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

ALEXANDRIA, VA — While the presidential election and congressional elections are the nation's most closely-watched races this year, Alexandrians will also have mayor and City Council on the ballot. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 18, 2024 for the primary election in the City of Alexandria.

The Democratic primary election will determine 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.

Democratic Mayor Justin Wilson is not running 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 includes 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.

How to Vote

The deadline for voter registration was May 28, but same-day registration is available to let voters cast a provisional ballot. Voters who will be 18 by the next general election on Nov. 5, 2024, can register to vote in the primary.

Voters are not registered by party, so they can vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary. The Democratic primary includes Alexandria mayoral and City Council races. The Republican ballot is a U.S. Senate race to determine a challenger for Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine. See sample ballots for the City of Alexandria.

To vote on Election Day (Tuesday, June 18), visit your assigned polling place during voting hours from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check your polling place using the Virginia Department of Elections citizens portal and see a map of Alexandria precincts. An acceptable form of ID is required to vote in person.

If you received a mail-in ballot, return the completed ballot by 7 p.m. on June 18 or have it postmarked by June 18. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot was June 7. Voters may return the ballot by mail, a secure drop box with video surveillance outside the Office of Voter Registration & Elections, or at any polling place during voting hours.

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 the City of Alexandria, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Elections.