Reston House Of Delegates Election: 4 Democrats Vie For Open Seat

RESTON, VA — Reston voters will be casting ballots on Tuesday in the 2023 Democratic Party primary. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Any voter still in line at 7 p.m. will still be able to vote.

Most of the attention in the lead-up to Tuesday's primary has been on the four candidates running for the open Virginia House of Delegates seat in District 7.

Interest in the race started to heat up in late February when Del. Ken Plum, who has represented Reston in the house of delegates for more than 40 years, announced he would not be seeking reelection in November.

Five local Democrats almost immediately announced their intention to run for Plum's seat, including Mary Barthelson, a space engineer; Paul Berry, an educator with 20 years of experience; Shyamali Hauth, former legislative adviser for Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn; and Fairfax County School Board Member Karen Keys-Gamarra.

Attorney John Farrell also threw his hat in the ring, but he later withdrew in order to concentrate on his campaign for an at-large seat on the Reston Association Board of Directors. Farrell won that race and was later elected RA Board president.

Reston voters will also be picking candidates running in the sheriff, commonwealth's attorney and chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors races.

Voting Requirements And Registration

Fairfax County voters can check their registration status and find their polling place via the Fairfax County Board of Elections' Citizen Portal. Absentee ballots can also be dropped off at any polling place or the permanent Ballot Drop Box outside the Fairfax County Government Center at 12000 Government Center Parkway.

The Democratic Party primary is open to all registered voters in Fairfax County, even those who identify themselves as Republicans or independents.

The winner of Tuesday's primary will represent the Democratic Party on the Nov. 7 ballot. No Republican candidate has filed to run in the District 7 race. Candidates must file by 7 p.m., on Tuesday if they intend to be on the ballot in the November. Political parties have a June 26 filing deadline.

Here are the races and candidates on the ballot in the Reston area for the June 20 Democratic Party Primary.

Virginia House of Delegates

District 7:

• Mary Barthelson
• Paul Berry
• Shyamali Hauth
• Karen Keys-Gamarra

Chairman of Board of Supervisors

• Jeff McKay
• Lisa Downing

Commonwealth Attorney:

• Steve Descano
• Ed Nutall

Sheriff:

• Stacey Kincaid
• Kelvin Garcia

Related:

• Paul Berry Raises More Money Than 3 Democratic Primary Opponents
• Watch Virtual Candidate Forum In District 7 House Of Delegates Race
• House Of Delegates Candidates In District 7 Square Off At Reston Forum
• Shyamali Hauth Outraised 3 Opponents In Democratic Primary Race