mother, Delegate Hala Ayala was one of the first Latina women elected to the House of Delegates, having one her first election to represent the 51st District in 2017. She worked for over 20 years as a cybersecurity specialist and is the single mother of two grown children. If chosen by voters to be the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Ayala will be the first woman and Afro-Latina to do so.

Affordable access to healthcare is a central focus for Ayala. As a first-time mother, Ayala depended on Medicaid to give her son life-saving care. In 2018, Ayala voted to expand Medicaid to 400,000 Virginians. In 2020, she co-patroned legislation to cap the cost of insulin in the state. In 2021, she voted to make the cost of prescription drugs transparent and to boost Virginia’s capacity to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. She also wants to reduce Black maternal mortality and create a universal paid family and medical leave program in the Commonwealth.

As a graduate of Prince William County schools, Ayala believes that a well-funded education system is critical to a thriving Commonwealth. In 2021, she voted to increase teachers’ salaries by 5%. She also supported the “Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back (G3) Fund and Program, which provides free community college to low- and middle-income students who are studying in certain fields. As lieutenant governor, Ayala will prioritize expanding access to pre-K, reducing overcrowding in classrooms, and dedicate more funding to improve school infrastructure.

Recognizing the climate crisis as a national security threat, Ayala believes the state needs to play a bigger role in addressing the impacts of climate change. She co-patroned the Virginia Clean Economy Act in 2020, which will eliminate carbon emissions in the Commonwealth by 2050. She also wants to dedicate more funding to communities dealing firsthand with the effects of climate change, believing that solutions to the crisis must be created with racial equity in mind.

Ayala personally understands how hard it is for families to make ends meet. Her family struggled financially when she was a child, and she worked and raised children while obtaining her degree. In 2020, Ayala voted to raise the state’s minimum wage. She supports making paid family and medical leave available to all Virginia working families. In 2021, she voted to strengthen the rights of tenants and protect them from eviction during the pandemic. She also sponsored legislation to protect workers during the pandemic by requiring employers to provide them with personal protective equipment and hazard pay.

Ayala is running against former delegate Winsome Sears, a Republican who represented Norfolk in the House of Delegates from 2002 to 2003. Sears owns a plumbing and appliance repair store in Winchester. Sears opposes legislation that would make our communities safer from gun violence. She also supports using public money to fund private schools and wants to create deliberate barriers to voting access that make it more difficult for people to participate in our democracy.

Due to her support of affordable health coverage, the environment, public education, and Virginia working families, Delegate Hala Ayala is the most progressive choice for lieutenant governor in Virginia.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

The daughter of a Salvadorian and North African immigrant father and a Lebanese and Irish mother, Delegate Hala Ayala was one of the first Latina women elected to the House of Delegates, having one her first election to represent the 51st District in 2017. She worked for over 20 years as a cybersecurity specialist and is the single mother of two grown children. If chosen by voters to be the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Ayala will be the first woman and Afro-Latina to do so.

Affordable access to healthcare is a central focus for Ayala. As a first-time mother, Ayala depended on Medicaid to give her son life-saving care. In 2018, Ayala voted to expand Medicaid to 400,000 Virginians. In 2020, she co-patroned legislation to cap the cost of insulin in the state. In 2021, she voted to make the cost of prescription drugs transparent and to boost Virginia’s capacity to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. She also wants to reduce Black maternal mortality and create a universal paid family and medical leave program in the Commonwealth.

As a graduate of Prince William County schools, Ayala believes that a well-funded education system is critical to a thriving Commonwealth. In 2021, she voted to increase teachers’ salaries by 5%. She also supported the “Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back (G3) Fund and Program, which provides free community college to low- and middle-income students who are studying in certain fields. As lieutenant governor, Ayala will prioritize expanding access to pre-K, reducing overcrowding in classrooms, and dedicate more funding to improve school infrastructure.

Recognizing the climate crisis as a national security threat, Ayala believes the state needs to play a bigger role in addressing the impacts of climate change. She co-patroned the Virginia Clean Economy Act in 2020, which will eliminate carbon emissions in the Commonwealth by 2050. She also wants to dedicate more funding to communities dealing firsthand with the effects of climate change, believing that solutions to the crisis must be created with racial equity in mind.

Ayala personally understands how hard it is for families to make ends meet. Her family struggled financially when she was a child, and she worked and raised children while obtaining her degree. In 2020, Ayala voted to raise the state’s minimum wage. She supports making paid family and medical leave available to all Virginia working families. In 2021, she voted to strengthen the rights of tenants and protect them from eviction during the pandemic. She also sponsored legislation to protect workers during the pandemic by requiring employers to provide them with personal protective equipment and hazard pay.

Ayala is running against former delegate Winsome Sears, a Republican who represented Norfolk in the House of Delegates from 2002 to 2003. Sears owns a plumbing and appliance repair store in Winchester. Sears opposes legislation that would make our communities safer from gun violence. She also supports using public money to fund private schools and wants to create deliberate barriers to voting access that make it more difficult for people to participate in our democracy.

Due to her support of affordable health coverage, the environment, public education, and Virginia working families, Delegate Hala Ayala is the most progressive choice for lieutenant governor in Virginia.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Attorney General

Mark Herring photo
Democrat

Mark Herring

Website Facebook (Twitter)

Incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring is seeking his third term in office after having been first elected in 2013. Raised by a single mother in Loudoun County, Herring obtained a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Virginia before earning his law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law. He and his wife of 30 years, Laura, raised two children together.

Herring has stood up for access to affordable healthcare by fighting off efforts by the Trump administration to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In 2021, Herring defended the ACA by joining a coalition of 21 attorneys general to argue in front of the U.S. Supreme Court against a lawsuit from the Trump administration that would have dismantled the ACA, protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and Medicaid expansion.

Herring is a champion of reproductive rights and abortion access, and has used his office to support a person’s right to decide when and whether to become a parent. He has signed onto several lawsuits that challenge different states’ restrictive abortion laws. He issued an opinion in 2015 to strike down medically unnecessary Targeted Restrictions on Abortion Providers (TRAP) laws that shuttered women’s health centers in the Commonwealth. In 2019, he successfully filed an injunction against the Trump administration’s efforts to halt contraceptive coverage in health insurance.

Herring has worked to keep our communities safe from gun violence by standing up to the gun lobby. In 2020, he defended two common-sense laws passed by the General Assembly aimed at preventing gun violence, the one-handgun-a-month law, and extended background checks. The same year, he also successfully defended a challenge to Virginia’s extreme risk protection law, which keeps guns out of the hands of people who pose a risk to themselves or others.

During his time in office, Herring has fought to keep the promise of democracy real by protecting access to the ballot box. This year, he applauded the passage of the Voting Rights Act of Virginia and joined other attorneys general in urging Congress to pass safeguards that guarantee people’s rights to participate in our democracy by voting. In 2020, he ensured that voters did not face intimidation while casting their ballots in our fair and free elections. In 2016, he defended a decision from former Governor Terry McAuliffe to restore the rights of returning citizens in the Commonwealth.

Herring is facing a challenge from Delegate Jason Miyares, a conservative Republican who wants to create deliberate barriers to voting access, undermine workers’ rights by keeping Virginia a right-to-work state, and oppose efforts to shift funding away from police budgets to community services. As a delegate, Miyares voted against raising the state’s minimum wage, expanding access to affordable healthcare to hundreds of thousands of Virginians, abolishing the death penalty, and legalizing marijuana. He also opposes abortion access.

Due to his support of access to affordable healthcare, abortion access, gun violence prevention, and voting rights, Attorney General Mark Herring is the most progressive choice for this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring is seeking his third term in office after having been first elected in 2013. Raised by a single mother in Loudoun County, Herring obtained a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Virginia before earning his law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law. He and his wife of 30 years, Laura, raised two children together.

Herring has stood up for access to affordable healthcare by fighting off efforts by the Trump administration to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In 2021, Herring defended the ACA by joining a coalition of 21 attorneys general to argue in front of the U.S. Supreme Court against a lawsuit from the Trump administration that would have dismantled the ACA, protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and Medicaid expansion.

Herring is a champion of reproductive rights and abortion access, and has used his office to support a person’s right to decide when and whether to become a parent. He has signed onto several lawsuits that challenge different states’ restrictive abortion laws. He issued an opinion in 2015 to strike down medically unnecessary Targeted Restrictions on Abortion Providers (TRAP) laws that shuttered women’s health centers in the Commonwealth. In 2019, he successfully filed an injunction against the Trump administration’s efforts to halt contraceptive coverage in health insurance.

Herring has worked to keep our communities safe from gun violence by standing up to the gun lobby. In 2020, he defended two common-sense laws passed by the General Assembly aimed at preventing gun violence, the one-handgun-a-month law, and extended background checks. The same year, he also successfully defended a challenge to Virginia’s extreme risk protection law, which keeps guns out of the hands of people who pose a risk to themselves or others.

During his time in office, Herring has fought to keep the promise of democracy real by protecting access to the ballot box. This year, he applauded the passage of the Voting Rights Act of Virginia and joined other attorneys general in urging Congress to pass safeguards that guarantee people’s rights to participate in our democracy by voting. In 2020, he ensured that voters did not face intimidation while casting their ballots in our fair and free elections. In 2016, he defended a decision from former Governor Terry McAuliffe to restore the rights of returning citizens in the Commonwealth.

Herring is facing a challenge from Delegate Jason Miyares, a conservative Republican who wants to create deliberate barriers to voting access, undermine workers’ rights by keeping Virginia a right-to-work state, and oppose efforts to shift funding away from police budgets to community services. As a delegate, Miyares voted against raising the state’s minimum wage, expanding access to affordable healthcare to hundreds of thousands of Virginians, abolishing the death penalty, and legalizing marijuana. He also opposes abortion access.

Due to his support of access to affordable healthcare, abortion access, gun violence prevention, and voting rights, Attorney General Mark Herring is the most progressive choice for this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

House of Delegates

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below House of Delegate races on your ballot.

House District 003

Delegate

No Good Choices

Incumbent Delegate James Morefield has represented the 3rd District since 2010. He opposes abortion access and common-sense gun violence prevention measures. Because of his support for the fossil fuel industry, he received an F rating from the Virginia Sierra Club. In 2021, Del. Moorefield voted against abolishing the death penalty, affordable abortion coverage, and the Voting Rights Act of Virginia.

Delegate Morefield is running unopposed. There is no progressive choice on the ballot. However, we still encourage you to show up to vote on November 2 by writing in the name of your candidate of choice for this race and voting in the other races on your ballot.

Incumbent Delegate James Morefield has represented the 3rd District since 2010. He opposes abortion access and common-sense gun violence prevention measures. Because of his support for the fossil fuel industry, he received an F rating from the Virginia Sierra Club. In 2021, Del. Moorefield voted against abolishing the death penalty, affordable abortion coverage, and the Voting Rights Act of Virginia.

Delegate Morefield is running unopposed. There is no progressive choice on the ballot. However, we still encourage you to show up to vote on November 2 by writing in the name of your candidate of choice for this race and voting in the other races on your ballot.

House District 004

Delegate

No Good Choices

Delegate William Wampler was elected to the House of Delegates in 2019. Del. Wampler is against a person’s right to decide when and whether to become a parent, opposes clean energy initiatives, and is against common-sense gun violence prevention measures. He voted against raising the minimum wage and driving privilege cards for undocumented immigrants in 2020. This year, Wampler voted against the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, abolishing the death penalty, and legalizing marijuana.

Del. Wampler is running unopposed. There is no progressive choice in this race. However, we still encourage you to show up to vote and write in a name for this race and cast your vote in the other races on your ballot.

Delegate William Wampler was elected to the House of Delegates in 2019. Del. Wampler is against a person’s right to decide when and whether to become a parent, opposes clean energy initiatives, and is against common-sense gun violence prevention measures. He voted against raising the minimum wage and driving privilege cards for undocumented immigrants in 2020. This year, Wampler voted against the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, abolishing the death penalty, and legalizing marijuana.

Del. Wampler is running unopposed. There is no progressive choice in this race. However, we still encourage you to show up to vote and write in a name for this race and cast your vote in the other races on your ballot.

House District 005

Delegate

No Recommendation

Democratic candidate Mathew Matsunaga is running for the 5th District House of Delegates seat. No website associated with his campaign is available and no biographical information is available online.

Matsunaga's Twitter account shows that he supports keeping people in the workforce by implementing paid family and medical leave. He advocates for government policies meant to keep people safe during the pandemic and federal government spending to give working families a financial boost. He stands against xenophobia and supports federal legislation passed to protect Asians from hate crimes during the pandemic. He also wants to overhaul the country’s immigration system by offering a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people.

According to his Twitter account, Matsunaga believes in making the promise of democracy real for us all by expanding access to the ballot. Matsunaga wants to keep communities safe by passing common-sense measures aimed at preventing gun violence. He wants to hold police accountable for the violence they enact on communities by establishing independent citizen review boards and ending qualified immunity. He also supports new laws that went into effect in Virginia in July this year that legalized marijuana, abolished the death penalty, and enacted the Voting Rights Act of Virginia.

Matsunaga has retweeted information showing that he supports policies making our communities welcoming and inclusive by protecting LGBTQ neighbors. He also advocates for making community college accessible to low-income people by lowering tuition rates. He believes that working people should have the guaranteed right to form unions. He supported legislative efforts during the 2021 General Assembly to expand emergency Medicaid coverage to undocumented community members so they could get tested, treated, and vaccinated against COVID-19.

Matsunaga is running against incumbent Delegate Israel O’Quinn (R), who has represented the district since 2012. During his time in office, O’Quinn has opposed abortion access, raising the minimum wage, and allowing municipal employees collective bargaining rights. He also voted against abolishing the death penalty, legalizing marijuana, and expanding affordable health coverage to 400,000 Virginians.

An absence of online information about Matsunaga’s policies or proposals means we cannot guarantee he will make progressive choices. We do not have a recommendation in this race. However, we encourage you to cast your ballot in this election by writing in a candidate of your choosing and voting in the other offices.

Democratic candidate Mathew Matsunaga is running for the 5th District House of Delegates seat. No website associated with his campaign is available and no biographical information is available online.

Matsunaga's Twitter account shows that he supports keeping people in the workforce by implementing paid family and medical leave. He advocates for government policies meant to keep people safe during the pandemic and federal government spending to give working families a financial boost. He stands against xenophobia and supports federal legislation passed to protect Asians from hate crimes during the pandemic. He also wants to overhaul the country’s immigration system by offering a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people.

According to his Twitter account, Matsunaga believes in making the promise of democracy real for us all by expanding access to the ballot. Matsunaga wants to keep communities safe by passing common-sense measures aimed at preventing gun violence. He wants to hold police accountable for the violence they enact on communities by establishing independent citizen review boards and ending qualified immunity. He also supports new laws that went into effect in Virginia in July this year that legalized marijuana, abolished the death penalty, and enacted the Voting Rights Act of Virginia.

Matsunaga has retweeted information showing that he supports policies making our communities welcoming and inclusive by protecting LGBTQ neighbors. He also advocates for making community college accessible to low-income people by lowering tuition rates. He believes that working people should have the guaranteed right to form unions. He supported legislative efforts during the 2021 General Assembly to expand emergency Medicaid coverage to undocumented community members so they could get tested, treated, and vaccinated against COVID-19.

Matsunaga is running against incumbent Delegate Israel O’Quinn (R), who has represented the district since 2012. During his time in office, O’Quinn has opposed abortion access, raising the minimum wage, and allowing municipal employees collective bargaining rights. He also voted against abolishing the death penalty, legalizing marijuana, and expanding affordable health coverage to 400,000 Virginians.

An absence of online information about Matsunaga’s policies or proposals means we cannot guarantee he will make progressive choices. We do not have a recommendation in this race. However, we encourage you to cast your ballot in this election by writing in a candidate of your choosing and voting in the other offices.

House District 014

Delegate

Rhett Deitz photo
Democrat

Rhett Deitz

Website Facebook (Twitter)

Virginia’s new 14th District in the House of Delegates encompasses parts of Fairfax County. With over 53,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.

Rhett Deitz is a small business owner and graduate of James Madison University with a degree in social work. She currently resides on her family’s farm in Henry County, where she also runs a union print shop. She credits her decision to run for office on having witnessed her younger brother struggle with virtual learning due to his lack of affordable internet access during the COVID-19 pandemic. If elected, Dietz would be the third openly LGBTQ woman in Virginia’s legislature.

Deitz wants to strengthen the state’s education system by improving rural access to broadband and changing the way schools are funded in the Commonwealth which currently favors urban and higher-income areas. She also wants to increase funding for Virginia public schools and high school vocational programs as a pathway to good-paying jobs. She supports reducing class size and believes the legislature must work on inequities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deitz supports marijuana legalization and believes that communities ravaged by the Drug War should be first in line to benefit by directing revenue from taxed marijuana to resources for impacted communities. She also wants to expunge the records of individuals with prior marijuana-related offenses. Deitz plans to address mass incarceration in the Commonwealth by ending cash bail, which is the practice that forces people to remain in jail even though they have not been convicted but can’t afford bail to get out.

Deitz wants to keep Virginia communities safe from gun violence by passing common-sense legislation aimed at keeping guns out of the wrong hands. She wants to change the universal background check law so that more time is allowed for the background check, believing that there is not enough turnaround time as the current law is written. Deitz believes a fully-funded public school system is the backbone of communities and wants to increase funding for vocational education.

Deitz sees the economic potential in the transition to clean, renewable energy as a big source of jobs and supports the construction of wind and solar energy infrastructure in the Commonwealth. She believes that the clean energy sector will boost employment opportunities in her district and create a wide range of well-paying jobs. She will work to boost the workforce in her district by funding training programs for clean energy jobs.

Deitz is challenging Republican incumbent Delegate Danny Marshall, who has represented the 14th district since 2002. In 2021, Del. Marshall voted against the legalization of marijuana, the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, and abolishing the death penalty. Marshall is opposed to a person’s right to decide when and whether to become a parent and voted against expanding abortion access in the Commonwealth. He also voted against raising the minimum wage in 2020.

Due to her support for the environment, public education, broadband access, and marijuana legalization, Deitz is the most progressive choice in this election.
Last updated: 2023-04-05

House District 016

Delegate

Chance Trevillian photo
Democrat

Chance Trevillian

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

Virginia’s new 16th District in the House of Delegates encompasses parts of Fairfax County. With almost 55,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.

Chance Trevillian is a first-time political candidate who works as a receptionist at Patrick Henry Community College. He grew up in Axton, Virginia in a low-income household where his mother worked several jobs to make ends meet. He wanted to be an elementary school teacher, but his plans to finish his degree in education were disrupted for financial reasons. Once a conservative, Trevillian shifted to the left after former President Donald Trump’s election in 2016.

Trevillian wants to prioritize improving the state educational system by increasing funding. He wants to boost spending on early education like universal pre-K and incentivize hiring teachers to work in high-need, underserved areas. He hopes to provide financial aid to students pursuing education degrees who committed to teaching for five years at Virginia public schools. He believes that children can thrive more if they have access to nutritious food while at school. He also supports raising teacher pay to attract a talented workforce and prevent turnover.

Trevillian is committed to improving workers’ rights in the Commonwealth by supporting their right to form unions and repealing Virginia’s right-to-work laws. He believes Virginia families deserve dignity by guaranteeing a living wage for all working people and he supports providing paid family and medical leave so that no one has to choose between a paycheck and caring for themselves or a loved one. He also wants to focus on creating jobs and boosting the workforce in his district.

As a low-income person living with a disability, Trevillian understands how hard it is to access affordable healthcare in Virginia. He wants to increase funding to help people living with disabilities and make public spaces in his district more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He also supports lowering prescription drug costs, making sure all Virginians have access to the best providers, and funding mental health services, addiction, and recovery treatment.

Trevillian supports the Black Lives Matter movement, having participated in protests last summer. He wants to hold police accountable for the violence they inflict on communities by ending qualified immunity, a practice that shields police officers from accountability after violating a resident’s rights. He wants to keep our communities safe by passing common-sense legislation aimed at preventing gun violence. He also supports reproductive rights and a person’s right to decide when and whether to become a parent.

Trevillian is running against incumbent Delegate Les Adams, a Republican who has represented the 16th District since 2014. While in office, Adams voted against the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, Medicaid expansion, and the Virginia Clean Economy Act. Delegate Adams also opposes abortion access, marijuana legalization, and abolishing the death penalty.

Due to his support of Virginia working families, access to affordable healthcare, and public education, Trevillian is the most progressive choice in this election.
Last updated: 2023-04-05

House District 017

Delegate

No Good Choices

Incumbent Delegate Chris Head has served in the House of Delegates since 2012. During his time in office, he opposed expanding access to affordable healthcare to hundreds of thousands of Virginians and voted for legislation to prohibit sanctuary cities in the state. He is against common-sense legislation aimed at keeping our communities safe from gun violence. He also voted against raising the minimum wage, legalizing marijuana, and abolishing the death penalty.

Del. Head is running unopposed in this election. There is no progressive choice on the ballot. However, we still encourage you to show up to vote by writing in a name for this race and casting your vote in the other races on your ballot.

Incumbent Delegate Chris Head has served in the House of Delegates since 2012. During his time in office, he opposed expanding access to affordable healthcare to hundreds of thousands of Virginians and voted for legislation to prohibit sanctuary cities in the state. He is against common-sense legislation aimed at keeping our communities safe from gun violence. He also voted against raising the minimum wage, legalizing marijuana, and abolishing the death penalty.

Del. Head is running unopposed in this election. There is no progressive choice on the ballot. However, we still encourage you to show up to vote by writing in a name for this race and casting your vote in the other races on your ballot.

House District 018

Delegate

Dr. Doug Ward photo
Democrat

Dr. Doug Ward

Website Facebook (Twitter)

Virginia’s new 18th District in the House of Delegates encompasses parts of Fairfax County. With almost 61,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.

Dr. Doug Ward is an openly gay, 71-year-old man who has been married to his husband Rev. Earl Johnson for 22 years. His passion for helping others stems from his time spent in Liberia with the Peace Corps, which led him to pursue a career in the medical field. He has spent the last 34 years in private practice in Washington D.C., focusing on infectious diseases and the treatment of HIV and AIDS. As a practicing doctor, a critical part of his campaign focuses on expanding access to affordable healthcare.

Ward supports the expansion of Medicaid to more Virginians so that people in rural areas have access to affordable healthcare. Rural residents face many barriers to access such as lack of transportation, shortages in healthcare facilities, and stigma associated with mental health and substance use issues. Dr. Ward knows that the COVID-19 pandemic has made inequities in healthcare access more apparent and will prioritize bringing much-needed health coverage and healthcare to residents in his district.

Ward believes that the state must invest in broadband infrastructure in rural parts of Virginia as a driving force of educational, economic, and healthcare opportunities. He also wants to expand cell phone coverage in his district. Ward supports raising the minimum wage so families in his district can live with dignity. He believes that investing in clean energy will boost employment opportunities in the area and supports job training programs for the clean energy sector.

Ward supports making the promise of democracy real for us all by expanding voting access so that everyone can participate in our fair and free elections. He also supports the Black Lives Matter movement, holding police accountable for violence inflicted on communities, reproductive rights, and a person’s right to decide when and whether to become a parent. He wants to keep our communities safe by passing common-sense measures aimed at preventing gun violence.

As a member of the LGBTQ community, Ward is passionate about equality. He believes the state has made great strides with passing the Virginia Values Act, the Equal Rights Amendment, and banning “gay panic” defense, a legal strategy that allows the jury to consider a person’s sexual orientation to justify the use of violence. Even though the General Assembly passed a constitutional amendment to appeal the ban on gay marriage in Virginia in 2021, Ward believes the Commonwealth can do more to protect the rights of the LGBTQ community.

Ward is challenging incumbent Delegate Michael J. Webert, who was elected to the House of Delegates in 2011. As delegate, he has voted against expanding access to affordable healthcare, and increasing the minimum wage. He opposes a person’s right to decide when and whether to become a parent. Webert has also voted against the Virginia Clean Economy Act and abolition of the death penalty.

Due to his support for LGBTQ equality, access to affordable healthcare, Virginia working families, and the environment, Dr. Doug Ward is the most progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

House District 019

Delegate

Wendy Rowden photo
Democrat

Wendy Rowden

Website Facebook (Twitter)

Virginia’s new 19th District in the House of Delegates encompasses parts of Prince William County and Fairfax County. With almost 50,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.

Wendy Rowden is a Democratic candidate running for the 19th District seat in the House of Delegates. She works as an insurance adjuster, spending a lot of time traveling around the Commonwealth and meeting families in need of disaster relief. She appreciates that her experience has given her the opportunity to understand the challenges families face. She and her husband have lived in Bedford for 24 years. They have a son who was diagnosed with Asperberger’s Syndrome.

Rowden sees reliable, high-speed Internet access as crucial to the economic and educational success of the region and wants to prioritize expanding broadband access to every home in the district. She wants to fix rural cell phone service by increasing the number of towers in the area. Rowden believes in supporting Virginia families by providing affordable housing options in the district. She promises to address increasing transportation costs and strained infrastructure throughout the district.

Rowden understands the urgency of the climate crisis and believes that the legislature should take action to immediately protect the environment and invest in clean energy such as solar and offshore wind projects. She supports a carbon tax as a way of deterring businesses from relying on fossil fuel energy. She wants to bring an Amtrak stop to Bedford so that the district is connected to regional public transit to reduce pollution and traffic congestion. She also wants to incentivize Virginia residents to use clean energy sources for their homes by providing subsidies.

Rowden believes that strong schools are the backbone to every community and wants to increase revenue for the district so that our schools receive more funding. She wants to increase funding for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs so students in the district can compete for quality jobs. She agrees with providing low- and middle-income residents with opportunities to learn new skills and obtain higher degrees with initiatives like the Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back “G3” program.

Rowden advocates for making the promise of democracy real for us all by expanding access to the ballot. She wants to keep our communities safe by passing common-sense measures aimed at preventing gun violence. Rowden believes in reforming the criminal justice system by changing the way people are sentenced for crimes and better training for police officers. She supports government efforts to keep people safe during the pandemic with mask requirements. She also backs the right of working people to unionize.

Rowden is running against Libertarian candidate Dean Davidson from Stewartsville. He opposes keeping communities safe by passing common-sense gun violence prevention measures and raising revenue in the state. He is against mask requirements at public schools and wants to impose term limits on state lawmakers. Davidson does not support protecting a person’s right to abortion access.

Rowden is also challenging incumbent Delegate Terry Austin (R), who has represented the 19th District since 2014. He opposes lifting families out of poverty by raising the minimum wage. In 2021, he voted against the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, abolishing the death penalty, and legalizing marijuana. Austin does not support passing gun violence prevention legislation.

Due to her support of the environment, working families, expanding access to voting, public education, and criminal justice reform, Wendy Rowden is the most progressive choice in this election.
Last updated: 2023-04-05

City of Alexandria

Alexandria Sheriff

Sean Casey photo
Democrat

Sean Casey

Website Facebook Endorsements

Captain Sean Casey, a Democrat, is running to be Alexandria’s next sheriff. Casey was born in Alexandria and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Virginia Tech. He joined the Alexandria Police Department following college. In 2017, he joined the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, where he was promoted to Captain. He is a member of the Alexandria Democratic Committee and co-chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee Labor Caucus. He lives with his wife and two daughters in the Brookville-Seminary Valley neighborhood.

Casey has worked to improve the quality of life for inmates at Alexandria’s jails. During the pandemic, as director of the Administrative Services Division, he worked to ensure all inmates and staff had access to testing and vaccinations. He worked to implement more access to free phone calls for inmates and personal items. He supports increased access to education and technology while incarcerated, including Life Learning, Life Skills, GED, and ESL. He would like to implement vocational and work release programs for inmates.


Casey supports increasing alternatives to incarceration. He is committed to maintaining the office’s partnership with Alexandria Treatment Court, which diverts individuals with substance abuse disorders out of the traditional justice system. He also supports the City’s Opioid Working Group, the Community Services Board, and the Community Criminal Justice Board. He supports Crisis Intervention Training which works to teach officers how to respond to mental health crises and keep citizens with mental illnesses safe during interactions with law enforcement.

If elected, Casey plans to prioritize developing a racial equity action plan for the office. Following the murder of George Floyd, Casey joined an advisory group comprised of sheriff’s office employees and community members that overhauled the office’s use of force policies and procedures. He’s also a member of the Office’s “Let’s Talk Diversity” group and serves as an “equity leader” in the City’s “Race and Social Equity Commitment” program. He would like to recruit and maintain a diverse group of officers and would evaluate the office’s hiring policies.

Casey understands that education is critical to ensuring that officers are able to interact with diverse populations. He has helped implement implicit bias training, autism awareness education, and use of force and de-escalation training for all law enforcement officers in the Alexandria Sheriff’s Department. He would like to further increase the cultural diversity education that officers receive. Additionally, Casey support’s the labor rights of his employees. He is a former union president and while working at the sheriff’s office helped implement pay raises and more paid time off for employees, as well as securing a 25-year retirement program.

Casey is running unopposed. However, his support for criminal justice reforms makes him a progressive choice in this election.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Captain Sean Casey, a Democrat, is running to be Alexandria’s next sheriff. Casey was born in Alexandria and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Virginia Tech. He joined the Alexandria Police Department following college. In 2017, he joined the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, where he was promoted to Captain. He is a member of the Alexandria Democratic Committee and co-chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee Labor Caucus. He lives with his wife and two daughters in the Brookville-Seminary Valley neighborhood.

Casey has worked to improve the quality of life for inmates at Alexandria’s jails. During the pandemic, as director of the Administrative Services Division, he worked to ensure all inmates and staff had access to testing and vaccinations. He worked to implement more access to free phone calls for inmates and personal items. He supports increased access to education and technology while incarcerated, including Life Learning, Life Skills, GED, and ESL. He would like to implement vocational and work release programs for inmates.


Casey supports increasing alternatives to incarceration. He is committed to maintaining the office’s partnership with Alexandria Treatment Court, which diverts individuals with substance abuse disorders out of the traditional justice system. He also supports the City’s Opioid Working Group, the Community Services Board, and the Community Criminal Justice Board. He supports Crisis Intervention Training which works to teach officers how to respond to mental health crises and keep citizens with mental illnesses safe during interactions with law enforcement.

If elected, Casey plans to prioritize developing a racial equity action plan for the office. Following the murder of George Floyd, Casey joined an advisory group comprised of sheriff’s office employees and community members that overhauled the office’s use of force policies and procedures. He’s also a member of the Office’s “Let’s Talk Diversity” group and serves as an “equity leader” in the City’s “Race and Social Equity Commitment” program. He would like to recruit and maintain a diverse group of officers and would evaluate the office’s hiring policies.

Casey understands that education is critical to ensuring that officers are able to interact with diverse populations. He has helped implement implicit bias training, autism awareness education, and use of force and de-escalation training for all law enforcement officers in the Alexandria Sheriff’s Department. He would like to further increase the cultural diversity education that officers receive. Additionally, Casey support’s the labor rights of his employees. He is a former union president and while working at the sheriff’s office helped implement pay raises and more paid time off for employees, as well as securing a 25-year retirement program.

Casey is running unopposed. However, his support for criminal justice reforms makes him a progressive choice in this election.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Alexandria Mayor

Justin Wilson photo
Democrat

Justin Wilson

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

Incumbent Justin Wilson was first elected as mayor in November 2018. Before his election, Wilson served on the city council for eight years, including three years as Alexandria’s vice mayor. He obtained a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. Wilson currently serves as a senior director at Amtrak. He and his wife currently reside in the Del Ray neighborhood with their two children.

During his years on the city council, Wilson emphasized the need to invest more in the city’s infrastructure. During his term as mayor, he has made several accomplishments, including securing funding for West End Transitway and the construction of the Potomac Yard Metro Station. He was also able to update fire stations, schools, and recreational facilities. He expanded the “Complete Streets” initiatives to improve pedestrian safety. Wilson will continue to push for budgets that address Alexandria’s infrastructural needs, including upgrading the stormwater system to address flooding issues in the city.

As mayor, Wilson will push for initiatives that will help improve early childhood education opportunities. He has successfully expanded access to quality preschool programs in the area by offering universal pre-K. Wilson has also increased funding to schools to address growing enrollment numbers. He was part of efforts that allowed Alexandria City Public Schools to safely reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Wilson also supported ending the school’s school resource officer program and diverting funding to a teen wellness center.

Wilson also wants to continue addressing racial inequities in Alexandria. He has worked with other members of the city council to create a community police review board as well as a co-response pilot program that would send mental health professionals along with police officers to respond to mental health-related emergencies. Wilson and his staff have also begun to tackle zoning and land-use policies that have segregated the city.

He is also focused on efforts that will help individuals and small businesses recover from the pandemic. Wilson has worked to accelerate economic growth in the city and address growing housing needs. He has worked with new public and private partnerships that would provide more affordable housing to the region. He has also worked to redevelop the Landmark mall site, increase access to broadband, and open public access to the city’s waterfront.

Incumbent Mayor Justin Wilson is facing a challenge from Republican candidate Annetta Catchings, a former American Airlines flight attendant of 34 years, and currently serves as co-director of a nonprofit focused on education. She opposes the city’s guaranteed income program and is openly against the removal of Confederate monuments. Catchings does not support government measures to protect communities during the pandemic.

Due to his support of increased funding for infrastructure, public education, addressing racial inequities in the city, and pandemic recovery, Wilson is the most progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2024-09-25

Incumbent Justin Wilson was first elected as mayor in November 2018. Before his election, Wilson served on the city council for eight years, including three years as Alexandria’s vice mayor. He obtained a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. Wilson currently serves as a senior director at Amtrak. He and his wife currently reside in the Del Ray neighborhood with their two children.

During his years on the city council, Wilson emphasized the need to invest more in the city’s infrastructure. During his term as mayor, he has made several accomplishments, including securing funding for West End Transitway and the construction of the Potomac Yard Metro Station. He was also able to update fire stations, schools, and recreational facilities. He expanded the “Complete Streets” initiatives to improve pedestrian safety. Wilson will continue to push for budgets that address Alexandria’s infrastructural needs, including upgrading the stormwater system to address flooding issues in the city.

As mayor, Wilson will push for initiatives that will help improve early childhood education opportunities. He has successfully expanded access to quality preschool programs in the area by offering universal pre-K. Wilson has also increased funding to schools to address growing enrollment numbers. He was part of efforts that allowed Alexandria City Public Schools to safely reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Wilson also supported ending the school’s school resource officer program and diverting funding to a teen wellness center.

Wilson also wants to continue addressing racial inequities in Alexandria. He has worked with other members of the city council to create a community police review board as well as a co-response pilot program that would send mental health professionals along with police officers to respond to mental health-related emergencies. Wilson and his staff have also begun to tackle zoning and land-use policies that have segregated the city.

He is also focused on efforts that will help individuals and small businesses recover from the pandemic. Wilson has worked to accelerate economic growth in the city and address growing housing needs. He has worked with new public and private partnerships that would provide more affordable housing to the region. He has also worked to redevelop the Landmark mall site, increase access to broadband, and open public access to the city’s waterfront.

Incumbent Mayor Justin Wilson is facing a challenge from Republican candidate Annetta Catchings, a former American Airlines flight attendant of 34 years, and currently serves as co-director of a nonprofit focused on education. She opposes the city’s guaranteed income program and is openly against the removal of Confederate monuments. Catchings does not support government measures to protect communities during the pandemic.

Due to his support of increased funding for infrastructure, public education, addressing racial inequities in the city, and pandemic recovery, Wilson is the most progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2024-09-25

Alexandria City Council (top 6 vote getters)

Alyia Gaskins photo
Democrat

Alyia Gaskins

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

Alyia Gaskins grew up in Pittsburgh and earned her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University. She received her master’s degree in public health from the University of Pittsburgh and recently completed a master’s degree in urban planning from Georgetown University. Gaskins currently works as a senior program officer at Melville Charitable Trust, a national philanthropic organization. She is an Emerge Virginia and the New Leaders Council graduate. She and her husband welcomed their first child last year.

If elected, Gaskins wants to address the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black and Brown communities. She sees recovery from the pandemic as a unique opportunity to discuss historical inequities in Alexandria. She plans to boost community engagement with city council by making sure the voices of people of color are heard and advocates for increased transparency so residents understand how decisions are made. She also wants to support city workers as the city discusses collective bargaining rights for municipal employees.

As a member of the city council, Gaskins will work to address educational and social inequities in the city. She will push for initiatives that provide quality, affordable childcare to working families, including the development of a program to identify and support informal providers with grants, free or subsidized training, and tax credits. Gaskins will work with educators and businesses to find funding to invest in educational infrastructure. She also hopes to collaborate with local companies to develop workforce readiness programs that will give youth access to high-paying, quality jobs following graduation.

Gaskins also plans to address the increasing costs of living and affordable housing crisis in the city. She will push for housing developments that are more inclusive of Alexandria’s diverse age community and income levels. She wants to modernize older buildings, making them safer and healthier for residents. Gaskins will actively work to expand homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents. She advocates building upon the work of the Alexandria Eviction Prevention Partnership to expand its current operations.

Gaskins is committed to addressing the consequences of climate change in Alexandria. If elected to the council, she will abide by the commitments in the Environmental Action Plan as environmental policies are created and enforced. She will support initiatives that call for more community engagement in creating environmental policies and hopes to address the intersection of Black and Brown communities and environmental justice. With the addition of more housing developments, Gaskins supports green building and clean energy options for citizens and commercial buildings. She hopes to collaborate with local businesses to reduce private-sector carbon emissions.

Due to her support of working families, public education, the environment, racial and social equity, Gaskins is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Alyia Gaskins grew up in Pittsburgh and earned her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University. She received her master’s degree in public health from the University of Pittsburgh and recently completed a master’s degree in urban planning from Georgetown University. Gaskins currently works as a senior program officer at Melville Charitable Trust, a national philanthropic organization. She is an Emerge Virginia and the New Leaders Council graduate. She and her husband welcomed their first child last year.

If elected, Gaskins wants to address the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black and Brown communities. She sees recovery from the pandemic as a unique opportunity to discuss historical inequities in Alexandria. She plans to boost community engagement with city council by making sure the voices of people of color are heard and advocates for increased transparency so residents understand how decisions are made. She also wants to support city workers as the city discusses collective bargaining rights for municipal employees.

As a member of the city council, Gaskins will work to address educational and social inequities in the city. She will push for initiatives that provide quality, affordable childcare to working families, including the development of a program to identify and support informal providers with grants, free or subsidized training, and tax credits. Gaskins will work with educators and businesses to find funding to invest in educational infrastructure. She also hopes to collaborate with local companies to develop workforce readiness programs that will give youth access to high-paying, quality jobs following graduation.

Gaskins also plans to address the increasing costs of living and affordable housing crisis in the city. She will push for housing developments that are more inclusive of Alexandria’s diverse age community and income levels. She wants to modernize older buildings, making them safer and healthier for residents. Gaskins will actively work to expand homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents. She advocates building upon the work of the Alexandria Eviction Prevention Partnership to expand its current operations.

Gaskins is committed to addressing the consequences of climate change in Alexandria. If elected to the council, she will abide by the commitments in the Environmental Action Plan as environmental policies are created and enforced. She will support initiatives that call for more community engagement in creating environmental policies and hopes to address the intersection of Black and Brown communities and environmental justice. With the addition of more housing developments, Gaskins supports green building and clean energy options for citizens and commercial buildings. She hopes to collaborate with local businesses to reduce private-sector carbon emissions.

Due to her support of working families, public education, the environment, racial and social equity, Gaskins is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05
Amy Jackson photo
Democrat

Amy Jackson

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

Incumbent Amy Jackson is seeking reelection to her second term on the Alexandria City Council. A native of Alexandria, she earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from Virginia Tech and two master’s degrees in education from George Mason University. Jackson worked as an educator in Fairfax County Schools for 16 years. She serves on multiple committees and boards, including the Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission, and the INOVA Alexandria Hospital Task Force. She and her family reside in the Seminary Hill neighborhood.

Jackson is making recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic a priority and understands the racial disparities involved in the response to the pandemic. Jackson pursued passing a mask mandate ordinance in the city before Governor Ralph Northam had issued one for the state. She supports requiring vaccination for all city employees and public school employees. Jackson also advocates for keeping our communities safe from gun violence and pushed for an ordinance that prohibits firearms on city property.

Jackson plans to continue centering race and social equity in every issue she considers as a council member. She promises to fund much-needed social programs geared toward services like women’s issues, mental health, and youth at risk. During her time on Council, she has advocated for “All Alexandria,” a resolution that commits the city to racial and social equity. She supports holding police accountable for abusing its power by establishing a citizen review board and body cameras for police officers.

As a former educator, Jackson understands that strong schools are the backbone to thriving communities and is committed to fully funding Alexandria’s public education system. Seeing that the pandemic exposed the lack of access to the Internet, she advocates for the creation of a municipal broadband network. She will address obtaining more funding for Pre-K programs and investing in declining school infrastructure. She believes that getting to the root of Alexandria’s achievement gap involves understanding how educational inequalities start in kindergarten.

Jackson wants working families to live with dignity in Alexandria and supports the collective bargaining rights of municipal employees. She wants to encourage the construction of affordable housing units by getting rid of a waiver that incentivizes developers not to build affordable housing. She also believes in securing housing for the city’s aging population and homeless community members. She supports the use of co-location to build affordable housing on school property.

Due to her support of working families, public education, the environment, racial and social equity, Jackson is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Incumbent Amy Jackson is seeking reelection to her second term on the Alexandria City Council. A native of Alexandria, she earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from Virginia Tech and two master’s degrees in education from George Mason University. Jackson worked as an educator in Fairfax County Schools for 16 years. She serves on multiple committees and boards, including the Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission, and the INOVA Alexandria Hospital Task Force. She and her family reside in the Seminary Hill neighborhood.

Jackson is making recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic a priority and understands the racial disparities involved in the response to the pandemic. Jackson pursued passing a mask mandate ordinance in the city before Governor Ralph Northam had issued one for the state. She supports requiring vaccination for all city employees and public school employees. Jackson also advocates for keeping our communities safe from gun violence and pushed for an ordinance that prohibits firearms on city property.

Jackson plans to continue centering race and social equity in every issue she considers as a council member. She promises to fund much-needed social programs geared toward services like women’s issues, mental health, and youth at risk. During her time on Council, she has advocated for “All Alexandria,” a resolution that commits the city to racial and social equity. She supports holding police accountable for abusing its power by establishing a citizen review board and body cameras for police officers.

As a former educator, Jackson understands that strong schools are the backbone to thriving communities and is committed to fully funding Alexandria’s public education system. Seeing that the pandemic exposed the lack of access to the Internet, she advocates for the creation of a municipal broadband network. She will address obtaining more funding for Pre-K programs and investing in declining school infrastructure. She believes that getting to the root of Alexandria’s achievement gap involves understanding how educational inequalities start in kindergarten.

Jackson wants working families to live with dignity in Alexandria and supports the collective bargaining rights of municipal employees. She wants to encourage the construction of affordable housing units by getting rid of a waiver that incentivizes developers not to build affordable housing. She also believes in securing housing for the city’s aging population and homeless community members. She supports the use of co-location to build affordable housing on school property.

Due to her support of working families, public education, the environment, racial and social equity, Jackson is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05
Canek Aguirre photo
Democrat

Canek Aguirre

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

Canek Aguirre was first elected to Alexandria City Council in November 2018, making him its first Latino representative. He holds several leadership positions in the city council, including vice-chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), Alternate Director of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), and chair of Alexandria’s 2020 Census Complete Count Committee. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Canek lives in the West End.

A primary concern of Councilman Aguirre is the affordable housing problem in Alexandria. He supports various options to create more housing opportunities, including colocation on school grounds, which involves building affordable housing units on school property. Aguirre has actively worked during the pandemic to address affordability issues by helping form the Alexandria Eviction Prevention Task Force. Prior to being elected, Canek served as president of Tenants and Workers United and chair of Alexandria’s Economic Opportunities Commission, where he worked to ensure Alexandria remained affordable for families across the city.

Aguirre will continue his efforts to improve access to healthcare in the city. He voted to reallocate funds from the school resource officer program to a new teen wellness center program, which will provide schools with mental health resources such as mentoring, nurses, and therapists. The councilman has also been a key factor in prioritizing multilingual information and multilingual healthcare workers for residents. Aguirre believes that health encompasses more than just physical well-being. He has put into place efforts to address emotional and environmental health as well by supporting infrastructure that would promote pedestrian safety and address climate change.

The son of a retired school teacher, Aguirre advocates for quality education for all students. The councilman has pushed for budgets that provide more funding for school resources and infrastructure. Aguirre wants to reduce overcrowding in schools and guarantee students’ access to the Internet. He supports increasing teacher wages and will work to retain the most qualified educators for students. He continues to address the growing achievement gap in the Alexandria school system and disproportionate suspension rates amongst Black and Brown students.

Aguirre is working to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic by pushing for equitable responses to the racial disparities in healthcare. In addition to his work on the Eviction Prevention Task Force, Aguirre voted to provide housing and rental assistance to those in need. He prioritized small businesses by approving additional funding and grants to entrepreneurs. Aguirre said that in his next term he hopes to continue working toward equity in language access, vaccine distribution, transportation, and identification of women and minority-owned small businesses for COVID-19 funding.

Due to his support of working families, public education, the environment, racial and social equity, Aguirre is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Canek Aguirre was first elected to Alexandria City Council in November 2018, making him its first Latino representative. He holds several leadership positions in the city council, including vice-chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), Alternate Director of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), and chair of Alexandria’s 2020 Census Complete Count Committee. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Canek lives in the West End.

A primary concern of Councilman Aguirre is the affordable housing problem in Alexandria. He supports various options to create more housing opportunities, including colocation on school grounds, which involves building affordable housing units on school property. Aguirre has actively worked during the pandemic to address affordability issues by helping form the Alexandria Eviction Prevention Task Force. Prior to being elected, Canek served as president of Tenants and Workers United and chair of Alexandria’s Economic Opportunities Commission, where he worked to ensure Alexandria remained affordable for families across the city.

Aguirre will continue his efforts to improve access to healthcare in the city. He voted to reallocate funds from the school resource officer program to a new teen wellness center program, which will provide schools with mental health resources such as mentoring, nurses, and therapists. The councilman has also been a key factor in prioritizing multilingual information and multilingual healthcare workers for residents. Aguirre believes that health encompasses more than just physical well-being. He has put into place efforts to address emotional and environmental health as well by supporting infrastructure that would promote pedestrian safety and address climate change.

The son of a retired school teacher, Aguirre advocates for quality education for all students. The councilman has pushed for budgets that provide more funding for school resources and infrastructure. Aguirre wants to reduce overcrowding in schools and guarantee students’ access to the Internet. He supports increasing teacher wages and will work to retain the most qualified educators for students. He continues to address the growing achievement gap in the Alexandria school system and disproportionate suspension rates amongst Black and Brown students.

Aguirre is working to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic by pushing for equitable responses to the racial disparities in healthcare. In addition to his work on the Eviction Prevention Task Force, Aguirre voted to provide housing and rental assistance to those in need. He prioritized small businesses by approving additional funding and grants to entrepreneurs. Aguirre said that in his next term he hopes to continue working toward equity in language access, vaccine distribution, transportation, and identification of women and minority-owned small businesses for COVID-19 funding.

Due to his support of working families, public education, the environment, racial and social equity, Aguirre is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05
John Chapman photo
Democrat

John Chapman

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

John Chapman was first elected to Alexandria City Council in 2012 and is currently seeking his fourth term. His family has lived in Alexandria for four generations. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in social studies education from Saint Olaf College. Chapman works as an educator in Fairfax County Public Schools and owns Manumission Tour Company. Before serving on the city council, Chapman was president of the Alexandria NAACP. He and his wife currently live in the Taylor Run neighborhood with their son.

As an educator and council member, Chapman has experience working on budget advisory committees for the city and the school system. He believes more funding could attract more teachers, hire more teachers, and invest in the system’s infrastructure needs. His plans include providing more apprenticeship opportunities for Alexandria City Public Schools students by partnering with local private businesses. He advocates for increased access to pre-K education and after-school education opportunities. He supports safely reopening city schools based on the advice from health experts and in compliance with Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

During his three terms on the city council, Chapman fought for more affordable housing by supporting the Alexandria Housing and Redevelopment Authority’s (ARHA) efforts to increase the number of affordable housing units. Chapman believes the city should demand more from developers to guarantee the construction of affordable units. Recognizing that many working-class residents cannot afford the cost of living in the city, Chapman has promised to devote more resources to homeownership and expand the city’s Homebuyer Program.

As a small business owner, Chapman understands that local businesses were hit hard by the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. He wants to assemble a Small Business Recovery Task Force to create a policy framework aimed at helping the local economy regain its footing. He is interested in working with local financial institutions to expand access to capital for small businesses. Chapman will continue to push for training and workforce development programs to provide residents with skills, training, and entrepreneurial support.

Chapman advocates for updating the city’s aging infrastructure with an emphasis on the sewer system, transportation, and school facilities. He also wants to refocus efforts on developing digital infrastructure. He believes the city can pay for the upgrades by shifting the burden of revenue from residential property owners to commercial property owners. He wants to make the city more pedestrian-friendly, and improve transportation options for those who work and live in Alexandria and in neighboring communities.

Due to his support of working families, public education, the environment, racial and social equity, Chapman is a progressive choice in this election.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

John Chapman was first elected to Alexandria City Council in 2012 and is currently seeking his fourth term. His family has lived in Alexandria for four generations. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in social studies education from Saint Olaf College. Chapman works as an educator in Fairfax County Public Schools and owns Manumission Tour Company. Before serving on the city council, Chapman was president of the Alexandria NAACP. He and his wife currently live in the Taylor Run neighborhood with their son.

As an educator and council member, Chapman has experience working on budget advisory committees for the city and the school system. He believes more funding could attract more teachers, hire more teachers, and invest in the system’s infrastructure needs. His plans include providing more apprenticeship opportunities for Alexandria City Public Schools students by partnering with local private businesses. He advocates for increased access to pre-K education and after-school education opportunities. He supports safely reopening city schools based on the advice from health experts and in compliance with Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

During his three terms on the city council, Chapman fought for more affordable housing by supporting the Alexandria Housing and Redevelopment Authority’s (ARHA) efforts to increase the number of affordable housing units. Chapman believes the city should demand more from developers to guarantee the construction of affordable units. Recognizing that many working-class residents cannot afford the cost of living in the city, Chapman has promised to devote more resources to homeownership and expand the city’s Homebuyer Program.

As a small business owner, Chapman understands that local businesses were hit hard by the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. He wants to assemble a Small Business Recovery Task Force to create a policy framework aimed at helping the local economy regain its footing. He is interested in working with local financial institutions to expand access to capital for small businesses. Chapman will continue to push for training and workforce development programs to provide residents with skills, training, and entrepreneurial support.

Chapman advocates for updating the city’s aging infrastructure with an emphasis on the sewer system, transportation, and school facilities. He also wants to refocus efforts on developing digital infrastructure. He believes the city can pay for the upgrades by shifting the burden of revenue from residential property owners to commercial property owners. He wants to make the city more pedestrian-friendly, and improve transportation options for those who work and live in Alexandria and in neighboring communities.

Due to his support of working families, public education, the environment, racial and social equity, Chapman is a progressive choice in this election.

Last updated: 2023-04-05
Kirk McPike photo
Democrat

Kirk McPike

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

Originally from Texas, Kirk McPike earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and his master’s degree from George Mason University. He came to live in Alexandria to work on a state senator’s campaign for office and is currently the chief of staff to Congressman Mark Takano. He previously served as chair of the Alexandria Economic Opportunities Commission, which supports low-income residents of the city. McPike and his husband reside in the Seminary Hill neighborhood of Alexandria with their beagle.

If elected, McPike will prioritize the city’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. He advocates for supporting businesses to recover lost revenue and restoring the social safety net so people can rely on the government more. He supports using federal funds to pay for equity initiatives and improved infrastructure. He agrees that the city needs to expand broadband access, but believes the city could offer different choices for consumers beyond just a municipal broadband infrastructure.

McPike wants to guarantee access to affordable housing that reflects the city’s diverse needs in an eco-friendly way. He is committed to finding diverse solutions to affordable housing, including investing in affordable purchasable units and subsidizing rent. McPike also supports developing affordable assisted living facilities in the city so senior residents aren’t pushed out by skyrocketing housing costs.

McPike sees that the city’s problems with flooding are worsened by climate change and believes the city should act more quickly to address the issue. He believes that funding can be pulled from outside sources to address this problem rather than residential taxpayer dollars. He believes that using money sources such as the American Rescue Plan and federal and state dollars will expedite the process to improve Alexandria’s sewer system.

McPike believes that transparency and communication are essential parts of government. He believes that Alexandria’s government has disconnected from its residence. As a member of the City Council will push for fully open communication between the city and its residents. He plans to hold virtual and physical town hall meetings in which all citizens may voice their concerns. By restoring trust between residents and local government, McPike believes the policymaking process will be more efficient.

Due to his support of working families, public education, the environment, racial and social equity, McPike is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Originally from Texas, Kirk McPike earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and his master’s degree from George Mason University. He came to live in Alexandria to work on a state senator’s campaign for office and is currently the chief of staff to Congressman Mark Takano. He previously served as chair of the Alexandria Economic Opportunities Commission, which supports low-income residents of the city. McPike and his husband reside in the Seminary Hill neighborhood of Alexandria with their beagle.

If elected, McPike will prioritize the city’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. He advocates for supporting businesses to recover lost revenue and restoring the social safety net so people can rely on the government more. He supports using federal funds to pay for equity initiatives and improved infrastructure. He agrees that the city needs to expand broadband access, but believes the city could offer different choices for consumers beyond just a municipal broadband infrastructure.

McPike wants to guarantee access to affordable housing that reflects the city’s diverse needs in an eco-friendly way. He is committed to finding diverse solutions to affordable housing, including investing in affordable purchasable units and subsidizing rent. McPike also supports developing affordable assisted living facilities in the city so senior residents aren’t pushed out by skyrocketing housing costs.

McPike sees that the city’s problems with flooding are worsened by climate change and believes the city should act more quickly to address the issue. He believes that funding can be pulled from outside sources to address this problem rather than residential taxpayer dollars. He believes that using money sources such as the American Rescue Plan and federal and state dollars will expedite the process to improve Alexandria’s sewer system.

McPike believes that transparency and communication are essential parts of government. He believes that Alexandria’s government has disconnected from its residence. As a member of the City Council will push for fully open communication between the city and its residents. He plans to hold virtual and physical town hall meetings in which all citizens may voice their concerns. By restoring trust between residents and local government, McPike believes the policymaking process will be more efficient.

Due to his support of working families, public education, the environment, racial and social equity, McPike is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05
Sarah Bagley photo
Democrat

Sarah Bagley

Website Facebook (Twitter)

Originally from Virginia Beach, Sarah Bagley is an activist, attorney, and executive director of an affordable housing nonprofit. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in government from The College of William and Mary and her law degree from The Catholic University of America. Bagley previously worked at two DC-based law firms and served as a clerk at the District Court in Montgomery County. She is a community organizer who has worked with organizations such as the Alexandria Democratic Committee, MOMS Demand Action, and Postcards4VA.

A top priority for Bagley is ensuring that safe, sanitary, and affordable housing is accessible for those unable to work or earning low or part-time wages in Alexandria. She wants to rebuild the affordable housing stock that the city has lost during the past 20 years. She also wants big corporations building in the area to consider environmental impact and commit to investing in infrastructure. In addition to preservation and redevelopment, she wants to provide a path to homeownership for first-time buyers in order to secure greater financial security.

If elected, she will work to make communities safer and more inclusive for everyone. These efforts include reducing gun violence, suicide, and guaranteeing that LGBTQ students are accepted and supported in public schools and city space. She hopes to partner with law enforcement agencies as means of providing gun training and education to owners. Bagley will also push to distribute trigger locks to provide safer storage and reduce unintended usage. She will also work to remove access barriers to technology and help break down existing language barriers. Bagley hopes to bridge a connection between historically marginalized communities and the newly formed Community Police Review Board by including community members in the review process.

Bagley is committed to addressing the impacts of climate change on the city. As a council member, she will seek funding to invest in public transportation methods that are safe and affordable. She believes incentives should be provided to businesses to convert existing structures to renewable energy sources or more energy-efficient programs. She’ll address the city’s flooding and outdated infrastructure issues by working with environmental groups knowledgeable on stormwater and stream restoration.

To combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bagley will support relief efforts geared towards communities most in need. She believes the city’s recovery plan must be equitable, transparent, and flexible. She supports individualized programs that provide rental assistance to renters, mortgage assistance to landlords, and financial assistance to businesses economically impacted by the pandemic. She also supports using relief funding to provide support to programs that tackle the city’s infrastructure needs, such as the sewer system and street conditions.

Due to her support of working families, public education, the environment, racial and social equity, Bagley is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Originally from Virginia Beach, Sarah Bagley is an activist, attorney, and executive director of an affordable housing nonprofit. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in government from The College of William and Mary and her law degree from The Catholic University of America. Bagley previously worked at two DC-based law firms and served as a clerk at the District Court in Montgomery County. She is a community organizer who has worked with organizations such as the Alexandria Democratic Committee, MOMS Demand Action, and Postcards4VA.

A top priority for Bagley is ensuring that safe, sanitary, and affordable housing is accessible for those unable to work or earning low or part-time wages in Alexandria. She wants to rebuild the affordable housing stock that the city has lost during the past 20 years. She also wants big corporations building in the area to consider environmental impact and commit to investing in infrastructure. In addition to preservation and redevelopment, she wants to provide a path to homeownership for first-time buyers in order to secure greater financial security.

If elected, she will work to make communities safer and more inclusive for everyone. These efforts include reducing gun violence, suicide, and guaranteeing that LGBTQ students are accepted and supported in public schools and city space. She hopes to partner with law enforcement agencies as means of providing gun training and education to owners. Bagley will also push to distribute trigger locks to provide safer storage and reduce unintended usage. She will also work to remove access barriers to technology and help break down existing language barriers. Bagley hopes to bridge a connection between historically marginalized communities and the newly formed Community Police Review Board by including community members in the review process.

Bagley is committed to addressing the impacts of climate change on the city. As a council member, she will seek funding to invest in public transportation methods that are safe and affordable. She believes incentives should be provided to businesses to convert existing structures to renewable energy sources or more energy-efficient programs. She’ll address the city’s flooding and outdated infrastructure issues by working with environmental groups knowledgeable on stormwater and stream restoration.

To combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bagley will support relief efforts geared towards communities most in need. She believes the city’s recovery plan must be equitable, transparent, and flexible. She supports individualized programs that provide rental assistance to renters, mortgage assistance to landlords, and financial assistance to businesses economically impacted by the pandemic. She also supports using relief funding to provide support to programs that tackle the city’s infrastructure needs, such as the sewer system and street conditions.

Due to her support of working families, public education, the environment, racial and social equity, Bagley is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Other Candidates

Independent candidate Florence M. King has lived in Alexandria for 30 years. She is the owner of FMK Financial Literacy, a company dedicated to teaching people to understand and effectively use various financial skills. She wants to focus on pandemic recovery and economic development, like prioritizing minority contracts for city projects. She wants to tackle the affordable housing crisis in the city by loosening restrictions on current property owners to build.

Darryl Nirenberg is running as a Republican candidate for Alexandria’s City Council. He and his wife are longtime residents of the city. He served as chief of staff to former Senator Jesse Helms, a staunch segregationist. Nirenberg opposes exploring solutions to the affordable housing crisis such as colocation, which involves building affordable housing units on school property.

Gail Parker is an Independent Green candidate and avid supporter of using rail transit as a solution to pollution and traffic congestion issues in the city. Parker has unsuccessfully sought election to represent the 43rd District in the House of Delegates in 2009, 2013, and 2019. She also ran for the 1st Congressional District seat in 2016, 2014, and 2012.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Independent candidate Florence M. King has lived in Alexandria for 30 years. She is the owner of FMK Financial Literacy, a company dedicated to teaching people to understand and effectively use various financial skills. She wants to focus on pandemic recovery and economic development, like prioritizing minority contracts for city projects. She wants to tackle the affordable housing crisis in the city by loosening restrictions on current property owners to build.

Darryl Nirenberg is running as a Republican candidate for Alexandria’s City Council. He and his wife are longtime residents of the city. He served as chief of staff to former Senator Jesse Helms, a staunch segregationist. Nirenberg opposes exploring solutions to the affordable housing crisis such as colocation, which involves building affordable housing units on school property.

Gail Parker is an Independent Green candidate and avid supporter of using rail transit as a solution to pollution and traffic congestion issues in the city. Parker has unsuccessfully sought election to represent the 43rd District in the House of Delegates in 2009, 2013, and 2019. She also ran for the 1st Congressional District seat in 2016, 2014, and 2012.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Alexandria Commonwealth's Attorney

Bryan Porter photo
Democrat

Bryan Porter

Website Facebook (Twitter)

Bryan Porter has served as Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney since 2014. He was born in Alexandria where he attended public schools and then graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University. After receiving his law degree from George Mason University School of Law, he was hired as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney and served as a prosecutor for over 20 years, He plays guitar in a ‘90s cover band and has published children’s books. Porter lives with his wife in Alexandria.

Since his election, Porter has worked for criminal justice reform and processes for rehabilitation whenever possible. He substantially decreased the office’s use of mandatory minimums, helping increase judicial discretion. He publicly supports the elimination of mandatory minimums. He supported the legalization of marijuana and supports defelonization of possession of narcotics. Porter also created two rehabilitative initiatives--the Alexandria Mental Health Initiative and Substance Abuse Treatment Court. Both programs work to avoid the incarceration and conviction of individuals whose mental health or substance use contributed to their criminal activity. He’s also worked to ensure minors stay in the juvenile court in nearly all circumstances.

Porter also has increased opportunities for criminal expungement for people convicted of certain minor offenses. Additionally, his office approved over 99% of expungement petitions since he was elected. This work helps citizens who have committed minor offenses have access to housing, education, and employment. Additionally, Porter supports the restoration of voting rights to returning citizens, believing that individuals who have been incarcerated and paid their debt to society deserve to have an active voice in elections.

Porter has also publicly acknowledged that systemic racism is inherent in the American criminal justice system. He was a founding member of Virginia Progressive Prosecutors for Justice, a group of prosecutors advocating for criminal justice reform so that the system better serves minorities. ​These reforms include ending no-knock warrants, increasing police accountability, and removing the “three strikes” law. Porter has also reformed his office’s hiring processes, resulting in a more diverse group of prosecutors that better reflects the population of Alexandria.
​​
Additionally, while in office, Porter has eliminated cash bail, which discriminates based on ability to pay. He also required open discovery policies at Alexandria’s court, which allow individuals to have complete access to their case’s evidence. He served on the Virginia Bar’s Task Force and helped implement open discovery policies statewide. Before the use of the death penalty was abolished in Virginia, he supported abolition. He waved the use of it in all four murder capital murder cases charged while he was in office.

Porter is running unopposed.

Porter’s support for criminal justice reform, restoration of rights, records expungement, and racial justice makes him a progressive choice for this seat.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Bryan Porter has served as Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney since 2014. He was born in Alexandria where he attended public schools and then graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University. After receiving his law degree from George Mason University School of Law, he was hired as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney and served as a prosecutor for over 20 years, He plays guitar in a ‘90s cover band and has published children’s books. Porter lives with his wife in Alexandria.

Since his election, Porter has worked for criminal justice reform and processes for rehabilitation whenever possible. He substantially decreased the office’s use of mandatory minimums, helping increase judicial discretion. He publicly supports the elimination of mandatory minimums. He supported the legalization of marijuana and supports defelonization of possession of narcotics. Porter also created two rehabilitative initiatives--the Alexandria Mental Health Initiative and Substance Abuse Treatment Court. Both programs work to avoid the incarceration and conviction of individuals whose mental health or substance use contributed to their criminal activity. He’s also worked to ensure minors stay in the juvenile court in nearly all circumstances.

Porter also has increased opportunities for criminal expungement for people convicted of certain minor offenses. Additionally, his office approved over 99% of expungement petitions since he was elected. This work helps citizens who have committed minor offenses have access to housing, education, and employment. Additionally, Porter supports the restoration of voting rights to returning citizens, believing that individuals who have been incarcerated and paid their debt to society deserve to have an active voice in elections.

Porter has also publicly acknowledged that systemic racism is inherent in the American criminal justice system. He was a founding member of Virginia Progressive Prosecutors for Justice, a group of prosecutors advocating for criminal justice reform so that the system better serves minorities. ​These reforms include ending no-knock warrants, increasing police accountability, and removing the “three strikes” law. Porter has also reformed his office’s hiring processes, resulting in a more diverse group of prosecutors that better reflects the population of Alexandria.
​​
Additionally, while in office, Porter has eliminated cash bail, which discriminates based on ability to pay. He also required open discovery policies at Alexandria’s court, which allow individuals to have complete access to their case’s evidence. He served on the Virginia Bar’s Task Force and helped implement open discovery policies statewide. Before the use of the death penalty was abolished in Virginia, he supported abolition. He waved the use of it in all four murder capital murder cases charged while he was in office.

Porter is running unopposed.

Porter’s support for criminal justice reform, restoration of rights, records expungement, and racial justice makes him a progressive choice for this seat.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

City District Races

Depending on where you live, you may have the following district races on your ballot.

District A (top 3 vote getters)

Alexandria School Board, District A (top 3 vote getters)

Jacinta Greene photo
Independent

Jacinta Greene

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

Incumbent School Board Member Jacinta Greene was elected to represent District A on the Alexandria School Board in 2018. Greene is a native of Richmond and attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned her bachelor’s degree. She was involved with the Alexandria Young Democrats and the Alexandria Democratic Committee. Professionally, she worked in corporate sales and marketing and now works as an independent marketing consultant. Greene has served on the Alexandria Commission for Women for ten years.

Greene is dedicated to racial equity and believes closing the achievement gap is one of the biggest challenges facing the school district. On the school board, she helped create the “Equity for All 2020-2025 ACPS Strategic Plan,” which prioritizes eliminating opportunity and achievement gaps in the district. In particular, Greene would like to see greater representation of Black and Latino students in the district’s Talented and Gifted (TAG) Program and in advanced level classes in high school.

Greene voted against renewing the district’s contract with Student Resource Officers, who contribute to racial disparities and the school-to-prison pipeline. She would like to see the district reduce suspension rates, which disproportionately remove minority students from the classroom. She supports teaching about systemic racism and race relations in schools. Additionally, she supports implementing restorative justice training for teachers and students in Alexandria. She also voted in favor of renaming TC Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School.

Greene has worked to increase equity in access to school resources and information. During the pandemic, she was proud to help ensure all students had access to the internet and laptops while participating in virtual learning. She has prioritized family involvement in the school system, emphasizing the importance of including immigrant families and families who do not speak English. The 2020 Strategic Plan she helped create includes a system to analyze what communities and schools are most in need of support so that the school board is better able to distribute resources to the correct areas.

Greene recognizes how teachers are the backbone of the school system yet remain underappreciated and underpaid. She supports competitive salaries for teachers and school support staff so that the district is able to recruit the best teachers. Greene successfully advocated for one-time bonuses for teachers who were not receiving pay raises during the pandemic. She was endorsed by the Alexandria Political Action Committee for Education, which represents the majority of teachers and school support professionals in Alexandria City Public Schools because of her commitment to providing school employees with resources and support.

Due to her advocacy for educational equity and support for teachers, Jacinta Greene is a progressive choice for this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Incumbent School Board Member Jacinta Greene was elected to represent District A on the Alexandria School Board in 2018. Greene is a native of Richmond and attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned her bachelor’s degree. She was involved with the Alexandria Young Democrats and the Alexandria Democratic Committee. Professionally, she worked in corporate sales and marketing and now works as an independent marketing consultant. Greene has served on the Alexandria Commission for Women for ten years.

Greene is dedicated to racial equity and believes closing the achievement gap is one of the biggest challenges facing the school district. On the school board, she helped create the “Equity for All 2020-2025 ACPS Strategic Plan,” which prioritizes eliminating opportunity and achievement gaps in the district. In particular, Greene would like to see greater representation of Black and Latino students in the district’s Talented and Gifted (TAG) Program and in advanced level classes in high school.

Greene voted against renewing the district’s contract with Student Resource Officers, who contribute to racial disparities and the school-to-prison pipeline. She would like to see the district reduce suspension rates, which disproportionately remove minority students from the classroom. She supports teaching about systemic racism and race relations in schools. Additionally, she supports implementing restorative justice training for teachers and students in Alexandria. She also voted in favor of renaming TC Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School.

Greene has worked to increase equity in access to school resources and information. During the pandemic, she was proud to help ensure all students had access to the internet and laptops while participating in virtual learning. She has prioritized family involvement in the school system, emphasizing the importance of including immigrant families and families who do not speak English. The 2020 Strategic Plan she helped create includes a system to analyze what communities and schools are most in need of support so that the school board is better able to distribute resources to the correct areas.

Greene recognizes how teachers are the backbone of the school system yet remain underappreciated and underpaid. She supports competitive salaries for teachers and school support staff so that the district is able to recruit the best teachers. Greene successfully advocated for one-time bonuses for teachers who were not receiving pay raises during the pandemic. She was endorsed by the Alexandria Political Action Committee for Education, which represents the majority of teachers and school support professionals in Alexandria City Public Schools because of her commitment to providing school employees with resources and support.

Due to her advocacy for educational equity and support for teachers, Jacinta Greene is a progressive choice for this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05
Michelle Rief photo
Independent

Michelle Rief

Website Facebook

Incumbent School Board Member Michelle Rief was first elected in 2018. Growing up in a military family, she attended public schools across the country and earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University. She earned a doctorate in African American Studies from Temple University. Previously, Rief held leadership roles in the Mount Vernon Community School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the Alexandria PTA Council. She has lived in Alexandria for 15 years and her three children attend local schools.

Rief advocates for policies to increase equity in Alexandria Public Schools. She supports changes to increase the number of Black and Brown students involved in the district’s Talented and Gifted Program. While serving on the school board, she helped implement a new strategic plan to ensure students have equal access to academic enrichment and advanced coursework, regardless of race. This plan also carried out new policies to facilitate restorative practices between teachers and students to build trust and community.

As a former union member with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Rief has worked to represent teachers’ interests on the school board. She supports competitive pay so that the district is able to recruit the best teachers. She would like to increase opportunities for professional development for the district’s teachers. She advocates for collective bargaining for public employees, including teachers’ right to unionize. She was endorsed by the AFT for her dedication to improving school employees’ pay and working environment.

Rief has supported infrastructure investment to keep the district’s schools up-to-date and students safe and healthy. She’s advocated for the acceleration of modernization projects of school buildings as well as increased maintenance. Since the pandemic, she’s worked to update the districts’ ventilation systems so that the return to school can be as safe as possible. Additionally, during the pandemic, she supported the superintendent’s efforts to provide laptops and internet access to all students who needed them for virtual learning.

Additionally, Rief supported the renaming of TC Williams High School, which was named after the district’s pro-segregationist superintendent, and Matthew Maury Elementary School, named after a Confederate Navy Veteran. She supported the removal of School Resource Officers from schools. Though this was not successfully completed by the school board but rather carried out by the city council, she supported the policy and helped divert the funds to mental health resources. She also supported putting charter schools under the school board’s control and increasing their transparency and access to ensure educational funding is supporting all students equally.

Due to her support for equity, teachers, and infrastructure, Michelle Rief is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Incumbent School Board Member Michelle Rief was first elected in 2018. Growing up in a military family, she attended public schools across the country and earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University. She earned a doctorate in African American Studies from Temple University. Previously, Rief held leadership roles in the Mount Vernon Community School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the Alexandria PTA Council. She has lived in Alexandria for 15 years and her three children attend local schools.

Rief advocates for policies to increase equity in Alexandria Public Schools. She supports changes to increase the number of Black and Brown students involved in the district’s Talented and Gifted Program. While serving on the school board, she helped implement a new strategic plan to ensure students have equal access to academic enrichment and advanced coursework, regardless of race. This plan also carried out new policies to facilitate restorative practices between teachers and students to build trust and community.

As a former union member with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Rief has worked to represent teachers’ interests on the school board. She supports competitive pay so that the district is able to recruit the best teachers. She would like to increase opportunities for professional development for the district’s teachers. She advocates for collective bargaining for public employees, including teachers’ right to unionize. She was endorsed by the AFT for her dedication to improving school employees’ pay and working environment.

Rief has supported infrastructure investment to keep the district’s schools up-to-date and students safe and healthy. She’s advocated for the acceleration of modernization projects of school buildings as well as increased maintenance. Since the pandemic, she’s worked to update the districts’ ventilation systems so that the return to school can be as safe as possible. Additionally, during the pandemic, she supported the superintendent’s efforts to provide laptops and internet access to all students who needed them for virtual learning.

Additionally, Rief supported the renaming of TC Williams High School, which was named after the district’s pro-segregationist superintendent, and Matthew Maury Elementary School, named after a Confederate Navy Veteran. She supported the removal of School Resource Officers from schools. Though this was not successfully completed by the school board but rather carried out by the city council, she supported the policy and helped divert the funds to mental health resources. She also supported putting charter schools under the school board’s control and increasing their transparency and access to ensure educational funding is supporting all students equally.

Due to her support for equity, teachers, and infrastructure, Michelle Rief is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05
Willie Bailey photo
Independent

Willie Bailey

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

Former Alexandria City Councilmember Willie Bailey grew up in Alexandria. He served in the U.S. Army for 21 years and, upon his retirement from the Army, became a firefighter with Fairfax County for over 30 years. He served on the Alexandria City Council from 2015 to 2018. He is a youth sports coach and is involved with many philanthropic organizations, including Toys for Tots, Carpenter’s Shelter, and Operation Warm. He is a single father of two adult children.

While serving on the city council, Bailey was a strong advocate for affordable housing. He currently serves on the board of the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority, which provides affordable housing for low-income individuals in Alexandria. On the council, he introduced and passed a proposal to increase funding to prevent low- and middle-income residents from being priced out of the area as the cost of housing rose, including many teachers.

Bailey has also worked to ensure every child in Alexandria has the resources they need to learn and thrive by volunteering with multiple organizations that give back to local students. He is a founding member and president of Firefighters & Friends to the Rescue, which works with local schools and charitable organizations to provide school supplies, backpacks, hair cuts, and winter coats to in-need children. He’s also a local coordinator for Toys for Tots, which hosts a toy drive every year.

Bailey also supports ensuring higher education is affordable and accessible to all. He is a founding board member of Educational Opportunities for Alexandrians, which is a non-profit that funds scholarships for Alexandrians whose immigration status prevents them from receiving financial assistance in higher education. The organization works closely with the city council and the school board to identify and support these students. He will work to ensure that every student in Alexandria is able to achieve their goals beyond high school.

As a graduate of ​​T.C. Williams High School, Bailey cites the districts’ teachers and coaches as influential to his success. Accordingly, he will serve as a strong advocate for teachers on the school board. He was endorsed by the Alexandria Teachers’ Union, which represents the district’s teachers. He understands the high levels of responsibility placed on teachers and will work to ensure teachers will receive fair compensation and benefits, as well as the support and resources they need to be successful. While on City Council, he was most proud of his votes to increase funding for schools.

Due to his support for access to housing, school supplies, and higher education, as well his support for teachers, Willie Bailey is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Former Alexandria City Councilmember Willie Bailey grew up in Alexandria. He served in the U.S. Army for 21 years and, upon his retirement from the Army, became a firefighter with Fairfax County for over 30 years. He served on the Alexandria City Council from 2015 to 2018. He is a youth sports coach and is involved with many philanthropic organizations, including Toys for Tots, Carpenter’s Shelter, and Operation Warm. He is a single father of two adult children.

While serving on the city council, Bailey was a strong advocate for affordable housing. He currently serves on the board of the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority, which provides affordable housing for low-income individuals in Alexandria. On the council, he introduced and passed a proposal to increase funding to prevent low- and middle-income residents from being priced out of the area as the cost of housing rose, including many teachers.

Bailey has also worked to ensure every child in Alexandria has the resources they need to learn and thrive by volunteering with multiple organizations that give back to local students. He is a founding member and president of Firefighters & Friends to the Rescue, which works with local schools and charitable organizations to provide school supplies, backpacks, hair cuts, and winter coats to in-need children. He’s also a local coordinator for Toys for Tots, which hosts a toy drive every year.

Bailey also supports ensuring higher education is affordable and accessible to all. He is a founding board member of Educational Opportunities for Alexandrians, which is a non-profit that funds scholarships for Alexandrians whose immigration status prevents them from receiving financial assistance in higher education. The organization works closely with the city council and the school board to identify and support these students. He will work to ensure that every student in Alexandria is able to achieve their goals beyond high school.

As a graduate of ​​T.C. Williams High School, Bailey cites the districts’ teachers and coaches as influential to his success. Accordingly, he will serve as a strong advocate for teachers on the school board. He was endorsed by the Alexandria Teachers’ Union, which represents the district’s teachers. He understands the high levels of responsibility placed on teachers and will work to ensure teachers will receive fair compensation and benefits, as well as the support and resources they need to be successful. While on City Council, he was most proud of his votes to increase funding for schools.

Due to his support for access to housing, school supplies, and higher education, as well his support for teachers, Willie Bailey is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Other Candidates

Candidate Aloysius “Ish” Boyle is an ACPS parent and veteran of the United States Marine Corps, who currently works in cybersecurity. His top priority while running for school board is ensuring that students are able to safely attend in-person classes five days a week, as he believes virtual learning has led to decreased academic performance in students. He also supports increased accountability for the superintendent, increased transparency on the school board, and more parent input.

Candidate Deanna “D” Ohlandt is an ACPS parent and former college professor and special education inclusion aide. Ohlandt supports increased opportunities for parent communication. She also would like to see more community involvement in schools, including opportunities for mentorship and field trips. Additionally, she supports competitive pay and benefits to recruit and retain high-quality teachers.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Candidate Aloysius “Ish” Boyle is an ACPS parent and veteran of the United States Marine Corps, who currently works in cybersecurity. His top priority while running for school board is ensuring that students are able to safely attend in-person classes five days a week, as he believes virtual learning has led to decreased academic performance in students. He also supports increased accountability for the superintendent, increased transparency on the school board, and more parent input.

Candidate Deanna “D” Ohlandt is an ACPS parent and former college professor and special education inclusion aide. Ohlandt supports increased opportunities for parent communication. She also would like to see more community involvement in schools, including opportunities for mentorship and field trips. Additionally, she supports competitive pay and benefits to recruit and retain high-quality teachers.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

District B (top 3 vote getters)

Alexandria School Board, District B (top 3 vote getters)

Ashley Simpson Baird photo
Democrat

Ashley Simpson Baird

Website Facebook (Twitter)

Dr. Ashley Simpson Baird is a teacher and native of Northern Virginia. After earning her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Pennsylvania State University and the School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute, Baird volunteered with the Peace Corps to teach English in Bolivia. She later studied at the University of Virginia to earn her doctorate. She founded her own firm that carries out equity-focused research and evaluations for schools. She and her husband have three children.

As a former educator, Baird understands how teachers are the foundation of student success. Her top priority will be ensuring that the districts’ teachers and staff are adequately supported and wants to increase opportunities for training for teachers. She supports the creation of a program to assist Alexandria school employees with down payments for home buying and low-interest mortgage rates so they can afford to live in the area. She would also continually evaluate whether the district is paying area teachers competitive salaries that reflect how critical they are to student success.

If elected, Baird would invest in student achievement and ensure every student is receiving high-quality education that will allow them to be successful. She supports the use of federal COVID-19 relief funds to hire additional support staff so that class sizes are smaller to give teachers more opportunities for one-on-one and small group instruction with students. She would like to see more options for tutoring and catching up on skills students may have missed during virtual learning. She wants to increase opportunities for wellness and mental health care in schools, as she knows mental health support is critical to academic success. This includes hiring additional counselors and allowing opportunities for physical activity.

Baird will also work to increase equity on the school board. She supports updating the district’s Talented and Gifted Program so that enrollment in the initiative is more equitable by increasing transparency about how students are referred to the program and ensuring Black and Brown students are equally represented. Baird also supports increased investment in special needs and English as a Second Language programs. She supports the removal of School Resource Officers to allow for increased funding for mental healthcare at the schools. She would like to require data collection about student discipline to better track disparities in the school system.

Baird will also prioritize school board transparency and increased communication with all stakeholders in Alexandria City Public Schools. She will work to ensure parents and educators are not receiving conflicting messages from the school board and would like to improve the sense of community within the district. Additionally, she would like to increase investment into communicating with families without English literacy. In these cases, she would like to utilize audio and video messages. She supports the reinstatement of the Parent Leadership Training Institute to provide parents with more opportunities for involvement.

Baird’s support for teachers, student achievement, equity, and transparency make her a progressive choice in the election.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Dr. Ashley Simpson Baird is a teacher and native of Northern Virginia. After earning her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Pennsylvania State University and the School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute, Baird volunteered with the Peace Corps to teach English in Bolivia. She later studied at the University of Virginia to earn her doctorate. She founded her own firm that carries out equity-focused research and evaluations for schools. She and her husband have three children.

As a former educator, Baird understands how teachers are the foundation of student success. Her top priority will be ensuring that the districts’ teachers and staff are adequately supported and wants to increase opportunities for training for teachers. She supports the creation of a program to assist Alexandria school employees with down payments for home buying and low-interest mortgage rates so they can afford to live in the area. She would also continually evaluate whether the district is paying area teachers competitive salaries that reflect how critical they are to student success.

If elected, Baird would invest in student achievement and ensure every student is receiving high-quality education that will allow them to be successful. She supports the use of federal COVID-19 relief funds to hire additional support staff so that class sizes are smaller to give teachers more opportunities for one-on-one and small group instruction with students. She would like to see more options for tutoring and catching up on skills students may have missed during virtual learning. She wants to increase opportunities for wellness and mental health care in schools, as she knows mental health support is critical to academic success. This includes hiring additional counselors and allowing opportunities for physical activity.

Baird will also work to increase equity on the school board. She supports updating the district’s Talented and Gifted Program so that enrollment in the initiative is more equitable by increasing transparency about how students are referred to the program and ensuring Black and Brown students are equally represented. Baird also supports increased investment in special needs and English as a Second Language programs. She supports the removal of School Resource Officers to allow for increased funding for mental healthcare at the schools. She would like to require data collection about student discipline to better track disparities in the school system.

Baird will also prioritize school board transparency and increased communication with all stakeholders in Alexandria City Public Schools. She will work to ensure parents and educators are not receiving conflicting messages from the school board and would like to improve the sense of community within the district. Additionally, she would like to increase investment into communicating with families without English literacy. In these cases, she would like to utilize audio and video messages. She supports the reinstatement of the Parent Leadership Training Institute to provide parents with more opportunities for involvement.

Baird’s support for teachers, student achievement, equity, and transparency make her a progressive choice in the election.

Last updated: 2023-04-05
Kelly Carmichael Booz photo
Non-Partisan

Kelly Carmichael Booz

Website Facebook (Twitter)

Kelly Carmichael Booz served on the Alexandria School Board from 2013-2015 and is running again to represent District B. Booz received her master’s degree in education at the University of Virginia and her undergraduate degree at Carleton College. She’s a director at the American Federation of Teachers, where she runs the development of the organization’s digital resources. Her husband is a teacher at Fairfax County Public Schools. They have two children who attend Douglas MacArthur Elementary School.

As a school board member, Booz worked to improve the district’s infrastructure.While on the board she helped craft a 10-year plan to address repairs in the district’s buildings and the growth of the student population. She will prioritize upgrades to the school’s ventilation systems so students, teachers, and staff can safely remain int he buildings during the pandemic. She plans to work alongside the city council to review all the deferred maintenance projects on school buildings. She will also work to address the district’s capacity issues.
Booz is passionate about improving civic education in Alexandria Public Schools. She taught civics seminars for a non-profit and served as the director of civic education at Montpelier and serves on the board of directors for Virginia Civics, which works to promote constitutional literacy and civic engagement. If elected to the school board, she will work to protect and support civic education classes, so that Alexandria is producing students who are well-informed and active citizens.

With a husband who is a public school teacher, and as an educator herself, Booz understands the important and difficult job teachers have. She would like teachers to have more say in the districts’ decisions and provide them with more support during the implementation of new procedures and policies. She was endorsed by the Education Association of Alexandria, which represents the teachers and staff at Alexandria schools, for her dedication to supporting educators.

Booz will work to improve communication and transparency on the board and rebuild public trust in the board. She will implement new policies to promote community relations including emailing out the board’s agenda and summary of discussed topics before meetings, hosting regular office hours, and sending out a newsletter. She would also like to work to keep school websites up-to-date with the latest information. ​Particularly during the pandemic, she understands the frustration of feeling uninformed and left behind and will work to address this issue.

Due to her support for infrastructure, educators, civic education, and transparency, Kelly Carmichael Booz is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Kelly Carmichael Booz served on the Alexandria School Board from 2013-2015 and is running again to represent District B. Booz received her master’s degree in education at the University of Virginia and her undergraduate degree at Carleton College. She’s a director at the American Federation of Teachers, where she runs the development of the organization’s digital resources. Her husband is a teacher at Fairfax County Public Schools. They have two children who attend Douglas MacArthur Elementary School.

As a school board member, Booz worked to improve the district’s infrastructure.While on the board she helped craft a 10-year plan to address repairs in the district’s buildings and the growth of the student population. She will prioritize upgrades to the school’s ventilation systems so students, teachers, and staff can safely remain int he buildings during the pandemic. She plans to work alongside the city council to review all the deferred maintenance projects on school buildings. She will also work to address the district’s capacity issues.
Booz is passionate about improving civic education in Alexandria Public Schools. She taught civics seminars for a non-profit and served as the director of civic education at Montpelier and serves on the board of directors for Virginia Civics, which works to promote constitutional literacy and civic engagement. If elected to the school board, she will work to protect and support civic education classes, so that Alexandria is producing students who are well-informed and active citizens.

With a husband who is a public school teacher, and as an educator herself, Booz understands the important and difficult job teachers have. She would like teachers to have more say in the districts’ decisions and provide them with more support during the implementation of new procedures and policies. She was endorsed by the Education Association of Alexandria, which represents the teachers and staff at Alexandria schools, for her dedication to supporting educators.

Booz will work to improve communication and transparency on the board and rebuild public trust in the board. She will implement new policies to promote community relations including emailing out the board’s agenda and summary of discussed topics before meetings, hosting regular office hours, and sending out a newsletter. She would also like to work to keep school websites up-to-date with the latest information. ​Particularly during the pandemic, she understands the frustration of feeling uninformed and left behind and will work to address this issue.

Due to her support for infrastructure, educators, civic education, and transparency, Kelly Carmichael Booz is a progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Other Candidates

Bridget Shea Westfall is a district parent, former social worker, and public servant working at the Administration for Children and Families. Shea Westfall supports increased transparency and accountability on the board, including increasing opportunities for community input and being more transparent about how decisions are reached. Additionally, she’s passionate about returning students safely to in-person classes and runs the Open ACPS Facebook Group. She will work to address the district’s capacity issues and maintenance of school buildings.

Tammy S. Ignacio is a former ACPS teacher at Francis C. Hammond Middle School and Alexandria City High School–Minnie Howard Campus and assistant principal at Alexandria City High School. No information about her policy proposals was available at the time of this guide’s publication.

Deborah “Debbie” Ash is an ACPS parent. She supports school voucher programs, which put public money into private schools. She opposes requiring masks or vaccinations. She supports the teaching of the racist 1776 Project in schools and supports the reinstatement of School Resource Officers, which disproportionately harm Black and Brown students.

PreeAnn Johnson is the Former Principal of Polk Elementary. No information about her candidacy was available at the time of this guide’s publication.

Ricardo Roberts is a former DC teacher charged and acquitted of a sex abuse scandal. No information about his candidacy was available at the time of this guide’s publication.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Bridget Shea Westfall is a district parent, former social worker, and public servant working at the Administration for Children and Families. Shea Westfall supports increased transparency and accountability on the board, including increasing opportunities for community input and being more transparent about how decisions are reached. Additionally, she’s passionate about returning students safely to in-person classes and runs the Open ACPS Facebook Group. She will work to address the district’s capacity issues and maintenance of school buildings.

Tammy S. Ignacio is a former ACPS teacher at Francis C. Hammond Middle School and Alexandria City High School–Minnie Howard Campus and assistant principal at Alexandria City High School. No information about her policy proposals was available at the time of this guide’s publication.

Deborah “Debbie” Ash is an ACPS parent. She supports school voucher programs, which put public money into private schools. She opposes requiring masks or vaccinations. She supports the teaching of the racist 1776 Project in schools and supports the reinstatement of School Resource Officers, which disproportionately harm Black and Brown students.

PreeAnn Johnson is the Former Principal of Polk Elementary. No information about her candidacy was available at the time of this guide’s publication.

Ricardo Roberts is a former DC teacher charged and acquitted of a sex abuse scandal. No information about his candidacy was available at the time of this guide’s publication.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

District C (top 3 vote getters)

Alexandria School Board, District C (top 3 vote getters)

Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi photo
Independent

Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

Abdel Elnoubi is an engineer and parent running to represent District C on the Alexandria School Board. After graduating from the City College of New York, he worked in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He received his master’s degree in engineering management from George Washington University and is currently an engineering project manager at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. His two children attend Samuel Tucker Elementary School. His family lives in the Landmark Area of Alexandria.

Elnoubi is a strong advocate for policies that uplift students of color. He is involved in advocacy groups working to expand restorative practices in schools rather than punitive actions against students. He hopes to end the racial disparities in student discipline and address policies that perpetuate the school-to-prison pipeline. He is dedicated to addressing the economic and social factors at play that lead to achievement gaps. He supports increasing the number of Black and Brown students represented in accelerated and Talented and Gifted courses.

Elnoubi also supports updating and modernizing the school district’s aging buildings. He understands that students need a safe, clean environment that is conducive to learning and is particularly concerned with the increasing number of buildings in the district that are in need of renovation. He will work to ensure buildings are safe and healthy for students, particularly upon the return to in-person teaching during the pandemic. He will work alongside the city council to address the district’s increasing student population and lack of facilities to support the increase.

Alongside renovation, Elnoubi advocates for policies that make the school district’s buildings eco-friendly. He supports the electrification of all of the districts’ school busses. He wants to move school buildings to renewable energy whenever feasible and will support discussions of climate awareness on the school board. He has taken the Virginia Justice Democrats’ Candidate Pledge, which includes a commitment to prioritize environmental justice. Additionally, the pledge includes refusing to accept donations from publicly regulated utilities and fossil fuel interests.

As a union member, Elnoubi is a strong supporter of workers’ rights, believing in teachers’ right to unionize and collectively bargain. He will help the district recruit and retain high-quality teachers and staff through providing competitive pay and strong benefits. He understands how teacher retention is critical to student success. Additionally, during the pandemic, he emphasizes providing teachers sufficient resources to be safe and successful at school. He received an endorsement from the Education Association of Alexandria for his support of policies that uplift teachers.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Abdel Elnoubi is an engineer and parent running to represent District C on the Alexandria School Board. After graduating from the City College of New York, he worked in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He received his master’s degree in engineering management from George Washington University and is currently an engineering project manager at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. His two children attend Samuel Tucker Elementary School. His family lives in the Landmark Area of Alexandria.

Elnoubi is a strong advocate for policies that uplift students of color. He is involved in advocacy groups working to expand restorative practices in schools rather than punitive actions against students. He hopes to end the racial disparities in student discipline and address policies that perpetuate the school-to-prison pipeline. He is dedicated to addressing the economic and social factors at play that lead to achievement gaps. He supports increasing the number of Black and Brown students represented in accelerated and Talented and Gifted courses.

Elnoubi also supports updating and modernizing the school district’s aging buildings. He understands that students need a safe, clean environment that is conducive to learning and is particularly concerned with the increasing number of buildings in the district that are in need of renovation. He will work to ensure buildings are safe and healthy for students, particularly upon the return to in-person teaching during the pandemic. He will work alongside the city council to address the district’s increasing student population and lack of facilities to support the increase.

Alongside renovation, Elnoubi advocates for policies that make the school district’s buildings eco-friendly. He supports the electrification of all of the districts’ school busses. He wants to move school buildings to renewable energy whenever feasible and will support discussions of climate awareness on the school board. He has taken the Virginia Justice Democrats’ Candidate Pledge, which includes a commitment to prioritize environmental justice. Additionally, the pledge includes refusing to accept donations from publicly regulated utilities and fossil fuel interests.

As a union member, Elnoubi is a strong supporter of workers’ rights, believing in teachers’ right to unionize and collectively bargain. He will help the district recruit and retain high-quality teachers and staff through providing competitive pay and strong benefits. He understands how teacher retention is critical to student success. Additionally, during the pandemic, he emphasizes providing teachers sufficient resources to be safe and successful at school. He received an endorsement from the Education Association of Alexandria for his support of policies that uplift teachers.

Last updated: 2023-04-05
Christopher Harris photo
Democrat

Christopher Harris

Facebook (Twitter)

Christopher Harris is an ACPS graduate and parent. Harris is a lifelong resident of Alexandria and alumni of Alexandria City High School. Professionally, he owns his own business, Harris Safety Management and Training, and works as an occupational safety engineer. He served as a football coach and substitute teacher at Alexandria City High School. He also serves as President of the Alexandria chapter of the NAACP and on the City of Alexandria’s Human Rights Commission. He’s raised three children, all of whom attended ACPS.

As president of the Alexandria NAACP, Harris has been an advocate for racial equity in Alexandria’s schools and other communities. The work of the NAACP was Instrumental to changing the name of TC Williams High School.

Harris knows that a critical aspect of education is providing children with an environment that is conducive to resources. He has decades of experience in engineering and construction project management, which he believes will be invaluable to helping the board modernize school buildings. He believes he can lead the conversation on renovation so that the board can address capacity and infrastructure issues.

He will work to ensure school resources are equitably distributed to all students. He supports increased access to technology and equipment. Additionally, he would like to decrease class size to increase opportunities for one-on-one and small group instruction.

Another one of Harris’s priorities is ensuring teachers receive sufficient support. He would like to increase compensation and ensure they are all provided with the tools and resources they need to be successful.

An absence of online information about Harris means we cannot guarantee he will make progressive choices.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Christopher Harris is an ACPS graduate and parent. Harris is a lifelong resident of Alexandria and alumni of Alexandria City High School. Professionally, he owns his own business, Harris Safety Management and Training, and works as an occupational safety engineer. He served as a football coach and substitute teacher at Alexandria City High School. He also serves as President of the Alexandria chapter of the NAACP and on the City of Alexandria’s Human Rights Commission. He’s raised three children, all of whom attended ACPS.

As president of the Alexandria NAACP, Harris has been an advocate for racial equity in Alexandria’s schools and other communities. The work of the NAACP was Instrumental to changing the name of TC Williams High School.

Harris knows that a critical aspect of education is providing children with an environment that is conducive to resources. He has decades of experience in engineering and construction project management, which he believes will be invaluable to helping the board modernize school buildings. He believes he can lead the conversation on renovation so that the board can address capacity and infrastructure issues.

He will work to ensure school resources are equitably distributed to all students. He supports increased access to technology and equipment. Additionally, he would like to decrease class size to increase opportunities for one-on-one and small group instruction.

Another one of Harris’s priorities is ensuring teachers receive sufficient support. He would like to increase compensation and ensure they are all provided with the tools and resources they need to be successful.

An absence of online information about Harris means we cannot guarantee he will make progressive choices.

Last updated: 2023-04-05
Meagan Alderton photo
Democrat

Meagan Alderton

Facebook (Twitter)

Meagan Alderton has served on the Alexandria School Board since 2019 and is the board’s current chair. She was a special education teacher at George Washington Middle School, Francis C. Hammond Middle School and Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School. Currently, she works for the D.C. Special Education Cooperative, which is a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of students with disabilities. She has lived in Alexandria for over a decade and has two children.

Alderton has done critical work to keep equity in academic achievement as the top priority of the board, helping to craft and implement the “ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan: Equity for All.” As a Black woman, she is proud to represent diverse populations on the school board. One of her top goals is closing the achievement gap and is working to increase representation of minority and disabled students in the Talented and Gifted (TAG) and advanced courses. She also wants to adopt new policies to help student groups that have historically underperformed on Virginia’s Standards of Learning tests.

Her classroom experience as a special education teacher makes her uniquely qualified to be a voice for children with disabilities on the board and is the reason she decided to run. Her experience with both special education law and classroom environments means she is able to advocate for policies that will uplift and support students with special needs. She is also understanding of the resources special education teachers need to be successful.

Alderton advocates for policies that improve the working environment for the city’s teachers. She supports increasing teacher pay and developing strategies for teacher retention, seeing the “revolving door” of educators and staff as one of the biggest threats to the school district. Additionally, she lobbied for legislation in the General Assembly that creates increased training opportunities for teachers, including training in crisis prevention, de-escalation, and positive behavioral interventions and supports. As a member of the division transition team, she worked to ensure staff was supported during the shift to remote teaching and the return to in-person school during the pandemic.

Additionally, Alderton led the process of renaming both T.C. Williams High School, and Matthew Maury Elementary School, which were named after a segregationist and Confederate officer respectively. She worked to ensure that there were opportunities for community engagement throughout the process. Additionally, ​​she helped create a new process for the superintendent’s annual evaluation, to increase accountability and opportunities for improvement. Alderton also supported the acceleration of facilities modernization, to ensure school buildings are safe and conducive to learning.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Meagan Alderton has served on the Alexandria School Board since 2019 and is the board’s current chair. She was a special education teacher at George Washington Middle School, Francis C. Hammond Middle School and Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School. Currently, she works for the D.C. Special Education Cooperative, which is a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of students with disabilities. She has lived in Alexandria for over a decade and has two children.

Alderton has done critical work to keep equity in academic achievement as the top priority of the board, helping to craft and implement the “ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan: Equity for All.” As a Black woman, she is proud to represent diverse populations on the school board. One of her top goals is closing the achievement gap and is working to increase representation of minority and disabled students in the Talented and Gifted (TAG) and advanced courses. She also wants to adopt new policies to help student groups that have historically underperformed on Virginia’s Standards of Learning tests.

Her classroom experience as a special education teacher makes her uniquely qualified to be a voice for children with disabilities on the board and is the reason she decided to run. Her experience with both special education law and classroom environments means she is able to advocate for policies that will uplift and support students with special needs. She is also understanding of the resources special education teachers need to be successful.

Alderton advocates for policies that improve the working environment for the city’s teachers. She supports increasing teacher pay and developing strategies for teacher retention, seeing the “revolving door” of educators and staff as one of the biggest threats to the school district. Additionally, she lobbied for legislation in the General Assembly that creates increased training opportunities for teachers, including training in crisis prevention, de-escalation, and positive behavioral interventions and supports. As a member of the division transition team, she worked to ensure staff was supported during the shift to remote teaching and the return to in-person school during the pandemic.

Additionally, Alderton led the process of renaming both T.C. Williams High School, and Matthew Maury Elementary School, which were named after a segregationist and Confederate officer respectively. She worked to ensure that there were opportunities for community engagement throughout the process. Additionally, ​​she helped create a new process for the superintendent’s annual evaluation, to increase accountability and opportunities for improvement. Alderton also supported the acceleration of facilities modernization, to ensure school buildings are safe and conducive to learning.

Last updated: 2023-04-05