Sizemore Heizer Declares Victory In Braddock District Special Election

BURKE, VA — Democrat Rachna Sizemore Heizer declared victory in the three-way Braddock District supervisor's race Tuesday night.

With 29 of 29 precincts reporting, Sizemore Heizer defeated Kenneth Paul Balbuena (R) and Carey Chet Campbell (I) in Tuesday's special election, according to totals from the Virginia Department of Elections. With the win, she'll finish former Supervisor James Walkinshaw's (D) term, which runs until Nov. 2, 2027.

"All of you sent a message to Braddock that we believe in supporting workers," Sizemore Heizer told supporters, who'd gathered at Banditos Tacos and Tequila in University Mall to watch the vote totals come in. "We believe in creating an affordable economy where everybody can thrive and people can live here and seniors can age here. We believe that immigrants make us stronger and better."

"This victory is for all of you who know that we have real problems here in our counties," she said. "People can't afford to live here. People can't afford to stay here. We also have great promise here. We have amazing schools. We have safe communities where you can leave your doors unlocked. We have parks and services, and we deserve to continue. We deserve to have somebody who's going to have your back, because when I needed it, Braddock had my back, and now I am here to have Braddock's back."

The Braddock supervisor's seat became vacant when Walkinshaw defeated Republican challenger Stewart Whitson in the Sept. 9 special election, filling the congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D), who died in May. The former supervisor's victory created the need for the Dec. 9 special election.

As the incumbent Braddock District representative on the Fairfax County School Board, Sizemore Heizer's victory means Braddock school board member.

Also See ...

• Carey Chet Campbell Running For Braddock Supervisor: Candidate Questionnaire
• Rachna Sizemore Heizer Running In Braddock Supervisor Race: Candidate Questionnaire
• Ken Balbuena Running For Braddock Supervisor: Candidate Questionnaire
• 3 Braddock Supervisor Candidates Address Furloughs, Lake Accotink Preservation

Small business owner Tom Dannan and Alexa Krezel, a strategic human resources and project management professional, have already announced their intentions to run in that special election, if one is needed.

Even though school board members appear as independents on the ballot, they can be endorsed by a political party. Dannan and Krezel said they would each be pursuing the Democratic Party's endorsement.