Saddam Salim Wins VA Senate Race; Chap Petersen Concedes In Letter To Supporters

Updated: Wednesday, 7:45 a.m.

FAIRFAX, VA — Challenger Saddam Salim was declared the victor by the Associated Press in the 37th District race for the Virginia Senate, upsetting incumbent Sen. Chap Petersen, according to unofficial results.

"I am truly humbled by the community that rallied to support me in this race," Salim said, in a statement issued late Tuesday by his campaign. "This was an incredible grassroots movement of constituents all across the district and we achieved this victory together. I look forward to being your Democratic nominee and continuing our fight for the issues that we care about: gun violence prevention, affordable housing, reproductive rights and so much more."

Born in Noakhali, Bangladesh, Salim is the first Bangladeshi-American ever nominated by Democrats for a state senate seat in Virginia.

With 94. 7 percent of the votes counted, Salim had 9,966 votes (53.8 percent) compared to Petersen's 8,616 (46.2 percent).

Petersen won all six precincts in his hometown on Tuesday night, pulling in a total of 1,667 votes (54.26 percent) compared to Salim's 1,405 (45.74 percent), according to the unofficial results released by the Fairfax City General Registrar. But that ultimately did not push him past Salim.

On Wednesday morning, Petersen conceded, releasing the following statement to his supporters:

Friends and Virginians:

The results last night were not what we expected but that happens in a democracy. Congratulations to Saddam Azlan Salim who is the Democratic nominee in the 37th district.

My term in office and my season in politics is coming to a close. I want to thank everyone who helped me in any way along this long and winding journey, especially over the last six months. We ran a positive campaign for re-election based on my past record as a Senator. It didn't work this time and I will bear all responsibility.

I want to thank my Chief of Staff Kathy Neilson, who served this community for 16 years. I want to also thank my wife Sharon and our four children, who grew up in a public life but did not let it define them.

I love you very much. Chap.

Salim will go on to face Republican Ken Reid, who announced his candidacy in April, in the November general election.

After Salim was declared the winner in the District 37 race, Reid sent an email to Patch, congratulating him on his victory.

"When the voters of this district learn what I stand for, and examine my record of 10 years of elected service and an additional 10 years advocating for better transportation solutions in Northern Virginia, I believe they will see me as the Sensible Choice to be the next State Senator from District 37," he said.

Reid called on Petersen's voters to support his campaign, warning them Salim's progressive ideals could result in the Fairfax County community becoming a failing “regressive” city like Baltimore or San Francisco.

"Mr. Salim advocates would be harmful to the Virginia economy, and thus, our quality of life," Reid wrote, in his email. "He also does not have the legislative background to represent the district in Richmond, especially the relationship between the municipalities and the General Assembly.

"Getting rid of right-to-work laws and imposing more government burdens on small business, allowing continued sexualized course material in public schools, weak law enforcement, and imposing further extremist environmental provisions on the populace, are not 'Progressive' policies, but 'regressive.' They will only serve to raise taxes and drive business out of Virginia, and with that, people will move and our schools quality will suffer with it."

Polls in Fairfax closed at 7 p.m. and the votes are being counted in the 2023 Democratic Party primary. Voters cast ballots to determine which of the two Democrats running to fill the vacant District 37 seat in the Virginia Senate will be on the November ballot: Incumbent Sen. Chap Petersen or challenger Saddam Azlan Salim.

With the redrawn Senate district lines going into effect this year, both candidates were running in the new 37th District, which includes Fairfax City, as well as all or parts of Vienna, Dunn Loring, Merrifield, Oakton, Fair Oaks, Tysons, and Falls Church.

Before the polls opened at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, 33,235 ballots had already been cast countywide in the primary either through early voting or by absentee, according to the Fairfax County Office of Elections.

At 10:12 p.m., the Fairfax City General Registrar released the unofficial results from the city's six precincts. Of the 17,706 registered voters in the city, 3,113 ballots were cast, which comes to 17.58 percent.

In the 2019 primary, the city had 15,921 registered voters and only 1,273 of them (8 percent) cast ballots. So, this year's primary saw more than twice as many voters casting ballots.

Not all of the people showing up at Fairfax City Hall on Tuesday were there to cast ballots. Tuesday was the deadline for residents to pay their property taxes and others were visiting the DMV.

Out front, volunteers from both Petersen and Salim's campaigns were handing out literature to voters as they walked in.

Kathy Hackshaw, the vice chair of the Fairfax City Democratic Committee, was there to enlist new members.

Unlike a regular election, a contested primary pits people from the same party against each other.

"The members of our committee are very active with the candidate of their choice." Hackshaw said. "That's the main thing we do. What I'm doing for instance, I've been out for the last couple Saturdays, trying to build our committee to keep a strong Democratic presence here in the city."

For residents of the Dranseville District, Jimmy Bierman and David Fiske are running to succeed outgoing Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, who announced last August he would not be seeking reelection in the upcoming general election.

Related:

• J.C. 'Chap' Petersen Running In June 20 Democratic Primary: Profile
• Saddam Azlan Salim Running In June 20 Democratic Primary: Profile

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Three countywide races were also on Tuesday's ballot: Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay and Lisa Downing; Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano and Ed Nutall; and Sheriff Stacey Kincaid and Kelvin Garcia.

The winners of the chairman and sheriff's races will face Republican Arthur Purves and independent Jerry Lee McMillian, respectively, in November.

Here are the races and candidates on the ballot in Fairfax City, Falls Church, and Vienna, as well as the Merrifield and Tysons areas for the June 20 Democratic Party Primary.

Board of Supervisors

Chairman:

• Jeff McKay
• Lisa Downing

Dranesville District:

• Jimmy Bierman
• David Fiske

Commonwealth Attorney:

• Steve Descano
• Ed Nutall

Sheriff:

• Stacey Kincaid
• Kelvin Garcia

View unofficial election results for Fairfax City and nearby communities below. Be sure to refresh this page for the latest.