Prince William County Republican Committee: “As Chairman of the Prince William Republican Committee, I would like to offer my most enthusiastic congratulations to the winners in the June 20 Republican primaries, including Jeanine Lawson for County Chair, Bill Woolf in the 30th State Senate District, and John Stirrup in the 21st District of the House of Delegates.”
“I also would like to commend those Republican candidates that did not prevail, including Josh Quill and Robert Ruffolo; they demonstrated their courage and commitment to the principles of the Republican Party by undertaking all the ardors and difficulties of a political campaign.”
“We still do not know who has won in the 29th Senate District but the close race between Nikki Rattray Baldwin and Maria Martin demonstrates that the qualities of the candidates made it a difficult decision for Republican voters.”
“It is now time for Republican voters to rally behind their Prince William County candidates in the general elections this November. If the candidates are willing to lay their time, their effort, and their money on the line to save this county, can we do less?”
The primary race for Republicans and Democrats in Virginia’s 29th Senate District (portions of Prince William and Stafford counties) remains too close to call.
Incumbent Democrat Jeremy McPike is trying to hold on to his seat but faces tough competition from challenger and current House of Delegates member Elizabeth Guzman.
A total of 46 votes separates McPike and Guzman in the party’s primary challenge. McPike has held the seat since 2016. Guzman was elected to the House of Delegates in 2017.
Incumbent Democrat Jeremy McPike is trying to hold on to his seat but faces tough competition from challenger and current House of Delegates member Elizabeth Guzman.
A total of 46 votes separates McPike and Guzman in the party’s primary challenge. McPike has held the seat since 2016. Guzman was elected to the House of Delegates in 2017.
For Republicans, Maria Martin is challenging Nikki Rattray Baldwin for the party’s nomination. Only 10 votes separates the two candidates.
Martin has sought state-level office since 2019, first in the House of Delegates and now in the Senate.
Martin and Baldwin live in Prince William County. Martin is a Bolivian immigrant and Marine Corps wife and homemaker. Baldwin is a Navy veteran, a wife of a U.S. Marine of 13 years, and the mother of a 9-year-old boy.
The Center Square: "In three key commonwealth attorney election primary races in northern Virginia, voters rejected the challengers in favor of progressive incumbents."
"In Loudoun County, Democratic incumbent Buta Biberaj defeated challenger Elizabeth Lancaster by more than 10%. Biberaj was thrust into the national spotlight when she came under fire for her handling of sexual assault cases at two county high schools."
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Democracy only works if you exercise it. Talk is cheap, but votes are powerful.
In the past 20 months, county residents have been encouraged to push back against a government that rode roughshod over its express wishes. That encouragement paid off on June 20 with the upset defeat of Board of County Supervisors Chair Ann Wheeler in the Democratic primary.
The ousting of Chair Wheeler is a thunderclap that will reverberate far beyond Prince William County and whose effects will become clearer in the weeks ahead. At a minimum, it sends a powerful message that communities will fight back against reckless development that threatens their quality of life and that public servants who do not serve will be held accountable.
The cliches are irresistible. Truth is powerful. Justice prevailed. Right made might.
What does this stunning rebuke mean for the future of Prince William County Government? For starters, it ought to shine a bright light on the public’s disdain for the “pay for play” politics that has been ruling this county for too long. Ditto for divisive leadership, obstructing transparency, neglect of due diligence, and suppression of public input.
Congratulations to Deshundra Jefferson, who had the courage to stand up to a Democratic organization that had doubled down on a flawed status quo. It’s time to start making over that organization in the image of the principles it is supposed to stand for. It is the people, not the money, that sustains it.
Democracy in. Wheeler out.
Bill Wright
Gainesville
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It's been a nail-biter of a Primary Election in the 29th Virginia Senate District, which includes eastern Prince William and northern Stafford counties.
Incumbent Democrat Jeremy McPike is trying to hold on to his seat but faces tough competition from challenger and current House of Delegates member Elizabeth Guzman.
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Rozia Henson is the Democrat nominated for the House of Delegates 19th District seat in Woodbridge and southern Fairfax County.
Henson fended off two challengers, Makya Little, and Natalie Shorter, for his party’s nomination for the seat. There is no incumbent and no Republican challenger as of today.
Only 57 votes separated Henson and Little. Little outraised Henson by $140,000.
Henson: “We did it, team! @MakyaLittle and @NatalieLShorter
have both graciously called to offer their congratulations tonight, and I am so proud to be the Democratic nominee for Delegate in House District 19. This was an incredibly hard-fought race with thousands of doors knocked, thousands of calls made, and countless conversations with neighbors — and we earned this victory together. I’m getting to bed but will be back shortly to thank our incredible volunteers and supporters and the organizations that have stood strongly by our side. Thank you!”
In 2021, Henson ran for a House of Delegates seat in Woodbridge, the seat vacated by Jennifer Carroll Foy when she resigned from the House to run for governor. Candi Mundon King went on to win the seat which she holds today.
According to his website, Henson grew up in Prince William and Spotsylvania counties and went on to attend Virginia State University and the University of Maryland, where he earned his MBA.
VPAP: Democrat Andrea Bailey defeated her opponent in today’s Primary Election for the Potomac District seat on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.
Bailey won the race by 44 points.
Bailey is seeking a second term on the board. As of today, she has no Republican challenger. Republican Verndell Charlotte Robinson will run the Potomac District (Dumfries area) in an attempt to unseat Bailey.
Angry seeks a second term on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, representing the Neabsco District. As of today, he has no Republican opponents.
Angry has served on the Board of County Supervisors since 2019, when he won a special election to replace John D. Jenkins, the longest-serving supervisor in county history, after his death in February of that year.
A total of 3,740 ballots were cast in today’s primary.
Insidenova.com: “Deshundra Jefferson on Tuesday night was heading toward upsetting incumbent Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair Ann Wheeler in the Democratic primary.”
“Jefferson’s apparent narrow victory marked voters’ rejection of Wheeler and her backing of the growing data center industry in the county.”
“Jefferson, a single mom who lives in Montclair and is a communications professional and former journalist, had 52% of the vote with 96% of the precincts reporting, according to preliminary results from the Virginia Department of Elections. She held a lead of over 1,000 votes out of nearly 25,000 cast.”
Updated 8 a.m. June 21, 2023
Virginia Department of Elections: Republican Jeanine Lawson won her race against challenger Ken Knarr by 62 points.
Lawson’s statement: “We’re very grateful for the huge win. The support has been incredible over the last few months, and tonight’s win proves it once again. I’ve always campaigned to be the voice of Prince William residents, and for that reason, they resoundingly chose the candidate in this race that focuses on what’s important to them. We’re looking forward to keeping this momentum going for a strong campaign through November and making sure the Prince William Board of County Supervisors works for the people of Prince William again.”
Lawson is running to be Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large. Since 2014, she’s served as the Brentsville District Supervisor.
The proliferation of data centers in Prince William County was at the heart of the primary campaign against Knarr. Lawson says she opposes building more data centers. At the same time, Knarr has agreed to sell his property to data center developers, saying the server farms will provide more cash for county tax coffers.
In the night’s upset, Democrat Deshundra Jefferson beat the incumbent Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large Ann Wheeler by 1,142 votes. Jefferson will face Lawson in the November General Election.
VPAP: Democrat Jennifer Carroll Foy beat her primary opponent Hala Ayala for her party’s nomination for the Virginia Senate 33rd District by 24 points.
Carroll Foy and Ayala both served in the House of Delegates until 2021, when both women faced each other in a Primary Election to be Lt. Governor sought higher office. Carroll Foy ran for governor, while Ayala ran for Lt. Governor.
Jennifer Carroll Foy: “We did it. I’m so grateful to our grassroots team for showing up for our campaign, to my family for supporting me, and most importantly to the voters of District 33 — thank you for making me your nominee for Democratic State Senator. It would be an honor to serve our community.”
The 33rd District includes portions of Woodbridge in Prince William County and south county in Fairfax County. The district has no incumbent and leans heavily toward Democrats.
Republican Mike Van Meter will face Carroll Foy in the November General Election.
