While most Virginians are settling into the new year, voters in Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria have spent January in a state of constant political motion. Triggered by a domino effect of executive appointments, these special elections are reshaping Northern Virginia’s legislative delegation even as the General Assembly begins debating multibillion-dollar budgets and the retail future of cannabis.
Before the Virginia General Assembly convened for its 164th session on Wednesday, Jan. 14, voters in key Northern Virginia districts returned to the polls to navigate a significant shift in power. Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) reshaped the state’s executive branch by appointing veteran lawmakers to her cabinet, triggering a wave of vacancies as former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R) administration concluded.
Cabinet and Agency Nominations
Spanberger’s nominations included Mark Sickles (D-17) of Fairfax, whom she tapped to serve as secretary of finance, and David Bulova (D-11), the pick for secretary of natural and historic resources. Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39) will transition from the legislature to the executive branch as a senior adviser, overseeing the 2026 rollout of a retail framework for cannabis sales.
While Spanberger had the authority to nominate her cabinet, those positions were not automatic. Under the Constitution of Virginia, all cabinet secretaries must be formally confirmed by the General Assembly. The process remains a constitutional check, requiring each appointee to submit to committee reviews of their professional qualifications and financial disclosures.
Navigating the Representation Gaps
This created a paradox for Northern Virginia: while the region gained influence within Spanberger's inner circle, thousands of local voters lacked a voice at the State Capitol during the session's critical first days. State officials fast-tracked special elections to minimize this time, but the strategy for managing these vacancies varied by office.
In House District 11, voters elected Gretchen Bulova to succeed her husband David during a special election Jan. 13 — just one day before the opening gavel. In the two-way race, she defeated Republican Adam Wise. Her swearing-in was expedited so she could join the General Assembly immediately as it convened for the start of the 2026 legislative session.
In House District 17, residents in Franconia, Kingstowne and Huntington faced a one-week "representation gap" before their vote Tuesday, Jan. 20. Democrat Garrett McGuire defeated Republican Christopher Cardiff to fill the seat vacated by Sickles. McGuire, who narrowly won a four-way Democratic primary in December, will represent the district as it debates budget amendments and cannabis rollout.
In Senate District 39, Sen. Adam Ebbin delayed his resignation until Feb. 18. This move ensures he can represent his constituents through crossover — the deadline for bills to pass their chamber of origin — before joining the administration. A general special election is set for Feb. 10 to succeed Ebbin. Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker won the Democratic primary for this seat in a landslide, capturing 70.6% of the vote. On Feb. 10, she will face Republican nominee Julie Robben Lineberry.
The Domino Pipeline
Northern Virginia's election season may not end in February. Should Bennett-Parker succeed in her bid for the state Senate, her current seat in House District 5 would become vacant, necessitating yet another special election to represent the City of Alexandria. To date, these offices — along with House District 23, where Margaret Angela Franklin was elected Jan. 13 to succeed Candi Mundon King — are the only General Assembly seats requiring special elections due to cabinet appointments.
Fairfax County School Board Vacancy
Local gaps extend to the Fairfax County School Board, where a special election is scheduled for March 3 to fill the Braddock District seat left vacant by Rachna Sizemore Heizer's resignation. In the Democratic endorsement caucus held Jan. 10, Tom Dannan secured the party’s endorsement with 75% of the 2,928 ballots cast. He will face Saundra Davis, an independent candidate. While the seat remains vacant, the school board's three at-large members — Kyle McDaniel, Ryan McElveen and Ilryong Moon — are providing interim assistance to Braddock residents