Vanessa Cárdenas Running In 11th District Delegate Race: Democratic Primary

FAIRFAX, VA —One of the key areas in the under affordability is access to housing, according to Vanessa Cárdenas, one of the five candidates seeking to be the Democratic Party's candidate in the Jan. 13, 2026 special election.

"Currently, workers like teachers, nurses, and service workers who form the backbone of our community are being priced out," she said. "It is increasingly difficult for our young people to afford to live in the neighborhoods where they grew up."

Cárdenas is facing Douglas Shuster, So Lim, Gretchen Bulova, and Denver Supinger in Tuesday's firehouse primary, hoping to be their party's candidate on the Jan. 13 ballot in the 11th District delegate 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 Cárdenas' responses to Patch's candidate questionnaire. Scroll down to view the other candidates' responses.

What is your name?

Vanessa Cárdenas

What will be your age on election day?

51

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

Executive Director of a Non-Profit. I have worked over 15 years in the non profit field.

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

If I had to boil my platform down to one issue, it would be affordability. I am committed to ensuring every hard-working Virginian has a shot at a good, safe, and dignified life. Of course, this encompasses issues like ensuring more affordable housing, a living wage, paid family leave, and protecting Medicaid and Medicare, among others. Addressing affordability also requires a strong focus on workers' rights. We need to increase the minimum wage so people who work in the district can afford the basic necessities of life and are able to live here. It also means that all workers need the right to organize and collectively bargain so that they have an actual voice in their wages and working conditions. Virginia's status as a Right-to-Work state is bad for workers and working families, and fixing this must be part of any plan for sustainable affordability.

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

I am deeply committed to ensuring the American Dream is possible for all children and families, and my life experiences reflect many of the struggles people in our district are facing. I have dedicated my entire career to issues that advance the interests of working people—including economic mobility, women's right to choose, and access to healthcare.
I've lived in Fairfax City for almost 20 years; my husband and I raised our children here. I have built deep roots in the area and am personally invested in making sure it thrives. As the daughter of a single mother, an immigrant, and the first in my family to graduate from college, I feel lucky to have been able to fulfill the promise of the American Dream. Like so many people in our district, I know what it means to work for everything you have. My American Dream was possible only because of access to quality public education, strong community support, and opportunities. I am committed to making sure every person in our district can have those same advantages because I have experienced firsthand how life-changing they can be.

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

One of the key areas under affordability is access to housing. Currently, workers like teachers, nurses, and service workers who form the backbone of our community are being priced out.

It is increasingly difficult for our young people to afford to live in the neighborhoods where they grew up. Similarly, our seniors are facing exorbitant fees to live in senior living residences. We need to do better for our families. Here are some concrete ideas to address this issue:

• More resources to keep people in their homes, such as rent assistance, emergency assistance, and home-sharing programs
• Dedicated funds to create more affordable housing: ensure that new construction offers affordable housing opportunities, help first-time homebuyers, rehabilitate existing housing, and change our zoning laws so homeowners can build additional structures on their properties
• Develop partnerships with faith communities, businesses, and other organizations to find innovative ways to collaborate and create more housing inventory—for example, in some cities across the country, office buildings are being converted into housing

While affordable housing is a national crisis, there are concrete steps we can take to ease some of this pressure now.

Also See ...

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