Alexandria Primary Election Results: Gaskins Projected Winner, 6 Council Candidates Lead

Updated at 10 a.m.

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Councilmember Alyia Gaskins is the projected winner in the mayoral primary, and six candidates are projected winners in the City Council race.

NBC4 and Washington Post projected Gaskins was the mayoral primary winner based on unofficial election results. Gaskins has 59.36 percent of votes to Vice Mayor Amy Jackson's 29.93 percent and Steven Peterson's 10.7 percent with 32 of 33 precincts reporting.

The City Council race was tighter, according to unofficial results as of 10 p.m. Tuesday. The six candidates gaining the most votes with 32 of 33 precincts reporting are: John Taylor Chapman (11.83 percent), Sarah Bagley (11.57 percent), Kirk McPike (10.48 percent), Abdel Elnoubi (10.01), Canek Aguirre (9.52 percent) and Jacinta Greene (9.11 percent).

Other candidates were Charlotte Scherer (8.75 percent), Jesse O'Connell (8.04 percent), Kevin Harris (7.65 percent), James Lewis (7.5 percent) and Jonathan Huskey (5.55 percent).

Results are unofficial until certified.

(You can check the Virginia Department of Elections website, which is updated in real time, for live results.)

The Democratic primary election determined candidates for mayor and the six City Council seats. Alexandria's nine-member School Board will be on the ballot in November, along with mayor and City Council. Because Alexandria is a largely blue city, Democratic primary winners have a strong chance at winning the general election.

Democratic Mayor Justin Wilson did not run for re-election, so several newcomers are vying for the party's nomination to that seat: Councilmember Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Amy Jackson and businessman Steven Peterson.

Gaskins's campaign priorities include quality affordable housing, supporting quality education, addressing a rise in crime through public safety initiatives, supporting small businesses, employment programs, and unions, and improving city government's community engagement.

Wilson has endorsed Gaskins, along with Councilmembers John Taylor Chapman, Kirk McPike and Sarah Bagley, former Mayor Bill Euille, former Mayor and U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, former Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, former Councilmember Del Pepper and others.

Jackson has outlined campaign priorities like working with law enforcement and leaders to address public safety, fully fund schools, support Pre-K programs, support collective bargaining, protect the environment, make infrastructure upgrades to stop flooding, work to address traffic and support safe bike lanes and walkability, support small businesses, preserve historical assets, arts and culture, make infrastructure improvements, support working people, and support affordable housing.

Jackson's endorsements include Alexandria Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter, Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court Greg Parks, former Virginia Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, Alexandria School Board member Tammy Ignacio, former Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran, and others.

According to Peterson's campaign website, his priorities include income-based housing, increasing teacher pay and decreasing class sizes, alleviating the residential tax burden through development, and increasing police funding and affordable housing for officers. Peterson has also touted his opposition to the failed Potomac Yard arena proposal from the start.

The City Council primary included a mix of incumbents and newcomers. Incumbent Councilmembers John Taylor Chapman, Canek Aguirre, Sarah Bagley and Kirk McPike are seeking re-election. Other candidates in the Democratic primary are 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 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.

Other key primaries in Northern Virginia included the 10th congressional district to replace retiring Rep. Jennifer Wexton, 7th congressional district as Rep. Abigail Spanberger runs for governor in 2025, and Republican U.S. Senate primary to determine a challenger for Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine. The 8th congressional district, which covers the City of Alexandria, did not have a primary.

Five candidates are competing in the Republican primary on Tuesday for U.S. Senate to determine who will run against Sen. Tim Kaine (D) and independent Jonathan Hardin in November. View results of the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.