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NOVA GENERAL ELEC'24
ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOV 5
ABSENTEE BALLOT REQ DUE OCT 25
MAIL BALLOTS REQ POSTMARK BY OCT 25
VA EARLY VOTING OPEN TIL NOV 2
VOTING INFORMATION
Use the links below to navigate alone critcal voting resources in Northern Virginia
COVERING NOVA GENERAL ELECTIONS 2024
This resource was developed by a team of socialist artists, web developers, researchers, and political organizers in the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America. Our goal is to provide Northern Virginia voters and residents a guide to understanding who's running for local office in DC, who's behind them, and where they stand along a set of issues. REDBUG is a project 100% supported by volunteers and is intended as a resource for VA voters - this is not intended to advocate for specific candidates.
How should I use this guide?
How should I use this guide?
Browse through the different races, explore context, and take note of candidate context. For those looking to vote strategically, take note of who has realistic levels of funding and who has endorsed given candidates. Consider: who is more likely to use their office to challenge the system and empower workers?
Candidates designated as "Progressive backed" must have the endorsement of at least 3 organizations we have designated as progressive. Candidates designated as "Labor backed" must have the endorsement of at least 3 labor unions, and must have 90% of identified labor endorsements in the race (note that we do not count the labor councils or DC Police Union as labor organizations).
Are the positions covered here the only ones that matter?
Absolutely not. There are many important issues to consider when voting for local office, and we only had the time to panel responses to issues covered here. Positions identified here - along with relevant endorsements and context provided - should give you a good understanding of how candidates orient towards important issues deemed relevant to Northern Virginia socialists. There are also other important local races that are not covered here.
How can I contest information that's displayed here?
You can submit contested positions or descriptions of candidates USING THIS FORM. The editors of this site will do our best to respond to all credible submissions, and update text listed here in case a correction is warranted.
What are the issues?
Our socialists reviewed four issues relevant to socialists interested in voting in Virginia. These are not the only issues at matter, and some officials are more...clever about hiding their true orientation than others. But we tried to suss out where candidates were along these items. Here is the backing context for each of the four issues:
- calling for a ceasefire between Israel & Hamas
Calling for and supporting a ceasefire in Palestine is critical in putting more pressure on the Biden administration to stop supporting Israel as it's far right government commits genocide. These calls should be unconditional and immediate ceasefire. All candidates noted as pro-ceasefire at least support an immediate ceasefire, some qualifying there answers with some conditions, others not.
There are many Arab, Muslim, Jewish, Israeli and Palestinian people in Northern Virginia, many of whom have been directly impacted by the Israeli government's unchecked violence. This is not a nebulous issue.
There are many Arab, Muslim, Jewish, Israeli and Palestinian people in Northern Virginia, many of whom have been directly impacted by the Israeli government's unchecked violence. This is not a nebulous issue.
- positioning on tenants rights
Tenants in Virginia have little protection when it comes to renting, especially in comparison to neighboring DC and Maryland and NoVA is home to thousands of tenants. Any and all support for additional local tenant protections would go a long way to protection some of our most vulnerable residents, who too often are stuck in buildings owned by slumlords with borderline unlivable conditions. Candidates must have explicitly stated a tangible tenant protection policy to be noted as pro-tenant protections.
- police funding
Police funding is a yearly issue and one that intersects with our goal of police abolition. Distinguishing between candidates that support increasing funding, support maintaining funding, and support decreasing funding is important to figure out who will be an ally and who will be an obstacle as we continue to advocate for lower police funding while we work towards police abolition.
- cooperation with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Counties and independent cities all have the choice whether to have their sheriffs voluntarily cooperate with ICE or not when ICE wants to take custody of incarcerated individuals as soon as they are released. With a goal of abolishing ICE entirely, not voluntarily cooperating with ICE is the bare minimum counties and independent cities can do to not assist ICE. NoVA is home a large and diverse immigrant population that do not need to needlessly be harassed and detained by ICE. Candidates are only noted as anti-ICE cooperation if they explicitly pledge to not voluntarily collaborate with ICE.
Arlington County Board
(4 candidates, 1 vote)
JD Spain
Democrat
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Audrey Clement
Independent
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Juan Fierro
Republican
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Madison Granger
Forward
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Spain was a former candidate for Arlington County Board in 2023. Originally from Conway, SC, he is also a former Marine who served in Iraq in 2001 and now works as a business consultant. He has made it a priority of his campaign to fund the county Department of Human Services more to deal with mental health issues in the county.
WHERE THEY STAND
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Ceasefire Resolution
Open to passing a ceasefire resolution.
Tenant Protections
In support of stronger tenant protections and has referred to housing as a human right.
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Police Funding
Supports increased police funding and higher sheriff pay. Wants new technology for police and jail. Also wants to fund mental health experts at the county jail 24/7 instead of being on call.
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ICE Cooperation
No clear position identified.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 181,994
(
89
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> NOVA Labor
> ATU Local 689
> AFSCME Council 20
> UFCW Local 400
> Arlington Education Assoc.
> Moms Demand Action
> Sierra Club
> Virginia NOW
> Vote Pro-Choice
> Vote Vets
> Greater Greater Washington
> YIMBYs of NOVA
> Democratic Majority Action PAC
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Clement is a 20-year resident of Arlington and a 2023 County Board candidate. She has a Ph.D in Politicial Science and is running to reduce taxes, stop up-zoning (missing-middle), and to protect parks and natural spaces.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
No clear position on ceasefire resolution.
Tenant Protections
No stance on tenant protections, but it anti "missing-middle."
Police Funding
Has voiced strong support for the police and is against funding reductions.
ICE Cooperation
No clear position identified.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 13,066
(
6
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> no significant endorsements
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Fierro is an Alexandria native and a GMU graduate. He was a 2023 County Board candidate, too. He is a former employee of the Inter-American Investment Corporation and the International Finance Corporation within the World Bank and is now a financial advisor with Thrivent Financial. Fierro has centered opposition to "missing-middle" housing development, and has fanned a criminal panic in notoriously safe Northern Virginia.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
No clear position on the issue, but unlikely to support given background in neoliberal organizations.
Tenant Protections
No clear stance or positions on tenant protections, but has made opposition to "missing-middle" housing development a centerpiece of campaign.
Police Funding
Supports increased police funding, and has made a crime panic a centerpiece of his campaign.
ICE Cooperation
No clear position identified.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 1,241
(
1
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> no significant endorsements
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Granger has lived in Arlington since 2021 and currently lives in Green Valley. A consultant and personal trainer, Granger has been on the Forward Party's state leadership team since 2023. She is a moderate who has made improvements in civil discourse a centerpiece of her campaign. Although opposition to "missing middle" was the prompting event of her campaign, this zoning change has already been halted in a recent court ruling.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
No clear position identified.
Tenant Protections
No clear stance or positions on tenant protections, but has made opposition to "missing-middle" housing development a centerpiece of campaign.
Police Funding
No clear position identified.
ICE Cooperation
No clear position identified.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 7,082
(
3
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> no significant endorsements
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Alexandria City Council
( 9 candidates, 6 votes )
Canek Aguirre
Democrat
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Sarah Bagley
Democrat
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Kirk McPike
Democrat
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
John Chapman
Democrat
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Abdel Elnoubi
Democrat
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
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Jacinta Greene
Democrat
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Roy Byrd
Independent
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Mason Butler
Independent
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Celianna Gunderson
Republican
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Canek Aguirre was first elected to the Alexandria City Council in 2018. He is the first Latino to serve on the Alexandria City Council. Often wrongly called the "Communist of the City Council," Canek is neither a communist nor a socialist. He is, however, the most progressive incumbent on the city council. He has strong ties to the Latino community in Alexandria and admirably advocates for them.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
Voiced support for a ceasefire resolution.
Tenant Protections
Supports expanded tenant protections and has identified expansion of rights and protections as a priority.
Police Funding
No clear position identified.
ICE Cooperation
Has pledged not to voluntarily cooperate with ICE.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 95,964
(
16
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> NOVA Labor
> UNITE Here
> ATU Local 689
> IBEW Local 216
> Mid-Atlantic Pipetraders Assoc
> Moms Demand Action
> Sierra Club
> Juntos por Virginia
> Latino Victory Fund
> YIMBYs of NOVA
> NOVA Assoc of Realtors
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Sarah Bagley, born and raised in Virginia and seeking reelection. She is a housing nonprofit executive director and has held leadership roles for Moms Demand Action and Alexandria Democratic Committee. Her ideology is not a coherent or consist form of progressivism, but waves issue to issue.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
Does not support a ceasefire resolution.
Tenant Protections
No direct mention, but says housing is a human right. She is also the executive director of a housing nonprofit that connects residents to affordable housing resources.
Police Funding
Advocates for funding and partnership with law enforcement on some gun control measures. Wants the Police Review Board to have reps from marginalized communities and embrace police accountability.
ICE Cooperation
Supports voluntary ICE cooperation.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 86,884
(
15
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> NOVA Labor
> ATU Local 689
> UNITE Here
> IBEW Local 216
> Mid-Atlantic Pipetrades Assoc.
> Eastern Atlantic Council of Carpenters
> Moms Demand Action
> Everytown for Gun Safety
> Sierra Club
> Vote Pro-Choice
> New Virginia Majority
> VA LGBTQ+ Democrats
> Alexandria PAC for Education
> YIMBYs of NOVA
> Northern Virginia Realtors PAC
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
McPike is a current member of the Alexandria City Council, first elected in 2021. He is been an Alexandria resident for over a decade and lives in Seminary Hill. He works as California Rep. Mark Takano's Chief of Staff in Congress. As an incumbent, he has shown that he prefers to play nice rather than lead on challenging progressive issues.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
Does not support a ceasefire resolution.
Tenant Protections
No clear position or focus on tenants rights.
Police Funding
Has voiced support for increased police funding.
ICE Cooperation
Supports voluntary ICE cooperation.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 119,358
(
20
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> NoVA Labor
> Unite Here
> ATU Local 689
> IBEW Local 216
> IAFF Local 2141
> Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Assoc.
> NoVA Assoc. of Realtors
> Sierra Club
> Vote Pro-Choice
> Greater Greater Washington
> New Virginia Majority
> YIMBYs of NOVA
> NOVA Assoc. of Realtors
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Chapman is fourth generation Alexandrian seeking reelection for Alexandria City Council. A career educator and former President of the Alexandria NAACP, Chapman also owns an Alexandria tour company. As the longest serving current member of the city council, he has come to tolerate all of the other city councilors he has served with, along with their various ideologies, and does the same when interacting with constituents and their concerns.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
Supports passing a ceasefire resolution.
Tenant Protections
No mention of tenant protections, but has previously voiced general support for expanding affordable housing options.
Police Funding
No clear position identified.
ICE Cooperation
Supports voluntary cooperation with ICE.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 111,856
(
19
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> NOVA Labor
> ATU Local 689
> UNITE Here
> IBEW Local 216
> IAFF Local 2141
> LiUNA!
> Sierra Club
> Greater Greater Washington
> NOVA Assoc of Realtors
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Elnoubi is a current member of the Alexandria City School Board. He is from Chicago with family from Alexandria, Egypt. He works as an engineering project manager at WMATA. He does not seem to have a coherent progressive ideology.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
Supports a ceasefire resolution.
Tenant Protections
No clear position on tenant protections. Has focused more on talking up housing production, less focus on tenants and renters.
Police Funding
Supports increased police funding, but also calls for more transparency and "reform."
ICE Cooperation
Skeptical of working with ICE, but undecided on voluntary cooperation.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 79,453
(
14
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> NOVA Labor
> UNITE Here
> ATU Local 689
> IBEW Local 216
> Eastern Atlantic Council of Carpenters
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Greene is a current member of the Alexandria City School Board. Originally from Richmond, Greene works as a self employed marketing consultant and meeting planner. Greene is running on her reputation from the school board, having otherwise struggled to attract significant endorsements.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
Supports a ceasefire resolution.
Tenant Protections
Little commentary on tenant protections, but does talk about expanding affordable housing and homeless shelters.
Police Funding
No clear position on police funding.
ICE Cooperation
No clear position identified.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 61,530
(
11
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> NoVA Labor
> Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence Action
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Roy Byrd first and foremost is a staunch opponent to pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure upgrades for roads. He claims changes in Alexandria are happening too fast and uses other right wing rhetoric. Byrd is running to shape Alexandria to fit his narrow-vision.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
No position identified.
Tenant Protections
Wants to see rent reduced, but offers nothing by way of tenant policy.
Police Funding
No clear position identified.
ICE Cooperation
No clear position identified.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 19,990
(
3
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> no significant endorsements
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Despite billing himself as a moderate, Mason Butler has staked himself as THE conservative woe-is-me candidate. Butler has gleefully fanned criminal panic, focusing on dumping more money into the pockets of police and ardently supporting Alexandria's crazed police unions. Lacking significant motive, perhaps Butler felt he had to run as the only cis white male in the race, but has struggled to carry out campaign basics.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
No clear position identified.
Tenant Protections
Has no overtures to tenants, but supports policies that spur production of workforce housing.
Police Funding
Wants to increase cop pay and has been an active booster of Virginia's crazed police "unions."
ICE Cooperation
No clear position identified.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 4,383
(
1
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> no significant endorsements
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Gunderson is the only candidate in all of Alexandria the Republicans could find to run in all of the local elections on the ballot. Gunderson ostensibly wants to make city council elections nonpartisan so Republicans have a better chance at winning. Gunderson is also defiantly anti-bike, running to oppose any re-design of roads which allow for pedestrian or bike use.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
No identified position on passing a ceasefire resolution.
Tenant Protections
No positioning that would benefit tenants, but wants to lower rent by lowering property taxes (a windfall for landlords and wealthy homeowners).
Police Funding
Has called to fully staff the cops and increase officer pay.
ICE Cooperation
No clear position identified.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 6,431
(
1
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> no significant endorsements
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Alexandria Mayor
(1 candidate, 1 vote)
Alyia Gaskins
Democrat
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Alyia Gaskins is a current member of the Alexandria City Council and close ally of outgoing Mayor Justin Wilson. Gaskins appears to be using the Mayoral position to springboard to a larger political career outside of Alexandria politics. A classic politician, Gaskins has learned how to deploy a nod, smile and word salad to resident concerns she does not agree with.
WHERE THEY STAND
Ceasefire Resolution
No. Has liked one tweet being sympathetic to the cause and has mentioned that the Council was discussing a ceasefire resolution on March 30th, but has made no other movements.
Tenant Protections
Her website states that she wants to protect and expand tenant rights and prevent displacement, but has not identified specific policies.
Police Funding
Website states desire to expand investment of first responders, including APD and Sheriff’s Office. Part of the current Alexandria Council who is pushing for more police funding.
ICE Cooperation
Supports voluntary cooperation with ICE.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 367,510
(
100
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> NoVA Labor
> Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Assoc
> Unite Here!
> IAFF Local 2141
> EASRCC
> Sierra Club
> New Virginia Majority
> 314 Action Fund
> Greater Greater Washington
> NoVA Realtors PAC
> YIMBYs of NOVA
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Arlington School Board
(4 candidates, 2 votes)
Zuraya Tapia-Hadley
Democrat
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Kathleen Clark
Democrat
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Paul Weiss
Independent
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
James Rives
Forward
Progressive Backed
Labor Backed
Zuria Tapia-Hadley has been involved in local politics for years. She has lived in Arlington 20+ years and currently lives in Green Valley neighborhood. She works at a spanish media company. She has focused her campaign on bringing transparency to school board decision making for parents, with an ambition to build broader community consensus in the school board's direction. Just how broad she will go in order to get that consensus while also sticking to her positions is unclear.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 66,533
(
55
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> Arlington Education Assoc
> NOVA Labor
> Juntos por Virginia
> Latino Victory Fund
> Sierra Club
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Kathleen Clark grew up in Arlington and is a former student of Arlington Public Schools. Her focus is mostly about being inclusive to neurodivergent and non-English speaking students. Aside from that, the rest of her campaign is generally similar to the positions of other candidates.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 25,380
(
21
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> Arlington Education Assoc
> NOVA Labor
> Sierra Club
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Paul Weiss is a teacher at Fairfax County Public Schools, and also a Democrat. But he did not get endorsed by them in their internal straw poll primary. His campaign is primarily focused on reforms to school district administration, teacher work conditions, and budgeting. He has highlighted the qualifications he has as a teacher that he would leverage if he ends up on the school board. He has messaged his affinity to the Democratic Party throughout his campaign.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 12,255
(
10
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> no significant endorsements
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
James Rives is a perennial candidate that also ran for school board in 2022 and 2023. Maybe he thinks support from the Forward Party can change that, but little has changed from his past campaigns. He has a career as a physician, has been an Arlington resident for 25 years, and serves on the APS School Health Advisory Board.
FUNDING
Total Raised
$ 17,861
(
15
% of total funds in this race)
ENDORSEMENTS
> no significant endorsements
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]