A prospective Democratic challenger to Rep. Jim Moran in the 8th District that includes the City of Falls Church failed to submit the required 1,000 qualified petition signatures, the Arlington registrar confirmed this week. It means that Moran will face no primary opposition, as with 11th District Democratic incumbent Gerry Connolly, so no Democratic primaries will be held in this region.

It will enable the party to focus on its state convention that will be held at the Patriot Center at George Mason University on June 1 and 2, according to state party officials. Moran’s prospective primary contender, Bruce Shuttleworth, came up 18 valid signatures short of the necessary number to get on a June primary ballot. A former Navy pilot, Shuttleworth had the backing of a Texas-based “super PAC,” the “Campaign for Primary Accountability,” heavily funded by conservative Republicans, according to the Wall Street Journal.

According to reports, Moran now has a campaign war chest of $462,964 that he can now preserve for his November general election challenge from Republican Patrick Murray.