Politics – Potomac Local News

Published September 3, 2025 at 2:49PM

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears addresses the crowd at the Lincoln Reagan Dinner in Manassas, laying out her 2025 gubernatorial campaign priorities. [Photo: Alan Gloss]

MANASSAS, Va. – Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle‑Sears is headed to the Prince William County School Board meeting tonight, following a now-infamous appearance in Arlington that triggered a national firestorm and sparked bipartisan backlash.

Sears will appear alongside her lieutenant governor running mate, John Reid, national Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich, and the group’s Prince William County chapter chair. The group plans a press conference and rally at 6:15 p.m. outside the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center at Independent Hill, before the School Board meeting.

Podcast

Patrick Harders Talks Data Centers, Sudley Corridor, and the November Election

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 21, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated August 22, 2025 at 8:55AM

Harders

GAINESVILLE, Va. – Patrick Harders says he’s ready to carry on the legacy of the late Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir as he campaigns for the seat in this fall’s special election.

Harders, a Republican and longtime Manassas resident, won his party’s nomination on August 16. The Prince William County Republican Committee announced Harders’ win that evening, saying he earned 1,838 votes to Brian Landrum’s 840. He will face Democrat George Stewart in the November 4 election to fill the seat left vacant after Weir’s death in July.

Breaking News

Patrick Harders Wins GOP Primary for Gainesville Supervisor Seat

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 16, 2025 at 7:21PM

Harders/Landrum

GAINESVILLE, Va. – Patrick Harders just clinched the Republican nomination to run for Gainesville District Supervisor this November, winning today’s firehouse primary with more than twice the votes of his opponent, Brian Landrum.

The Prince William County Republican Committee announced Harders’ win this evening, saying he earned 1,838 votes to Landrum’s 840. The seat opened unexpectedly following the death of Supervisor Bob Weir last month.

Manassas

Christopher Stone Jumps Into District 20 Delegate Race Against Maldonado

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 14, 2025 at 9:21AM

Stone

MANASSAS, Va. – Virginia’s 20th House District—covering Manassas, Manassas Park, and part of Prince William County—now has a Republican challenger in this year’s delegate race. Christopher Stone, a retired Air Force officer and former U.S. Senate staffer, has officially announced he’s running to unseat Democratic incumbent Michelle Maldonado (D).

Stone, who lives in Manassas, says his campaign will center on “security, accountability, and economic prosperity for all.” His career includes work in the U.S. Senate on agriculture and education issues, serving as a chamber of commerce director during the Great Recession, and holding a presidential appointment in defense policy. He’s also taught graduate courses on security policy and held private sector leadership roles.

Health

Virginia Marketplace Health Plans Could Jump 20% Next Year — One Insurer Wants 40%

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 13, 2025 at 8:00AM | Updated August 15, 2025 at 3:41PM

[Photo by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography/Unsplash]

Virginians who buy health insurance on the state’s marketplace could see big premium hikes in 2026, with most insurers proposing average increases of 20% or more — and one requesting twice that.

The State Corporation Commission says 10 insurers plan to sell individual marketplace plans in Virginia next year. Optimum Choice, Inc. has proposed the steepest average increase, 40.2%, according to SCC records. Rates in the small group market, which covers businesses with fewer than 50 workers, could rise an average of 11.2%.

Originals

Stafford Board of Supervisors 2025 Election: Candidates Share Their Top Priorities and Leadership Style

By Kelly Sienkowski

Published August 11, 2025 at 1:00PM | Updated August 11, 2025 at 4:56PM

Editor’s note: This article is part of a series by Potomac Local News introducing candidates for the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. This fall, voters will choose representatives for the Garrisonville, Hartwood, Falmouth, and Aquia Districts. To help local voters learn more about their candidates, Potomac Local News invited all Board of Supervisors candidates to a virtual interview with the same five questions. Their answers have been condensed for clarity. The remaining candidates either declined, had scheduling conflicts, or did not respond.

Videos of the interviews are available here.

Prince William

Gainesville Republicans Pick Nominee This Saturday—Dems Already Chose Theirs in Nail-Biter

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 11, 2025 at 8:28AM

GAINESVILLE, Va. – The folks at the Prince William County Republican Committee just told Potomac Local News they’ll hold a firehouse primary this Saturday, Aug. 16 to decide their candidate for Gainesville District Supervisor. Voting runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bull Run Middle School on Catharpin Road—and it’s only open to Gainesville District voters.

Two Republicans are vying for the nod: Patrick Harders, a longtime Manassas resident and founder of a regional outdoor lighting company, and Brian Landrum, who entered the race earlier this month. Harders says he wants to carry on the work of the late Supervisor Bob Weir—particularly his opposition to sprawling data center developments. Landrum has called for greater transparency in local politics and recently accused a prominent community leader of misleading voters—charges she denies while endorsing Harders.

Stafford

Stafford Board of Supervisors 2025 Election: Where Candidates Stand on Parks, Green Space, and Preserving the County’s Character

By Kelly Sienkowski

Published August 8, 2025 at 1:00PM

Editor’s note: This article is part of a series by Potomac Local News introducing candidates for the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. This fall, voters will choose representatives for the Garrisonville, Hartwood, Falmouth, and Aquia Districts. To help local voters learn more about their candidates, Potomac Local News invited all Board of Supervisors candidates to a virtual interview with the same five questions. Their answers have been condensed for clarity. The remaining candidates either declined, had scheduling conflicts, or did not respond.

Videos of the interviews are available.

Stafford

Stafford Board of Supervisors 2025 Election: Where Candidates Stand on Transparency and Public Engagement

By Kelly Sienkowski

Published August 7, 2025 at 1:00PM

Mike Catell, Kecia Evans, Kelly Robertson, Marcus Oates, Bart Randall, Hank Scharpenberg

Editor’s note: This article is part of a series by Potomac Local News introducing candidates for the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. This fall, voters will choose representatives for the Garrisonville, Hartwood, Falmouth, and Aquia Districts. To help local voters learn more about their candidates, Potomac Local News invited all Board of Supervisors candidates to a virtual interview with the same five questions. Their answers have been condensed for clarity. The remaining candidates either declined, had scheduling conflicts, or did not respond.

Videos of the interviews are available here.

Stafford

Stafford Board of Supervisors 2025 Election: Where Candidates Stand on Spending and the County Budget

By Kelly Sienkowski

Published August 6, 2025 at 1:00PM

Videos of the interviews are available here.

Today’s topic: Stafford County has a $1 billion budget and is experiencing rapid growth. Candidates weighed in on how to spend wisely—supporting infrastructure and services without overspending or overbuilding.