We’ve asked Democrats seeking a congressional seat in our area where they stand on supporting President Biden’s re-election bid.

In the 10th Congressional District, which includes Manassas, Manassas Park, and western Prince William County, Suhas Subramanyam gave his full-throated support to the president.

“Americans and Virginians understand what’s at stake in this election, and they know that Joe Biden is the only candidate who will fight for our democracy, protect abortion rights, and ensure that Americans have access to affordable health care and prescription drugs. That is why on November 5, voters will come together once again and re-elect Joe Biden as our President,” said Subramanyam.

Jennifer Wexton (D) is not seeking re-election to her seat, one she’s held since 2018, after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Republican Mike Clancy is running against Subramanyam

In the 7th District, which includes eastern Prince William County (Woodbridge, Dumfries, Dale City), Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania, former Army Col. Eugene Vindman has not responded to multiple requests for comment on whether or not he supports Biden. His opponent, Republican Derrick Anderson, urged Vindman to make a statement.

“It’s been 11 days since President Biden’s disastrous debate, and my opponent still refuses to say whether or not he still supports President Biden,” said Anderson. “He’s hiding like a typical political does. It’s clear President Biden is not fit to serve right now.”

Vindman was campaigning at the Dale City Christian Church on Sunday. Last week, he stumped with Senator Tim Kaine (D) at an unannounced campaign stop in Woodbridge. Abigail Spanberger (D) has held the seat since 2018, is not seeking re-election, and is preparing for a run for Virginia Governor next year.

Kaine, up for re-election this year, has voiced his support for Biden. Virginia’s other Senator, Mark Warner (D), is on the fence.

“Another Trump term would be perilous for rule of law and for our democracy. President Biden has made America stronger, guiding the nation through some of our most difficult days. I am proud of my work on his agenda.

“With so much at stake in the upcoming election, now is the time for conversations about the strongest path forward.

“As these conversations continue, I believe it is incumbent upon the President to more aggressively make his case to the American people, and to hear directly from a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trump’s lawlessness from returning to the White House.”

Several donors have called for Biden to end his re-election bid after stumbling through a debate with Donald Trump, which aired on CNN, and an interview with ABC News over the weekend, where the president continued to stumble.

Updated July 9, 2024 — The Tim Kaine for Senate campaign today sent us a press advisory announcing Kaine’s tour across the region from July 2 to 4. This is the first time we’ve seen this announcement.

Original Post: Senator Tim Kaine (D) and congressional hopeful Eugene Vindman quietly campaigned in Woodbridge on Wednesday, July 3.

The duo were joined by other elected officials, including Margaret Franklin and Victor Angry, who sit on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.

Veterans Grow America hosted an event on its retail space next to Wegmans at Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center in Woodbridge.

It was great to join Senator @TimKaine this afternoon for a roundtable discussion at Veterans Growing America in Woodbridge.

From helping Veterans build their own business, to fighting to end Veteran homelessness — in Congress I will be a champion for our Veteran community. pic.twitter.com/8yBTxJnx0B

— Eugene Vindman (@YVindman) July 3, 2024

A Kaine campaign spokesman emailed Potomac Local, and Kaine made the campaign stump as part of his “Salute to Service” tour, which kicked off on July 1 to celebrate public servants, made stops in Stafford and Woodbridge, highlighting his long-standing support for military members, veterans, teachers, and healthcare workers.

A spokesman for Veterans Growing America told us Kaine’s campaign would invite the press, but no press attended the event. Potomac Local did not receive notification about Kaine’s campaign stumps in our area despite receiving regular press releases from his Senate office.

Communications from Kaine’s campaign and senate office in Washington, D.C., are managed by employees. A Kaine campaign staffer added that reporters would have been allowed in if any had shown up.

The campaign appearance comes after the presidential debate between Biden and Trump. Many Democrats have called for Biden to step aside and allow someone else to run for the presidency due to the president’s declining cognitive abilities.

So far, the candidates have been silent on whether or not Biden should end his re-election campaign, so we asked Kaine and Vindman (see the text of our email to each campaign below) and received no response from either candidate. However, Kaine stated his support for Biden’s re-election campaign on his X account on Thursday, July 4; “I’m with Joe. We stand up and stand together. Trump and his lemmings will tear us down and tear us apart.”

Sign up for our FREE news email, and we’ll let you know if the candidates respond to our questions.

Dear Senator Kaine and Col. Vindman,

Happy Independence Day. My name is Uriah Kiser, and I am the publisher of Potomac Local News. We recently came across a post on Facebook about your joint visit to Veterans Grow America in Woodbridge, a commendable organization and one of our valued sponsors.

Veterans Grow America informed us that no reporters attended the event, despite an expectation that Senator Kaine would invite the press. We would appreciate your assistance in addressing the following questions for an article we are preparing:

1. What members of the press were invited to the event? If none were invited, could you explain the reasoning behind this decision?
2. What key points and discussions took place during your campaign stop in Woodbridge? Additionally, why was Veterans Grow America chosen as the location for this visit?
3. Where do you, Senator Kaine, and you, Col. Vindman, stand regarding your support for President Joe Biden’s reelection? Since the debate a week ago, there have been calls for him to step down from the race; do you support those calls?
5. How has the president’s debate performance changed your respective campaigns as we closer to early voting?
6. Col. Vindman, you have been accused of having staff screen voters before you speak to them in public. https://x.com/notlarrysabato/status/1803102785744797731 Is this true? Is this why no press was invited to the Woodbridge event?
4. How do you each of you plan to spend your Independence Day holiday this year?

The responses you provide will be included in a post on our site, potomaclocalnews.com. We believe our readers will be very interested in your insights and perspectives on these matters.

Thank you for your time and attention. We look forward to your response.

Uriah Kiser
Founder & Publisher
Potomac Local News

As we get closer to the start of early voting for the Fall 2024 election, Potomac Local News is dedicated to informing the community about candidates vying for one of three open seats on the Manassas City Council and the mayor’s seat.

To help voters make an informed decision, we are launching a new feature series, “One-Question Manassas City Council Candidate Survey.” This series will run throughout the campaign season, offering insights into each candidate’s stand on key issues affecting our city.

Be sure to subscribe to our FREE news email. Each week, we will pose a single question to all candidates running for the Manassas City Council.

The candidates are given 10 days to respond to a Google Form, and their answers will be compiled into a single post on PotomacLocalNews.com. This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day.

In our first installment, we focus on the pressing issue of affordable housing. We asked each candidate to share their perspective and proposed solutions for addressing the housing challenges in Manassas. Their responses and profile pictures are featured below to help you better understand their positions.

Stay tuned as we continue this series with topics such as power outages, parking issues, city management and staff retention, budget and taxes, public school performance, and data centers. We aim to provide a comprehensive look at each candidate’s platform, ensuring voters have all the information they need to make a thoughtful decision.

We hope this series will engage the community and foster a more informed electorate. Check back for new insights and updates from your Manassas City Council candidates. Early voting starts Saturday, September 21, and Election Day is November 5

Today’s Topic: Affordable Housing

Mayoral Candidates

Xiao-Yin “Tang” Byrom (R)

Byrom, the owner of Tang’s Bridal and Alterations in the Canterbury Village shopping center at 8675 Sudley Road, opened her Manassas store as an alteration shop in 1999. She eventually expanded her business to include bridal and formal wear. Her business employs 17 people.

As an immigrant to America, I fell in love with the opportunity to be able to work as much as I wanted to achieve goals like buying a home. I want to bring this dream to all Manassas citizens, whether 1st generation or 10th-generation. We all know housing costs are controlled by old-fashioned supply and demand, but as your Mayor, I will help bring this dream alive. As your next Mayor I will fight, I promise to help you with the following.

1. Make sure zoning allows for the development of small apartments and condos in designated areas. Affordable units can start at 400 square feet, making them affordable for starter homes.

2. Streamline permit processes to not hinder growth with red tape. Right now, a large part of home development costs are not bricks, mortar, wood and nails but overburdensome regulations. We need to make sure the government keeps our residents safe without adding unnecessary expenses to the project which leads to higher cost burden for our citizens.

3. Keep Real estate taxes as low as possible for homeowners. When home values go up, we need to cut tax rates to keep the tax burden to you in line. Home value increase should be a benefit to you, the taxpayer, and not the taxpayer.

Michelle Davis Younger (D) (Incumbent)

Davis-Younger is seeking a second term as mayor, after being elected in 2020. She owns and operates a Human Resources Consulting firm located in Historic Downtown Manassas called The1ForHR, LLC, which focses on career coaching and resume writing. After attending several White House functions, she claims she was instrumental in convincing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to choose the Hylton Performing Arts Center, on George Mason University Science and Technology Campus, to be the site of the administration’s re-election kickoff in January 2024.

NO RESPONSE

Council Candidates

Lynn Forkell Greene (R)

Lynn Forkell Greene is seeking to regain a seat on the council, where she served for 14 months, from Fall 2021 to December 2022. Forkell Green served the remainder of Davis-Younger’s city council term, a seat vacated when Davis-Younger was elected mayor.

She is an Administrative Director for a nonprofit organization. Forkell Greene and her husband share four adult children and three grandchildren. Before announcing her re-election bid, Forkell Green was a freelance reporter covering city issues for Potomac Local News.

As a candidate for Manassas City Council, my priority is ensuring affordability for our community. I’ll tackle rising property values and market-driven costs by eliminating policies that lead to higher taxes and excessive spending. Additionally, I’ll champion public-private partnerships, inclusionary zoning policies, and the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Ashley Hutson (D)

Hutson is seeking her first term on the city council. She is the Director of Member Engagement of the Heavy Construction Contractors Association in Manassas. Hutson has served on the Manassas Board of Building Code Appeals, Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board, and Community Advisory Committee. She graduated from Osbourn Park High School and Christopher Newport University.

Because Manassas is only 9.9 square miles and most of it is already developed, Council must make forward thinking land use decisions that will serve the community long into the future. The Comprehensive Plan calls for a variety of options for housing in order to reduce the impact of rising costs, felt by all people, but especially renters, young adults, and the elderly.

I believe Council should make every effort to allot and retain attainable/affordable units with priority for teachers, city staff, and our Veterans. Several housing units, which will hopefully house Veterans, were allotted at the American legion Post 114 on Prince William Street. Our current Council voted to retain affordable housing units at the corner of Stonewall Road & Center Street, which I would have supported as well.

Historic Downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods illuminate the character of the City of Manassas. The re-development of the Mathis Ave shopping center is an opportunity to add mid-rise, multi-family units and commercial space. The proximity of Mathis Ave to Historic Downtown and the VRE will make this a desirable space for businesses and residents. Striving to be a modern, walkable, transit accessible city while complimenting the character of Historic Downtown will be important as development decisions are made.

Mark Wolfe (D) Incumbent

Wolfe is seeking a fourth term on the city council. He has lived in the City of Manassas since 1990. Wolfe has executive leadership experience in the corporate and non-profit sectors and is currently the Chief Operating Officer of MovieComm. Amy, his wife of 36 years, is the Artistic Director and CEO of Manassas Ballet Theatre. They have two children, both of whom graduated from Osbourn High School.

I am gratified to see that the need to address the availability of affordable housing is now receiving bi-partisan recognition.

First, it is important to recognize that there can not be a true solution that does not recognize the need for additional supply of housing; the law of supply and demand has not been repealed. In recent years I have supported five projects which would have increased the supply of housing in Manassas. Four of these have been approved by the Council: the Grant Avenue development, the Jefferson Street homes, the renovation to Legion Post 114 on Prince William Street, and the townhomes on Hastings.

This gets me to my second point: the government should partner with and help the private sector in this effort but should not engage in 1960’s 1960s-style housing projects. The Grant Avenue development is a great example of this. The streetscape improvements on Grant Avenue were a condition of the developer moving forward with their project. This was an easy condition to satisfy as the City had already planned on making these long-needed improvements. By working in concert with the developer, the City was able to leverage public dollars for a larger gain for our community. For the Prince William Street project, the City was instrumental in teaming the Legion Post with a non-profit housing developer and in working with both parties to create a win/win/win solution that helps the Post with their long-term facility, adds housing targeted to our veterans and will help to improve the neighborhood, increasing property values.

Third, these things take time. It was 15 years from when I walked the land that is now the Grant Avenue project with the Van Metre development team to the beginning of construction. None of these projects happen overnight. However, the City staff has been excellent in working with the builders to ensure timely review and feedback of plans and permitting. This has long been a service priority of Manassas.

And fourth, none of these projects exist in a vacuum. This must fit into and become a part of the pre-existing community. Preserving the character of neighborhoods is enshrined in our Comprehensive Plan as one of the guiding principles of re-development in Manassas. Again, using Grant Avenue as an example, one proposal would have placed several 10 to 15-story apartment buildings on the site. That was rejected out of hand. Whatever we do must work for Manassas. While the housing affordability issue is a regional one, Manassas needs to recognize that what is an answer in Arlington is not necessarily right for Manassas.

Stephen Kent (R)

Kent is seeking his first term on the city council. He is an author and public relations professional. He and his wife, Melony “Mel” Kent, share a child. Mel Kent ran for the city school board in 2022.

The primary goal of housing development needs to be getting demand for housing back in line with supply. “Affordable housing” has long been a buzzword that brings out some very tribal elements in every community dealing with the issue of housing affordability. When cities build “market rate” housing, what housing experts and urban planners tend to see is a healthy churn of residents currently living in cheaper housing that doesn’t meet their needs. In Manassas, you have a lot of higher-income residents living in single-family starter homes and townhouses who would actually prefer to expand their square footage and upgrade, but there are not many options for them. When you build market-rate housing, those people move up and out, creating that space for residents with lower budgets. Everyone gets the housing they can afford. There are always valid concerns over preserving the historic character of different communities and keeping Manassas’ signature charm, but nothing harms a community more than homelessness and rising costs of living due to a lack of housing development. Everyone in Manassas is better off when the free market is allowed to work, and when builders are building both homes and apartments that meet the diverse needs of a growing city.

Tom Osina (D) Incumbent

Osina is seeking his second term on the council. He and his husband have lived in the Georgetown South community for more than 20 years. He is the father of 2 grown children.

I am supportive of attainable (affordable housing) initiatives in Manassas as long as they are in appropriate locations. That’s why I voted to purchase the Mathis Avenue Shopping Center which passed unanimously with bipartisan support. Years earlier, under Republican majority City Councils, the area was identified as excellent location for attainable housing.

The hiring of a Housing Coordinator in the new fiscal year along with additional funding to Housing Trust Fund will give us more tools to develop these efforts.

The City of Manassas has utilized effectively community conversations events which help to bring in resident ideas and learn of concerns they have about impact. Holding such meetings is part of the agreement with the Economic Development Commission for which I voted on June 24, 2024.

I am hopeful that as redevelopment moves forward that such attainable housing will include the possibilities for below median income housing, workforce housing and aging in place housing.

Robyn Williams (R)

Williams is seeking her first term on the city council. She has served two terms on the Manassas City School Board. Williams holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from George Mason University. He found her background in finance and economics valuable on the MCPS School Board, in addition to her more than 10 years as a broker/owner of Redstone Realty, specializing in residential real estate.

Williams’ public service in Manassas began with the Beautification Committee, where she served as a member and eventually Chairperson. She also volunteered as a teacher assistant at Haydon Elementary for several years and taught modules in schools through the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation Department.

I attended a Spring Housing Forum on April 11, 2024 hosted by VCU Kornblau Industry Talks. Among the panelist were Alana Gonzalez with the Better Housing Coalition and Monique Johnson with Virginia Housing. Balancing the need for affordable housing while addressing concerns about the community impact and development is a real challenge.

The City of Manassas has focused on housing for over a decade. The city’s initiatives are well laid out in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan passed by the City Council in 2020. The Housing affordability and quality section centers around the City’s Community Development Block Grant program, providing funds to assist low income households, which I agree with. Identifying partners who are willing to acquire tax credit properties about to expire is one meaningful strategy outlined in HOU 4.4.3. Recently, an opportunity to add 12 affordable units was presented to the council utilizing HOU 4.4.3, but it was rejected.

The Housing Balance section of the plan also encourages exploration of innovative solutions such as Accessory Dwelling Units. While ADUs are clearly not a large-scale solution for affordable housing, I recognize the considerable side-benefit of allowing families to stay together while reducing their housing costs and possibly obviating or at least lessening the need for expensive nursing home care for elderly or disabled residents.

I do like the character area design principles used in the plan and feel as though adherence to them will allow Manassas City to grow robustly while providing a good balance of available housing for our residents at all the various stages of their lives.

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch

(The Center Square) – If there were any doubts that Virginia is returning to its status as a key battleground state in the upcoming presidential elections, visits by First Lady Jill Biden and former President Donald Trump would indicate confirmation.

Biden is scheduled to greet campaign volunteers in Virginia Beach on Thursday, hours before the president and former president will square off in their first presidential debate. Trump on Friday comes from Atlanta to a 3 p.m. rally in Chesapeake.

In January, the president and Vice President Kamala Harris essentially chose Virginia to kick off their bid for reelection by holding a joint event in Manassas with a focus on abortion.

In recent weeks, Trump has signaled Virginia is very much in play between visits and new campaign investments.

The most significant piece of evidence is that the Trump campaign is zeroing in on the commonwealth with plans to open 11 field offices, as reported by CBS News.

Earlier in the month, Trump met with Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin during a closed-door meeting at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling to strategize how to win in the commonwealth. At the time, Youngkin told ABC 13 News Now that the commonwealth appears “competitive” in the presidential race.

“There’s a lot of interest in how this election is going to go,” Youngkin said. “So our political teams have been coordinating on how best to do that and we had to sit down and talk about it and we talked about Virginia and, and how I was able to win my election in 2021. And the lessons learned.”

Youngkin is expected to appear with Trump at the Friday rally. The governor did not attend a March rally by the Trump campaign in Richmond.

A May poll by Roanoke College shows Trump and Biden are neck-and-neck in the commonwealth, despite Biden beating Trump by over 10% in the 2020 election and Hillary Clinton handily winning Virginia in 2016.

The commonwealth has not gone for a GOP presidential candidate in 20 years, when former President George W. Bush was up for reelection.

On Friday, June 14, Manassas leaders hosted a delegation of Chinese officials and business leaders from the City of Quianjiang in Hubei province. The Manassas Department of Economic Development organized the visit to encourage cultural and economic exchange. This was the first such visit since officials from the City of Shaoxing visited in 2015.

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Updated June 27: The Fox News Channel will broadcast live from the Juke Box Diner in Manassas on Friday, June 28, 2024, at 6 a.m. 5 o’clock in the morning Gov. Glenn Youngkin will join the broadcast, according to the Manassas GOP.

President Donald Trump will hold a campaign rally in Chesapeake, about 200 miles away, at 3 p.m. on the same day. Youngkin, a potential vice presidential candidate, is expected to join Trump at the rally.

Last year, on July 5, 2024, Youngkin appeared on Fox and Friends at the same diner. During his appearance, he discussed education and hiring more police officers. In an interview with Potomac Local News, Youngkin emphasized the need for departments to support their officers, highlighting a partnership with Petersburg that has reduced police vacancies.

Crime is a significant issue in the upcoming November 7 General Election, with violent crime in Prince William County up 70% since 2019. Youngkin stressed the need for prosecutors to take action, noting a decline in monthly direct criminal indictments under Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth. Ashworth faces Republican challenger Matt Lowery in the upcoming election.

During last year’s broadcast, diners were asked whether Youngkin should run for president. Both diners interviewed said he should focus on governing Virginia. Youngkin has been governor since 2022.

The Juke Box Diner at 8637 Sudley Road features classic 1950s decor and serves breakfast all day. Owner Joe Attyah said the Fox News Channel approached him to broadcast from his restaurant, viewing it as an opportunity to promote his business.

Republican candidates Ian Lovejoy and John Stirrup attended last year’s event, with Youngkin encouraging them to focus on public safety issues. The Manassas City Government did not have representatives present at the breakfast.

The diner remains a local landmark, drawing attention from media and political figures alike.

Republican Derrick Anderson emerged as the winner of the June 18, 2024, Republican Primary for Virignia’s 7th Congressional District.

The district includes eastern Prince William County, Stafford, and Spostylvania counties, and Fredericksburg.

Anderson secured 16,203 votes, accounting for 45.25% of the total votes cast. He will face Democrat Eugene Vindman in the upcoming November 2024 General Election.

The primary race saw Anderson leading comfortably among his competitors. His closest rival, Cameron Hamilton, garnered 13,333 votes, representing 37.23% of the electorate, which was not enough to close the gap with Anderson. Jon Myers came in third with 4,585 votes, capturing 12.80% of the total vote. The remaining candidates, John Prabhudoss, Maria Martin, and Terris Todd, received significantly fewer votes, with each securing less than 3% of the total.

Our country is the weakest it has been since the event that drove me to run for Congress: the botched withdrawal in Afghanistan. I lost five of my guys, including Green Berets, in Afghanistan, and I was disgusted by the weakness portrayed by the United States during the chaotic withdrawal that saw 20 years of progress and sacrifice wasted in the blink of an eye,” Andesron said in his election night speech on June 18. “We will secure our border to make sure our communities are safe again, our nation is secure, and to guarantee that those who immigrated here legally still have access to the American dream they came here for. We will make living more affordable. It’s time Washington be reminded that their policies are impacting each of us more than they try to understand, and it starts right in our pocket books, wallets, and at our kitchen tables. That ends today.”

Anderson made a bid for the nomination in 2022, but lost to Yesli Vega.Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) has held the the 7th District congressional seat since 2018. She’s not seeking re-election to Congress but is running for Virginia Governor in 2025.

Pivoting to the General Election, Anderson tells us he’ll be knocking doors in Prince William County tomorrow, June 22, 2024.

Vindman, of Dale City, ran a campaign solely to oppose Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for President. He and his twin brother Alexander Vindman were key figures in Trump’s first impeachment in 2020.

Vindman cruised to victory over a sea of Democrat candidates vying for the nomination, winning nearly 50% of the vote in the district. He out raised them, too, raking in more than $5 million, mainly from out-of-state liberal donors who oppose Trump.

Eugene Vindman is the Democrat nominee for Congress in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, which includes eastern Prince William, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties, as well as Fredericksburg.

Vindman, of Dale City, ran a campaign solely to oppose Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for President. He and his twin brother Alexander Vindman were key figures in Trump’s first impeachment in 2020.

“The stakes of this election couldn’t be higher; the passion behind my campaign comes from voters wanting integrity, moderation, and professionalism in a government that works for them; and our grass-roots movement is coming for the extreme MAGA agenda,” Vindman wrote in a prepared statement sent to the press after declaring victory about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18.

Vindman cruised to victory over a sea of Democrat candidates vying for the nomination, winning nearly 50% of the vote in the district. He outraised them, too, raking in more than $5 million, mainly from out-of-state liberal donors who oppose Trump.

The only other Democrat who came close to matching Vindman’s cash was Andrea Bailey, a Prince William County Supervisor who raised nearly $340,000 during her campaign.

Vindman is primarily seen among Democrats as a community outsider and was criticized by fellow party members when he announced his campaign last fall.”I’m sorry – who is this? I’ve never seen this person in our area. At. All,” Delegate Joshua Cole of Fredericksburg posted to X shortly after Vindman announced his campaign.

Vindman beat a host of female Democrats, black and Hispanic, all seeking the nomination. Vindman was asked to step aside during candidate forums to allow “a woman and person of color” to win the nomination. Each time, Vindman assured Democrats he was the person for the job.

Familiar Democrats from Prince William County were candidates in Tuesday’s Primary. Elizabeth Guzman, a former state delegate, finished in second place, while Delegate Brianna Sewell, Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin, and Bailey all failed to come close to Vindman’s vote totals.

The total number of votes received by the three losing candidates from Prince William County (15,764) is close to but still less than Vindman’s 16,609 total vote count. “[Prince William County] Dems now fumble the 7th twice in a row to outsiders when they have the votes to win,” wrote Ben Tribbett, a political commentator. Several Democrats from Prince William County, including State Senator Jeremey McPike and School Board Chair Dr. Babur Lateef, opted not to challenge Spanberger, who did not live in the district at the time of the election, during the last congressional election cycle in 2022.

Other candidates, Carl Bedell of Greene County and Clifford Heinzer of Stafford pulled in a combined 3.94% of the vote.

Criticism of Vindman continued Tuesday night, as fellow Democrats pointed to a report from The Independent, a newspaper based in the United Kingdom, that Vindman threatened to sue a reporter who asked him about his military rank at retirement. According to the report, Vindman claims to be a retired Army Colonel but holds the lesser rank of retired Lt. Colonel.

“This is so painful to watch,” wrote Ben Litchfield of Stafford County as the returns rolled in Tuesday night. Litchfield sought the Democratic Party nomination for a Virignia State Senate seat last year.

“As your Democratic nominee for VA-07, I will work tirelessly to hold this seat and ensure we can take back the house and continue to preserve this fragile experiment that is our democracy,” said Vindman.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) holds the 7th District congressional seat. She’s not seeking re-election to Congress but is running for Virginia Governor in 2025.

Republicans chose Derrick Anderson as their nominee to face Vindman in the November General Election.

The Independent: “A law firm representing the Vindman campaign then contacted The Independent threatening litigation. The letter insisted that Vindman “is a Colonel and correctly identifies himself as such” and that “Pursuant to Army Custom and Regulation 25-50, the proper mode to address Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels is Colonel.” The letter also claimed that reporting Bedell’s statement would be defamatory.

The attorney for Vindman further stated that he “does not dispute that he retired at the grade of O5 [Lieutenant Colonel]. However, his pay grade at retirement has no impact on either pay or entitlements and on whether he is in fact a retired Colonel.”

Vindman, a Democrat who lives in Dale City, is widely considered to win today’s Primary Election in Virginia’s 7th District, which includes eastern Prince William County, Stafford, Spotsylvania counties, and Fredericksburg.