Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson To Not Run For New Term In 2024

ALEXANDRIA, VA — While Alexandria's mayoral and City Council elections will happen in 2024, Mayor Justin Wilson won't be one of the candidates running.

Alexandria's mayor announced in his newsletter Friday that he won't seek re-election in 2024. He attributed the decision to balancing work and family life with mayoral duties.

"I love this job. I am in awe of what we have been able to accomplish by working together during the 13 years I have been able to serve," Wilson wrote in his newsletter. "I would be thrilled to do this job forever. But doing two full-time jobs and being a good husband and father is not sustainable forever. Nor should anyone be in elected office forever. Good governance requires the constant injection of new ideas and energy."

Wilson was first elected as mayor in 2018 after defeating incumbent Mayor Allison Silberberg in an upset victory in the Democratic primary election. Before serving as mayor, he served eight years on Alexandria City Council, including as vice mayor from 2016 to 2019. Wilson defeated Silberberg again in another primary matchup in 2021 before winning the general election in November. Wilson and his wife live in the Del Ray neighborhood and have two children, one of whom attends Alexandria City High School and the other who recently graduated from the school. Aside from serving as mayor, Wilson works for Amtrak.

Wilson has been mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic and the city's recovery, as well as milestones like the opening of the Potomac Yard Metro station and kickoff of the long-awaited Landmark Mall redevelopment. Just this week, Wilson and other members of City Council voted to approve Zoning for Housing, a reform package of zoning tools to boost housing stock and options in the city. According to the city's website, the mayor's priorities have been new investments in schools, transportation and environmental infrastructure, expanding early childhood education, boosting economic growth, protecting and expanding affordable housing and more.

"On the first day of 2025, I'll take my place on the sidelines," Wilson shared in his newsletter. "Until then, we have a lot of work to do, and I have a finite deadline with which to do it! With this announcement out of the way, let's get back to work!"