Gretchen Bulova Running In 11th District Delegate Race: Democratic Primary

FAIRFAX, VA — Affordability is the single most important issue facing voters in the 11th House of Delegates District, according to Gretchen M. Bulova, one of the five candidates seeking to be the Democratic Party's candidate in the Jan. 13, 2026 special election.

"The skyrocketing cost of housing, health care, and childcare – just to name a few – means that many families are struggling to simply make ends meet," she said. "These issues have been exacerbated by the Trump administration's DOGE cuts, tariffs, and purge of our federal workforce. The issue is particularly acute for health care, where federal inaction means that many families will pay more than double their health care premiums or face the difficult decision to go without health insurance.

Bulova is facing So Lim, Douglas Shuster, Vanessa Cárdenas, and Denver Supinger in Tuesday's firehouse primary, hoping to be their party's candidate on the Jan. 13 ballot in the 11th District House of Delegates race.

How To Vote: 11th District Democrats Host Primary In House Of Delegates Race

The 11th District seat became vacant when David Bulova stepped down to become Governor-Elect Abigail Spanberger's nominee as the next Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources.

Patch reached out to all five candidates running in Tuesday's primary, asking them to answer a few questions to help voters learn more about them. The following are Bulova's responses to Patch's candidate questionnaire. Scroll down to view the other candidates' responses.

What is your name?

Gretchen M. Bulova

What will be your age on election day?

56

What is your occupation and the number of years you've worked in the field?

Museum Director, 34 years

What is the single issue that defines your candidacy? (200 Word Limit)

A high-quality public education is the greatest equalizer and the most important gift we can give the next generation of leaders here in Fairfax. My entire family is the product of Fairfax County Public Schools, and our schools are a major reason so many people want to live in our community. My husband and I chose to raise our family here because we wanted our children to have the same opportunities that we had. We need leaders in Richmond who are committed to bringing back our fair share of tax dollars so that we can fully fund our schools, increase teacher pay, and reduce class sizes. In addition, we need to make sure that our children are ready to learn from day one by investing in early childhood care and education. As a new working mom, it was important for me to know that my children were safe, well cared for, and thriving. Virginia still has over 14,000 eligible families on the wait list for childcare subsidies. I will work hard to reduce and eliminate that wait list.

What makes you the best candidate to represent the Democratic Party in the Jan. 13 special election? (200 Word Limit)

I grew up here, know the community, and have a record of effective leadership. Giving back through community service is a core value for me. I have actively supported our children and teachers through the PTO, helped to develop our future leaders through scouting, made our communities safer by founding my neighborhood’s National Night Out against crime program, and served on multiple Fairfax County commissions. Professionally, I am the Director of Historic Alexandria, where I manage eight museums, a staff of 75, and a complex budget. I bring passion, organizational and financial experience, and knowledge of the 11th District to the position that will allow me to be effective in the General Assembly on day one. For over 30 years, I have worked to elect great candidates at every level of government. I am pleased to have the endorsement of Congressman James Walkinshaw, City of Fairfax Mayor Catherine Read, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Jeff McKay – and over two dozen other local elected officials. Finally, at its core, being a Delegate is about teamwork. I promise to listen, collaborate, and be your voice in Richmond.

The single most pressing issue facing the 11th District is and this is what I intend to do about it? (200 Word Limit)

Affordability. The skyrocketing cost of housing, health care, and childcare – just to name a few – means that many families are struggling to simply make ends meet. These issues have been exacerbated by the Trump administration's DOGE cuts, tariffs, and purge of our federal workforce. The issue is particularly acute for health care, where federal inaction means that many families will pay more than double their health care premiums or face the difficult decision to go without health insurance. The General Assembly, working with Governor Spanberger, can play a significant role in helping families navigate these difficult times. In addition to investing in early childhood care and education, I will submit budget amendments to increase the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. The fund is Virginia’s primary tool to for partnering with non-profits and localities to increase attainable housing. We must also increase the minimum wage so that people working full time can support themselves and their families. Finally, we must move swiftly to reduce health insurance premiums and establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board so that people can afford life-saving medications.

Also See ...

• Denver Supinger Running In 11th District Delegate Race: Democratic Primary
• Vanessa Cárdenas Running In 11th District Delegate Race: Democratic Primary
• So Lim Running In 11th District Delegate Race: Democratic Primary
• Douglas Shuster Running In 11th District Delegate Race: Democratic Primary