Alexandria 2024 Primary Voter Guide: Candidates, How To Vote

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Tuesday is primary election day in Alexandria and the rest of Virginia. City of Alexandria voters will have mayoral, City Council and U.S. Senate primaries to determine candidates for November's general election.

While Virginia already chose its primary candidates for U.S. president in the March Super Tuesday election, June's primary focuses on congressional elections and local offices where applicable.

What's on the Ballot

Alexandria will have a dual primary — a Democratic primary for mayor and City Council and a Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat. There is no primary for the 8th congressional district, which covers the City of Alexandria.

There are three Democratic candidates for mayor: Councilmember Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Amy Jackson and businessman Steven Peterson. Current Mayor Justin Wilson is not seeking re-election.

The candidates for the six City Council seats are incumbent Councilmembers John Taylor Chapman, Canek Aguirre, Sarah Bagley and Kirk McPike; Alexandria School Board members Jacinte Greene and Abdel Elnoubi; Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board chair James Lewis; Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority commissioner Kevin Harris; former magistrate Charlotte Scherer; nonprofit leader Jesse O'Connell and progressive tax policy staffer Jonathan Huskey.

The six City Council candidates with the most votes will advance to the general election. Republican Celianna Gunderson did not have a primary opponent and will appear on the November ballot.

SEE MORE: Alexandria Primary Election: Mayoral, City Council Candidates To Be Decided

The Republican U.S. Senate primary will determine who will be the challenger to Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine in the November election. There are five candidates: Hung Cao, Eddie Garcia, Jonathan Emord, Chuck Smith and Scott Parkinson.

SEE MORE: 5 GOP Challengers Vie To Face Kaine For US Senate In Tuesday's Primary

Virginia voters are not registered by party, so they may choose to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary.

Here is the list of candidates on the ballot in Alexandria precincts:

Democratic Primary Sample Ballot

Mayor

• Alyia Smith Parker Gaskins
• Amy B. Jackson
• Steven B. Peterson

City Council (six seats)

• R.Kirk McPike
• James C. "Jimmy" Lewis Jr.
• Abdel S. Elnoubi
• Sarah R. Bagley
• Canek Aguirre
• Jesse D. O'Connell
• Kevin J. Harris
• John Taylor Chapman
• Jonathan P. Huskey
• Jacinta E. Greene
• Charlotte A. Scherer

Republican Primary Sample Ballot

Member, United States Senate

• Hung Cao
• Edward C."Eddie" Garcia, Jr.
• Jonathan W. Emord
• C.L. "Chuck" Smith, Jr.
• Scott Thomas Parkinson

How to Vote in the Primary Election

For those who didn't vote early or request a mail-in ballot, Election Day voting is available at a voter's assigned polling place. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18. An acceptable form of ID is required to vote in person.

Voters may confirm their polling place through the Virginia Department of Elections citizens portal. The Alexandria Office of Voter Registrations and Elections also has a list and map of precincts.

The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot was June 7. Mail-in ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before June 18 and received by 12 p.m., June 21. Ballots may also be returned to the secure drop box 24/7 in front of the Alexandria Office of Voter Registrations and Elections (132 North Royal St., Suite 100) by 7 p.m. on June 18. There are also drop boxes in each Alexandria polling place from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The deadline for voter registration was May 28. The easiest way to register to vote or check your registration status is visiting the Virginia Department of Elections citizens portal. Same-day registration is available to let voters cast a provisional ballot at any Alexandria precinct. Voters who will be 18 by the next general election on Nov. 5, 2024, can register to vote in the primary.

After polls close at 7 p.m. on June 18, preliminary election results will be tallied on the Virginia Department of Elections website. Patch will provide coverage of the Alexandria mayoral and City Council primaries as well as other key races in Northern Virginia.

For more information on voting in Alexandria, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Elections.