Alexandria Primary Election 2021: Candidates, How To Vote

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria voters will head to the polls Tuesday, June 8 to decide Democratic primary races for mayor, City Council, House of Delegates 45th District, Virginia governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tuesday's election includes a primary rematch between Mayor Justin Wilson and former Mayor Allison Silberberg. Wilson defeated then-Mayor Silberberg in the 2018 primary and went on to win the general election.

Silberberg decided to enter the race after no other candidates came forward to challenge Wilson. Her campaign is focused on maintaining a small-town feel, respect for diverse people and neighborhoods, protecting the environment, maintaining historic districts, and maintaining trust in government.

Wilson's campaign has touted the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, plan for a redeveloped Landmark Mall anchored by a relocated Inova Alexandria Hospital, work to create and preserve affordable housing, expanding public access to the waterfront, work to build new schools and more.

SEE ALSO:

• Meet The Candidate: Justin Wilson For Alexandria Mayor
• Meet The Candidate: Allison Silberberg For Alexandria Mayor

Tuesday will also decide the Democratic candidates for Alexandria City Council. There are 13 candidates running for six seats in the primary, which will decide who will go on to the November primary. Due to the city's largely blue voting base, Democrats have a good chance of victory in the general election. There have been no Republicans on City Council since Democrats took back seats in the 2012 election, as reported by ALX Now. Candidates who have filed to run in the general election are Republican Darryl Nirenberg and independent candidates Michael Mebrahta, Florence King, and Glenda Gail Parker.

City Council, made up of the mayor and six councilmembers, is slated to have at least a few new members. Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker is running for the 45th District House of Delegates seat against incumbent Del. Mark Levine, who is also running for lieutenant governor. Longtime Councilmember Del Pepper is not seeking another term, and Mo Seifeldein is not running. Incumbent councilmembers seeking reelection are John Chapman, Canek Aguirre and Amy Jackson.

Newcomers seeking election to City Council include Alyia Gaskins, Patrick Moran, Kirk McPike, James Lewis, Bill Campbell, Sarah Bagley, Kevin Harris, Bill Rossello, Meronne Teklu and Mark Shiffer.

Alexandria voters will also decide which Democratic candidates for Virginia governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general will go on to the general election. Voters in the 45 House of Delegates District will vote in the primary between Levine and Bennett-Parker. There is no primary race for the 46th House of Delegates District, represented by Del. Charniele Herring.

How to Vote in the Primary Election

City of Alexandria residents registered to vote in Virginia can vote in Tuesday's primary election by visiting their polling place between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Voters who are in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Because Virginia voters are not registered with a party affiliation, any registered voter can vote in the Democratic primary.

Residents can look up their polling place and confirm they are registered to vote at www.elections.virginia.gov/citizen-portal. An acceptable form of ID is required for in-person voting.

Voters may also see the city's precinct map for polling places. Polling place changes for the June 8 primary include changing the voting location for the Ladrey Senior Building Precinct to Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe St.), changing the voting location for the Hermitage Precinct to John Adams Elementary School (5651 Rayburn Ave.), and changing the voting location for the Douglas MacArthur School Precinct to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (101 Callahan Drive).

Voters who had requested an absentee ballot by mail must return the completed ballot to the Office of Voter Registration & Elections by 7 p.m. on June 8 or have it postmarked by June 8 and received in the office by noon on June 11. Ballot drop boxes are also available to return a completed absentee ballot at all polling places on June 8 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. A secure drop box under video surveillance is also available in front of the Office of Voter Registration & Elections 24 hours a day through 7 p.m. on June 8.

Anyone who has concerns about voting process or a voting site can contact the Office of Voter Registration and Elections at 703-746-4050, email voters@alexandriava.gov, or notify an election officer.

What's on the Ballot

The ballot will be the same for Alexandria residents, with the exception of the primary race for the 45th House of Delegates District but not the 46th House of Delegates District.

You will vote in the 45th House of Delegates race if you vote at these polling places: Ladrey Senior Building, Fire Department, City Hall, Charles Houston Center, Lyles Crouch School, Potomac Yard, Durant Center, AlexRenew, Lee Center, Maury School, Cora Kelly – Chick Armstrong Cntr, George Mason School, Mt. Vernon Center, Charles Barrett Center, George Washington School, and Blessed Sacrament Church.

You won't have a House of Delegates primary if you vote at these polling places: Masonic Temple (formerly MacArthur School), Beatley Library, Chinquapin Rec Center, Tucker School, Temple Beth El Synagogue, John Adams School, NOVA Arts Center, William Ramsay Center, James K. Polk School, South Port Apartments, Hermitage, Cameron Station, Patrick Henry Center, and Olympus Condo.

Below is the list of candidates for the June 8 primary election in Alexandria.

Mayor

• Justin M. Wilson
• Allison Silberberg

Member, City Council (choose up to six)

• Alyia Smith-Parker Gaskins
• Patrick B. Moran
• R. Kirk McPike
• John Taylor Chapman
• James C. Lewis, Jr.
• Amy B. Jackson
• Canek Aguirre
• William E. "Bill" Campbell
• Sarah R. Bagley
• Kevin J. Harris
• William C. "Bill" Rossello
• Meronne E. Teklu
• Mark Leo Shiffer

Governor

• Terry R. McAuliffe
• Jennifer L. McClellan
• Jennifer D. Carroll Foy
• Lee J. Carter
• Justin E. Fairfax

Lieutenant Governor

• Hala S. Ayala
• S. "Sam" Rasoul
• Andria P. McClellan
• Elizabeth R. Guzman
• Sean A. Perryman
• Mark H. Levine
• Xavier JaMar Warren

Attorney General

• Jerrauld C. "Jay" Jones
• Mark R. Herring

Member, House of Delegates 45th District (45th House District only)

• Mark H. Levine
• Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker

Where to View Results

Once polls close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, unofficial election results will begin to appear on the Virginia Department of Elections website. Check back with Patch as we provide coverage of the Alexandria mayoral and City Council election results as well as Virginia House of Delegates, governor and other state races.

More election information: www.alexandriava.gov/Elections.