A critical election for Northern Virginia
With the retirement of Vince Callahan, the Virginia General Assembly will have only one Northern Virginia chair—none in the Senate—of an important committee unless we elect Democrats to the Virginia Senate and House from Northern Virginia.
Fairfax County and Prince William County races are critical, particularly three Senate contests mostly in Fairfax County. The Democrats must pick up four seats to ensure that Northern Virginians chair key committees.
Prince William Senator Chuck Colgan, who is in a close election fight, will likely chair the very powerful Senate Finance Committee if the Democrats win control. Other Northern Virginians, including Senators Dick Saslaw and Mary Margaret Whipple, could chair major committees if Chap Petersen and George Barker and Janet Oleszak become Senators—and Democrats win one more seat elsewhere now held by a Republican.
And in the House….
Four Senate seats equal ten House seats. Therefore, eleven Democrats must win seats now held by Republicans or Independents for Northern Virginians to chair committees in the House. In Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, there are only three contested seats: Incumbents Tom Rust and Tim Hugo face stiff challenges by Democrats Jay Donohue and Rex Simmons, and Margi Vanderhye faces Republican Dave Hunt to replace Vince Callahan. In Loudoun and Prince William, there are five races held by incumbents that are being strongly challenged by Democrats. Only one Northern Virginia House Republican is not being challenged, Dave Albo, in the Springfield area.
To summarize:
Key Virginia Senate Races
Democrats Republicans
Chap Petersen vs. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis
George Barker vs. Jay O’Brien
Janet Oleszak vs. Ken Cuccinelli
House of Delegates
Open Seats
Democrat Republican
Margi Vanderhye (McLean) vs. Dave Hunt
Paul Nichols (Prince Wm.) vs. Faisal Gill
Incumbent Challenges
Democratic Challenger Republican Incumbent
Rex Simmons (Fx Co.) vs. Tim Hugo
Jay Donohue (Fx.& Loudoun) vs. Tom Rust
Chris Brown (Prince Wm.) vs. Jeff Frederick
Bill Day “ vs. Scott Lingamfelter
Bruce Roemmelt “ vs. Bob Marshall
Jeanette Rishell “ vs. Jackson Miller
This year will see the lowest voter turnout in the 4-year cycle beginning with the Presidential election. Your vote really matters. Please vote next Tues, November 6, at your local polling place from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
