Alexandria State Senator Adam Ebbin Faces Republican Challenger

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As Republicans and Democrats battle for majorities in the Virginia House and Senate this November, Alexandria's Democratic state senator will face a Republican challenger.

Sophia Moshasha is the Republican candidate for the 39th Virginia Senate District, which covers the City of Alexandria and small parts of Arlington and Fairfax counties. She will face Sen. Adam Ebbin, an incumbent state senator running for the new redrawn district. The Alexandria Republican City Committee announced the nomination during its July meeting.

The 39th Senate District was created during Virginia's mandated redistricting process, which will put new Virginia House and Senate districts into effect with the November general election. The Virginia Public Access Project labels the 39th Senate District as a strongly Democratic district.

Moshasha won the Republican Party's nomination through a canvass process. According to her campaign, Moshasha's career has focused on supporting emerging technologies, and she also worked on the Air Force’s Small Business Innovation Program. Her campaign platform includes supporting investments in law enforcement, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, and education, strengthening families and preserving small businesses.

Moshasha hopes to appeal to Republicans and centrist Democrats who may support Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's policies.

“I’m stepping up to bring a fresh perspective to the table, underpinned by a firm belief in the transformative power of technology, the importance of community involvement, and the necessity of constructive conversations in politics," Moshasha
said in a statement. "All too often, divisive partisanship stands in the way of progress. I’m determined to work collaboratively with colleagues from all backgrounds to achieve positive results for our community.

Ebbin, has been a member of the Virginia Senate since 2012 and served in the Virginia House from 2004 to 2012. According to Ebbin's campaign website, his priorities in the state legislative have included addressing gun violence, improving voting access, and pushing for equality.

"For the last nineteen years it has been my honor to represent Northern Virginia in the General Assembly," Ebbin said in a campaign email before his campaign kickoff. "We've accomplished a great deal during that time, passing legislation to provide prenatal care for immigrant mothers, ban firearms in state buildings, legalize marijuana possession, and comprehensively ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity."