Yalowitz Drops Out Of 37th Senate Race, Leaving Petersen Facing Salim

FAIRFAX, VA — The three-way race in Fairfax County to fill the vacant 37th District seat in the Virginia Senate is now a two-candidate race.

In an email to her supporters on Thursday afternoon, Erika Yalowitz announced that she was withdrawing from the race and throwing her support behind fellow Democrat Saddam Salim.

Yalowitz's campaign was focused on ousting incumbent Sen. Chap Petersen, whose voting record she has criticized, especially in the area of gun safety.

"Lost and stolen weapons show up in kids’ hands, and Chap Petersen voted against a law that would have required those to be reported," she said, in her email. "Chap also voted against an assault weapons’ ban, when we see these guns used to carry out shooting after shooting.

"If we want to make progress on the issues we care about, such as gun safety, reproductive justice or housing affordability, we need to elect a different senator. That is why I am making the decision to suspend my campaign and endorse Saddam Salim in this race. I will be forever grateful to my husband Neil, my daughter Toni, and my family who helped sustain me in this race, and I will be forever grateful to you, my supporters, donors, volunteers, and my staff, who powered this campaign. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Both Petersen and Salim released statements about Yalowitz's announcement.

"I talked to her today and wished her well," Petersen said, in an email. "We'll continue forward with a positive message focused on our constituents. No changes."

“I just learned that Erika Yalowitz has ended her campaign for State Senate in the 37th District," Salim said, in an email. "I want to thank Erika Yalowitz for bringing a progressive voice into this campaign and advocating for important issues like reproductive rights, the fentanyl crisis, gun violence prevention and public education. I also want to thank her for her endorsement — I appreciate it deeply and I look forward to working with her on the campaign trail to give the people of the 37th District a new choice for the first time in sixteen years. Erika will have a great future in the Democratic Party and I look forward to supporting her wholeheartedly in her next endeavors.”

Petersen and Salim are due to participate in a candidate forum from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Thursday, at the American Legion Post 180, 330 Center St. N., Vienna, VA. The forum is hosted by the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce and includes questions by moderator Doug Francis and the audience. The event is open to the public, and no registration is required to attend. Co-sponsors are the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and Greater Merrifield Business Association.

The following is the full text of Yalowitz's email to her supporters:

About eleven weeks ago, I announced my candidacy for State Senate in the new 37th district. Today, for the good of this community, I am stepping aside and endorsing Saddam Salim.

I was raised by a single father in Bogota, Colombia, where a depressed economy was defined by the war on drugs, civil war, and corruption. I know what happens when guns are everywhere, when children don’t have good schools, when corporations wield influence over government, and where the most basic freedoms are under attack, and I see the similarities with what is happening right here.

That is why I decided to become a family Court Officer and help people through the most difficult times in their lives. Since I came to Virginia 16 years ago, I have worked tirelessly to make my home a better place through volunteering and community activism.

That is also why I decided to run for office. I see how policy decisions impact people. Lost and stolen weapons show up in kids’ hands, and Chap Petersen voted against a law that would have required those to be reported. Chap also voted against an assault weapons’ ban, when we see these guns used to carry out shooting after shooting.

If we want to make progress on the issues we care about, such as gun safety, reproductive justice or housing affordability, we need to elect a different senator. That is why I am making the decision to suspend my campaign and endorse Saddam Salim in this race. I will be forever grateful to my husband Neil, my daughter Toni, and my family who helped sustain me in this race, and I will be forever grateful to you, my supporters, donors, volunteers, and my staff, who powered this campaign. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I have gotten to know Saddam Salim during this hard-fought campaign. He is a committed Democrat who cares deeply about the people of this district. He and I are aligned on most of the important issues our community faces. We agree that we should have common-sense gun reform. We agree that our public tax dollars belong in public schools. We agree that we must defend reproductive rights and fight for our LGBTQ+ neighbors against Glenn Youngkin and the Republicans in the legislature, and very importantly, we agree in not taking any money from corporations, to keep our mission tied to our community’s best interest.

My campaign is closed for donations. Any funds available will be destined to cover my commitments with staff, suppliers, and other expenses. I intent to send any unused funds to Saddam’s campaign to support his bid for new leadership in the 37th.

I am extremely proud of the campaign we’ve run, and I am also proud to back Saddam now. I support his campaign, and I hope you will join me.

In solidarity,
Erika Yalowitz

More about the 37th District Senate race:

• Election 2023: State Senate Debate Moved To Vienna
• Petersen Outraises 2 Primary Opponents In Virginia Senate Race: VPAP
• Petersen Touts Record, Looks To Step Into Leadership Role In VA Senate
• Salim Defeats Petersen In Fairfax Democratic Committee Straw Poll Vote
• Erika Yalowitz Third Democrat Running For VA Senate In 37th District
• Petersen Touts Advocacy For Children, Elderly, Small Business
• Saddam Azlan Salim To Challenge Chap Petersen In June 20 Primary