Democratic Candidates In School Board Race To Square Off In Firehouse Primary

FAIRFAX, VA — During a Monday night Zoom call, members of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee unanimously approved a resolution to host a unassembled caucus to elect the party's candidate in the Braddock District School Board race.

In-person voting for the firehouse caucus will take place Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at locations yet to be determined.

On Tuesday, the Circuit Court of Fairfax County issued a writ of election setting March 3, 2026 as the date of the special election to fill the vacant Braddock District seat on the Fairfax County School Board.

The school board seat became vacant on Dec. 16., when Rachna Sizemore Heizer was sworn in as the new Braddock District supervisor. She was elected to that post by defeating Republican Kenneth P. "Ken" Balbuena and Independent candidate Carey Chet Campbell in the Dec. 9 special election.

Although the Jan. 10 caucus is open to any registered voter in the Braddock District, each voter will be required to sign the following declaration in order to vote:

“I certify that I am a resident of and registered to vote in Braddock District; I am a Democrat; I believe in the principles of the Democratic Party; and I do not intend to support, endorse or assist any candidate who is opposed to the Democratic-endorsed candidate in the ensuing election for Braddock District representative to the Fairfax County School Board.”

Voters will be able to cast ballots online from 12 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10.

Registration for online voting will be open from 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Registration forms will be available on the FCDC website.

Once a voter is registered to vote online, they'll receive unique credentials by email that will allow them to cast a ballot using the Electionbuddy voting software. If a voter chooses to vote in-person instead on Jan. 10, they must have their online ballot spoiled before they will receive a paper ballot.

Also See ...

• March Special Election Requested To Fill Braddock School Board Seat
• Alexa Krezel To Seek Braddock School Board Seat If Vacancy Occurs
• Early Bird Candidate Enters Braddock School Board Race
• Rachna Sizemore Heizer Wins All 29 Precincts In Braddock Supervisor's Race

Small business owner Tom Dannan and Alexa Krezel, a strategic human resources and project management professional, are the only candidates in the school board race. Both are seeking the Democratic Party's endorsement.

In order to appear on the Jan. 10 caucus ballot, potential candidates must submit a photocopy of the SBE-505/520 form they filed with the State Board of Elections and a $1,500 fee to FCDC by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

Candidates will also be required to submit a candidate withdrawal form and FCDC withdrawal authorization letter, both of which need to be signed, completed and notarized.

"We will wait until the filing window for all candidates has ended, or a full week after the conclusion of the caucus itself, before the withdrawal forms are given to the Fairfax County General Registrar, which we will be responsible for at that time," FCDC Chair Aaron Yohai said, during Monday night's Zoom call.

Since school board candidates run as independents, any candidate who fails to receive the Democratic Party's endorsement would still be eligible to run for the school board as an independent candidate in the March 3 special election.

Both Dannan and Krezal have agreed to this process, according to Yohai. The person who wins the endorsement will be on the March 3 ballot and the other will withdraw from the school board race.