The number of candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in a June 10 primary to fill the U.S. Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Jim Moran remains at 11 as Arlington resident Nancy Najarian has announced her candidacy, days after State Del. Mark Sickles announced he’d dropped out.
Narajian is a small business owner and mother of two. Candidates for the position have until March 27 to successfully file 1,000 petition signatures and other papers. State Del. Patrick Hope of Arlington has already filed, and claimed victory in a straw poll at Arlington County Treasurer Frank O’Leary’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Party last night. He won 44 percent of just under 200 votes cast, finishing ahead of Falls Church businessman and former Virginia Lieutenant Gov. Don Beyer (24 percent) and State Sen. Adam Ebbin (20 percent).
In yet another straw poll conducted Monday nightt at U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly’s annual St. Patrick’s Day fete in Fairfax County, however, it was Beyer who finished in front, outpolling the entire field of candidates with 35 percent of the total.
