Three Arlington delegates, Adele McClure, Patrick Hope, and Alfonso Lopez, announced their re-election bids. McClure emphasized the ongoing challenges, while Hope highlighted his experience, and Lopez focused on community values. The local School Board race features two Democratic candidates, and Young Republicans have elected new leaders for 2025. Key upcoming election deadlines and races were discussed.
Three members of Arlington’s House of Delegates, Adele McClure (D-2), Patrick Hope (D-1), and Alfonso Lopez (D-3), have officially announced their candidacies for re-election during a meeting of the Arlington County Democratic Committee on March 5. Their announcement followed the conclusion of the recent legislative session, as they are anticipated to seek new terms in light of past performances and ongoing challenges facing the community.
Delegate McClure emphasized the importance of perseverance, stating, “There is still so much to do, especially now. Every person in this room knows exactly what we are up against.” Delegate Hope, serving as the senior member of the delegation, affirmed his capability by highlighting his track record: “I’ve delivered for Arlington and I know how to get things done.” Meanwhile, Delegate Lopez expressed his commitment to promoting Arlington values in Richmond by stating, “There’s nothing more rewarding than helping people. We need to create more prosperity and do it in a way where everyone wins.”
All seats held by the three delegates represent strong Democratic positions, indicating that the party’s nominees are expected to be highly favored in the upcoming general elections. Currently, McClure and Lopez face no intra-party challengers; however, on February 5, Arjoon Srikanth announced a challenge to Hope’s candidacy. The deadline for Democratic candidates to file with the party is April 3, with primary nominations scheduled for June 17.
Additionally, the Virginia Senate seats will not be contested until 2027, while the Democratic Party, holding slim majorities in the state legislature, is also preparing for elections regarding the governorship and other key statewide offices. Kip Malinosky, a former county Democratic chair, emphasized the need for mobilization and turnout across the ballot, stating, “We’re well-positioned to win. We need turnout, we need margin, we need to make sure we vote up and down the ballot.”
In the race for the Democratic School Board, candidates Monique “Moe” Bryant and June Prakash are set to compete as no new candidates emerged before the February 28 deadline. Their caucus will take place online and at select in-person locations from April 19 to May 10. The winner will head to the general election on November 4, where they are expected to dominate as no non-Democrat has won since 2003.
The current School Board member Mary Kadera decided not to seek re-election, thereby making her seat the only one on the November ballot. Importantly, while seats on school boards are officially classified as nonpartisan, candidates must file by mid-June to qualify for the general election.
In leadership developments within the Young Republicans, the Arlington-Alexandria-Falls Church Young Republicans recently elected Daniel Turner as their chair for 2025, with other leadership roles filled by Danielle Kochar (vice chair), Vikram Prasad (treasurer), Brigette Maggio (secretary), and Katelyn Stotzky (director of communications). GOP officials expressed confidence in these new leaders to enhance their organizational efforts for the upcoming election cycle, with a meeting scheduled for March 17.
In summary, the Arlington delegation to the House of Delegates is preparing for the re-election campaign with all three delegates seeking new terms. Furthermore, the School Board race features a competitive caucus between two candidates, and Young Republicans have established new leadership for 2025. The political landscape is shaping up as both parties gear up for important elections ahead.
Original Source: www.arlnow.com
