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Each year, Arlington Democrats recognizes members who have gone above and beyond to elect Democrats. We presented these awards in May at the Blue Victory Dinner. Read on to get inspired as we work to flip the Virginia General Assembly blue on Nov. 5! Marsha Johnston, Newcomer of the Year New volunteers renew the Democratic Party and its commitment to strong ideals each year. This award recognizes an individual who started volunteering with the Arlington Democrats for the first time in 2018 and quickly became an integral team member, bringing new ideas and new energy. If you spent any time in Courthouse Plaza last year, there is a good chance that you met Marsha Johnston. As the leader of the Arlington Democrats In-Person Absentee Voting Poll Greeting program, Marsha spent a lot of time in Courthouse Plaza. In rain, shine and dark of night, Marsha was there to make sure that voters had Democratic sample ballots. She also inspired a terrific team of volunteers, including Jill Birdwhistle, Diana Gordon, and Sam and Debbie Kirzner, who made voting easy and fun for anyone who wandered into their in-person voting dragnet. At the beginning of 2018, the Arlington Dems chair challenged Marsha to achieve overwhelming coverage for each hour of in-person voting, as a key element of securing an across-the-ballot win in Arlington—and Marsha delivered. Howard Solodky, Unsung Hero Award This award recognizes an individual whose behind-the-scenes excellence makes a significant contribution to the Arlington Dems' growth and continued success. If you delivered a Messenger last year, or attended a poll greeter training for Election Day, you may have met this year’s unsung hero: Howard Solodky. Howard is relatively new to Arlington Democrats, but he has hit the ground running. From being a Precinct Captain in Madison to serving as the lead for both Messenger delivery organization and Election Day activities, Howard has become a fixture at Arlington Dems headquarters. He spent so much time at headquarters last year that it was only natural for him to take a leading role in the search for a new HQ, since the Arlington Dems lease is up. Howard’s tireless work on the office search and lease negotiations paid off. In the coming weeks, the Arlington Dems will be moving to 1235 South Clark Street! It’s a terrific new home just in time for the critical 2019 election. Richard Skinner, Precinct Captain of the Year This award is named for Herselle Milliken, a legendary precinct captain in Arlington who worked her precinct the old-fashioned way: by knowing everyone in it. The award celebrates a precinct captain who continues that model of successful neighborhood organizing, and our honoree this year is Richard Skinner. Richard had big shoes to fill, as he took over the precinct captain spot from the legendary Charley Conrad. But Richard was a quick learner, and he did all of the things that you would expect of a truly great precinct captain: he led voter registration events, he organized regular meetings of his precinct volunteers, he recruited new volunteers from his own building to Arlington Dems Weekend of Action events, and he worked every festival in or near his precinct in support of the Arlington Dems festivals team. Richard did such a great job that he was promoted to the dual role of Co-Area Chair for Four Mile Area, working with the amazing Detta Kissel. And not only that, but he also served as Precinct Operations Vice Chair for outreach to Multi-Unit Buildings or MUBs. Richard applied his best-in-class MUB practices to recruiting many new Building Ambassadors in his precinct, and he shared them with other precinct captains. Todd Harper, Campaigner of the Year Campaigner of the Year is always a tough choice, because so many Arlington Democrats go above and beyond to elect Democrats each year. But what sets this year’s winner apart from other worthy contenders is the sheer breadth of his volunteer reach. For the first time ever, we present the Campaigner of the Year award for excellence in digital organizing to Todd Harper. President Obama proved the power of digital organizing, but it has taken some time for local Democratic organizations to catch up. Last year, Todd revolutionized Arlington Democrats’ approach to social media communications with funny, informative and poignant posts that have made the Arlington Dems social media channels “must read” content on phones across Arlington and beyond. Todd’s thousands of volunteer hours paid dividends in November, with Arlington Dems able to reach a dramatically increased follower base with information about our great Democratic candidates at little to no extra cost. Today, only the Fairfax Dems reach more progressives online in Virginia—but not for much longer. The Arlington Dems will continue to follow Todd’s Facebook playbook for years to come—literally by referencing the handbook that he so painstakingly made. Cristina Diaz-Torres, Young Democrat of the Year Award We established the Young Democrat of the Year Award this year in recognition of the many contributions that Democrats ages 35 and younger make to the Democratic cause in a young county like Arlington. We must continually find ways to engage with new voters, and one way is by recognizing and celebrating a truly remarkable young leader: Cristina Diaz-Torres. One of the Arlington Dems Joint Campaign Co-Chairs last year, Cristina was instrumental in the design and production of the multi-candidate grip card, the famous “Wave” yard sign, Messenger, and sample ballot. If you wore a poll greeter “sign necklace” last year, there’s a good chance Cristina made it for you. She also launched canvasses, organized meet & greets, and basically did whatever it took to secure a win across the ballot in Arlington. Cristina has become a go-to person for any job that requires creativity, judgment, perseverance and a great sense of humor. She provides a fresh perspective to Arlington Democrats, and there’s no doubt that she has a bright future ahead of her. Atima Omara, Jean Marshall Crawford Women's Leadership Award This award was established to honor Jean Marshall Crawford’s legacy, not only as a long-time leader in Arlington Democratic politics, but as a leader in the women’s movement in Virginia. It recognizes an Arlington Democratic woman who was an outstanding activist this past year. This year, we recognize the tremendous contributions of Arlingtonian and DNC member Atima Omara. As a vice chair of the DNC’s Women’s Caucus, Atima has championed women candidates and activists across the country. As a board member of Emerge Virginia and Virginia’s List and board chair of the Planned Parenthood Metro Washington Action Fund, she has provided critical support to candidates throughout Virginia. And through it all, she has somehow found time to run a successful women-owned business, appear on cable news channels, and serve as a co-chair of the Arlington Dems Joint Campaign. Despite the significant competition for her time, Atima has never hesitated to answer the call for support to her local Democratic Party, and this award is long overdue. Cragg Hines, Mary Marshall Outstanding Democrat Award Named for former Delegate Mary Marshall, the most prestigious award goes to an individual who not only meaningfully contributed last year, but has made Arlington Democrats and Arlington County better through years of dedicated service. This honor is also long overdue and goes to the incomparable Cragg Hines. Cragg has made substantial contributions to countless campaigns. A feature at campaign events, you can count on him to be an early supporter for candidates in tough races and for new organizing techniques. He has an uncanny knack for seeing potential—and then for putting his money, mouth, and effort into realizing that potential in support of the Democratic cause. Gifted with a biting sense of humor, Cragg doesn’t always stay on message when you give him a microphone at a general meeting, but he always speaks from the heart in support of Democratic candidates. And good thing too, because he has probably called more Democrats than any other activist in his role as Vice Chair for the Senior Calls Project. Cragg could just as easily have won the Unsung Hero Award, because he always can be counted on to pitch in on behind-the-scenes projects that are critical to success. A true workhorse, his efforts have earned him the respect of Democrats across Northern Virginia—so much so that he was elected to represent the 8th Congressional District at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Since then, he has continued to distinguish himself as an unswerving supporter of Democrats and progressive causes. There is no doubt that he will continue to do so for many years to come.

ARLINGTON, VA., Tuesday, June 11, 2019—The Arlington County Democratic Committee (Arlington Dems) tonight congratulates the winners of Democratic primaries across Virginia. In Arlington, the candidates earning the Democratic nomination are: Barbara Favola for State Senate District 31; Alfonso Lopez for House of Delegates District 49; and Parisa Dehghani-Tafti for Commonwealth's Attorney for Arlington and Falls Church. “Arlington Democrats congratulate Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, Barbara Favola and Alfonso Lopez on their victories in the Democratic primary,” Arlington Democrats Chair Jill Caiazzo said. “We thank Theo Stamos for her long and distinguished service to our community and Nicole Merlene and J.D. Spain for running issues-oriented, hard-fought campaigns. As we now turn to the general election, Arlington Democrats stand united in our goal of turning the Virginia state legislature blue in November’s general election, which begins with defending the many seats on the ballot in Arlington. We pledge our full support to Arlington’s 14 outstanding Democratic candidates, who will champion a more prosperous, just and sustainable Virginia.” In Arlington, 26,258 voters cast ballots in the Democratic primary, which constitutes 17.1% of active voters as of February 2019. In comparison, the Democratic primary in 2011, which featured the same races, drew only 13,699 voters, or 10.3% of then-active voters. State Senate District 31 Incumbent Barbara Favola was challenged by community activist and economic development professional Nicole Merlene to represent the district that encompasses portions of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties. Favola was first elected to the seat in 2011, after serving on the Arlington County Board for 14 years. She is founder and managing director of a consulting group that works with organizations and companies on community outreach and securing government investment in their projects. Favola also serves on several boards and commissions, including the Advisory Committee for the Arlington YMCA and the Fairfax CASA Board. House of Delegates District 49 Incumbent Alfonso Lopez was challenged by U.S. Marine Corps veteran and community activist J.D. Spain to represent the district that includes portions of Arlington and Fairfax counties. Lopez has held the seat since 2011. He is a partner with two consulting firms focused on business and government management. Earlier in his career, he was assistant administrator for congressional and legislative affairs at the U.S. Small Business Administration and as director of the Virginia Liaison Office in Washington, D.C. under then-Gov. Tim Kaine. Commonwealth's Attorney for Arlington and Falls Church Criminal justice activist and former public defender Parisa Dehghani-Tafti challenged incumbent Theo Stamos. Dehghani-Tafti is a senior attorney and legal director of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, where she successfully won the first DNA exoneration case in Washington, D.C. Earlier in her career, she was a staff attorney in the Special Litigation and Parole Divisions of the Public Defender Service of D.C. Dehghani-Tafti also is an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center and the George Washington University School of Law. Other Arlington Candidates Unopposed in Democratic Primary as Party Gears Up to Flip the Virginia State Legislature In addition to five uncontested local races, five members of Arlington’s delegation to the Virginia General Assembly were unopposed in the Democratic primary and will seek reelection in November. The general election will be Nov. 5, 2019, and all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and all 40 seats in the Virginia state Senate will be on the ballot. Virginia is the only state in the country in which Democrats are considered to have a serious shot at turning the entire legislature blue. Republicans now have only a two-seat majority in both the House and Senate. “Arlington Democrats provide a ‘one stop shop’ for local activists who want to support Democratic candidates in Arlington and elsewhere this year,” Caiazzo said. “Volunteers of all ages, abilities, schedules and shades of blue can easily plug into our many activities throughout the county. They also can join our Beyond Arlington program, which strategically supports candidates outside the county whose victories will help secure a Democratic majority in the Virginia legislature this year -- and pave the way for a resounding Democratic presidential win in 2020.”

ARLINGTON, Va., Saturday, June 8, 2019—Incumbent School Board Chair Reid Goldstein emerged as the victor Saturday night in the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s (Arlington Dems) caucus to determine the Democratic endorsee for the School Board seat that will be on the November ballot. The firehouse caucus, held over three days at three public Arlington K-12 schools, drew 2,000 voters. Goldstein received 1,231 votes out of 1,999 ballots counted, or 61.6% of the total number of ballots counted. Challenger David Priddy received 763 votes. There was one provisional ballot. An endorsement by Arlington Dems has been a valuable asset for School Board candidates: All five current School Board members received the endorsement before going on to general-election victories. Goldstein has been on the School Board since 2016, and has served as chair since July 2018. The son of public school teachers, he has served on a variety of civic, neighborhood, housing  and educational organizations. A 30-year resident of Arlington, Goldstein’s children attended Arlington public schools. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York, College at Brockport, and a master’s degree from The Johns Hopkins University. Goldstein’s professional background includes strategic planning for federal government and private industry clients. “The School Board plays a critical role in making Arlington an excellent place to call home, and we are grateful that two strong community leaders chose to run for this important local office,” Arlington Democrats Chair Jill Caiazzo said. “Arlington Democrats congratulate Reid on receiving the Democratic endorsement, and we pledge our full support to him during the general election campaign. We will fight hard to ensure that the School Board continues to champion the policy priorities that enable educational achievement for all Arlington students.” Both Goldstein and Priddy spent much of the day at Washington-Lee High School, where the final day of the caucus was held. “I am deeply humbled and very proud to have won the endorsement of the Arlington Democrats,” Goldstein said in a statement. “In my second term, I will continue focusing on instruction, inclusion and integrated planning to ensure a superior education for all students in the face of relentlessly rising enrollment, while also addressing student stress.” Goldstein further noted, “I’d like to thank David Priddy for the ideas he advocated during the campaign and for his support of our outstanding public school system.” Arlington Public Schools educates more than 28,000 students in 37 elementary, middle, high and secondary schools, and other programs. The fiscal year 2019 budget is about $637.2 million. The School Board consists of five members who serve overlapping four-year terms. “Firehouse” Caucus Why is the school board caucus separate from Arlington’s June 11 Democratic primary? In Virginia, it is not legally permissible to designate a partisan candidate for a school board race using a government-run primary. Because school board candidates are prohibited from officially declaring a party affiliation, a primary to determine the Democratic candidate is not permitted under Virginia law. Instead, Arlington Democrats use a party-run caucus to identify Democratic endorsees in School Board races. The phrase “firehouse caucus” refers to the voting that takes place in an open room, rather than in private polling booths. The general election will be Nov. 5, 2019, and the term for the winning candidate commences on Jan. 1, 2020.

RESOLUTION BY THE ARLINGTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE Urging Governor Northam to Support Transgender Troops Continuing To Serve Openly in the Virginia National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force Consistent with practice throughout the United States Armed Forces, transgender troops have been serving openly in the Virginia National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force. The nationwide military nondiscrimination policy that enabled this service has proved successful. No operational or morale problems have arisen. In 2017 President Trump nevertheless reversed the nondiscrimination policy and banned the enlistment of any additional transgender troops. He also placed tight restrictions on those already serving. His orders were delayed by court action for two years, but those injunctions are now being lifted. Unlike at least five other governors across the nation, Governor Northam has not announced that transgender people may continue to serve openly in the units under his command – the Virginia National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force. WHEREAS transgender members of the United States Armed Forces have fought in defense of our freedoms with honor and distinction since our Nation’s founding and have been awarded commendations and awards including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for their courage and sacrifices; WHEREAS transgender servicemembers have served openly since 2016, bravely defending our nation with distinction while preserving unit cohesion and contributing to military readiness; WHEREAS thousands of transgender Americans currently serve actively in the United States Armed Forces and in the Reserves throughout all branches and military occupational specialties; WHEREAS all five military Chiefs of Staff have testified publicly that the nondiscrimination policy has had no adverse effect on military readiness; WHEREAS at least 18 other nations allow transgender people to serve openly in their armed forces; WHEREAS on July 26, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would henceforth ban transgender people from serving openly in the United States Armed Forces; WHEREAS the arguments made in support of President Trump’s new policy are based on incorrect scientific and medical assertions; WHEREAS on August 1, 2017, 56 retired generals and admirals stated that “This proposed ban, if implemented, would cause significant disruptions, deprive the military of mission-critical talent, and compromise the integrity of transgender troops who would be forced to live a lie, as well as non-transgender peers who would be forced to choose between reporting their comrades or disobeying policy”; WHEREAS discrimination against transgender people is wrong; WHEREAS, the World Health Organization removed “gender identity disorder” from its global manual of diagnoses on May 28, 2019, and replaced it with “gender incongruence,” a move heralded by Human Rights Watch as having a “liberating effect on transgender people worldwide;” WHEREAS the Trump Administration’s transgender military restrictions went into effect in most of the country on April 12, 2019, will go into effect nationwide shortly, and military academies will begin to refuse transgender students in 2020; WHEREAS the Virginia Governor is the Commander-in-Chief of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force; WHEREAS five states (California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington) are allowing transgender troops to continue to serve openly in their states’ National Guard units despite President Trump’s policy; now therefore be it Resolved, that the Arlington County Democratic Committee opposes President Trump’s discriminatory restrictions on service by transgender troops in the United States Armed Forces; and Resolved further, that the Arlington County Democratic Committee urges Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to announce that transgender troops may continue to serve openly in the Virginia National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force. Passed and Approved this Resolution on the 5th day of June, 2019.

CANDIDATE DEBATE. Join the Arlington Dems for our monthly meeting in June! This meeting will feature a debate between the Democratic candidates for State Senate District 49. We'll also give an overview of volunteer opportunities and upcoming events. Create change in your community. Get involved with Arlington Dems today! Location and Details | View the Agenda | Meeting Slides

To select the candidate for Arlington School Board who will receive the 2019 Democratic endorsement, Arlington Dems are holding three days of caucus voting THIS WEEK at the following locations: June 4, 7 pm to 9 pm, Drew Elementary (3500 23rd St S, Arlington) June 6, 7 pm to 9 pm, Key Elementary (2300 Key Blvd, Arlington) June 8, 11 am to 7 pm, Washington-Liberty HS (1301 N Stafford St, Arlington) You'll only need to show up once to cast your ballot. To learn more about candidates Reid Goldstein and David Priddy, please visit the Our Candidates page. Why is the school board caucus separate from the Democratic primary on June 11? In Virginia, it is not legally possible to designate a partisan candidate for a school board race using a government-run primary. Because a primary is not available under Virginia law, Arlington Democrats use a Party-run caucus process to identify Democratic candidates in Arlington School Board races. Remember, vote this week only for School Board Caucus -- and NOT on June 11.

The Washington Area Metropolitan Transport Authority is accepting bids this month for next-generation subway cars for Metro. Among the companies likely to bid is a Chinese telecommunications giant, Huawei. It has a history of submitting low bids, subsidized by the Chinese government, to U.S. transportation authorities. Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia have all recently signed contracts with Huawei. Local transportation authorities sacrifice the nation’s long-term economic interests and potentially its self-sufficiency to short-term budgetary goals when they select foreign-made equipment that is subsidized by a foreign government over unsubsidized equipment that is manufactured domestically. Moreover, there is cause for concern that rail cars from Huawei would pose direct risks to our national security. One lesson from the Mueller report’s account of Russian interference in the 2016 election is that foreign espionage operations in the U.S. are more far-reaching and dangerous than most Americans have imagined. And modern rail cars offer broad opportunities for spying and sabotage. Today’s rail cars are not stand-alone units, but contain elements of a comprehensive digital communications network that enables the rail system to operate more safely and efficiently. Each entity in the system, including each fixed and moving part, communicates constantly with the rest of the system. Video surveillance is part of this functionality. The cars also carry wi-fi hotspots for their passengers’ convenience. For Metro, one security risk is that Huawei cars might include equipment that would collect and transmit information about Metro passengers to Chinese spy agencies. This could include video surveillance images that would enable the agencies, using artificial intelligence, to identify who was traveling where and when on Metro. It could also include data from the digital phones and other devices carried by Metro passengers. In addition, a malicious digital “back door” could enable the Chinese government to direct the Metro system to lockdown or malfunction. Similar concerns about the possibility that malicious functionality might be embedded in Huawei telecommunications equipment, enabling the Chinese government to spy on or sabotage the system of which it is a part, has led some foreign countries to ban or restrict use of Huawei products in their telecommunications networks. (Economist 4/27/19 at 16; behind paywall). These concerns may seem far-fetched, but China has already installed comprehensive and  intrusive spying equipment in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang, home to several non-Chinese ethnic minorities, some of whose members oppose Chinese rule. It has adopted a law that compels Chinese firms to participate in intelligence-gathering whenever the Chinese Communist Party so requests. (Economist 4/27/19 at 55; behind paywall). CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm, reported in February the discovery of digital intrusions by China and other countries “likely supporting” state espionage. Metro’s initial Request for Proposals for the new rail cars did not list cybersecurity as a criterion for selecting the winning bidder. After an op-ed in the Post, Metro amended its RFP to include consideration of cybersecurity. In a subsequent letter Virginia’s and Maryland’s Democratic Senators – Sens. Warner, Kaine, Cardin, and Van Hollen – sought information about how Metro would evaluate cybersecurity issues relating to the new rail cars and urged Metro to impose rigorous cybersecurity standards. This issue warrants the continued attention of our Senators. Please email them a message of support for their work to date and ask them to continue to exert pressure on Metro not to purchase rail cars from Huawei, and please also let our local Representatives know your views: Thank you for asking Metro to implement strict cybersecurity standards in evaluating bids for its new rail cars. Please continue to work with Metro to ensure that it does not purchase rail cars that could enable a foreign government to spy on Metro passengers or threaten the safety and reliability of the Metro system. Email your comments to Sen. Mark Warner Email your comments to Sen. Tim Kaine Email your comments to Rep. Don Beyer Email your comments to Rep. Gerry Connolly Email your comments to Rep. Jennifer Wexton

CANDIDATE DEBATE. Join the Arlington Dems for our monthly meeting in May! This meeting will feature a debate between the Democratic candidates for State Senate District 31. We'll also give an overview of volunteer opportunities and upcoming events. Create change in your community. Get involved with Arlington Dems today! View the Agenda | Location and Details | Meeting slides

Former Virginia Governor to be Joined by General Assembly Contenders John Bell, Joshua Cole, Dan Helmer and Shelly Simonds ARLINGTON, Va., UPDATED Wednesday, April 24, 2019, 9:30 AM—Springboarding from his recent announcement to forego a run for the U.S. presidency to focus on campaigning to flip the Virginia General Assembly to Democratic control, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe will headline the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s (Arlington Dems) annual Blue Victory Dinner on May 11. Fewer than 100 tickets remain for the marque annual social and fundraising festivities, which this year will include VIP and general receptions, an after-dinner socializing event, a silent auction and entertainment by local musicians. Those remaining tickets are available at 2019 Arlington Democrats Blue Victory Dinner. McAuliffe to be Joined by 4 Formidable Democratic General Assembly Candidates To highlight the Virginia Democratic Party’s goal of winning the majority in both houses of the General Assembly in November, McAuliffe will be joined by House of Delegates contenders Shelly Simonds and Joshua Cole, who both lost their 2017 general election bids after voting irregularities, Delegate candidate Dan Helmer, and state Senate candidate Del. John Bell, who is seeking to replace one of the General Assembly’s most radically conservative members, who is retiring. Simonds of Newport News will again seek to unseat Del. David Yancey after their tumultuous 2017 contest, in which she was declared the loser, then the winner, then in a tie, after a three-judge panel awarded a curiously marked ballot to the incumbent. Yancey was declared the victor after his name was drawn from a bowl. Cole also will again take on his 2017 candidate, Republican Del. Bob Thomas, who represents a district including part of Stafford County and Fredericksburg. Cole finished the 2017 contest just 73 votes behind Thomas, and following a determination that 143 voters were misdirected to vote in the wrong district. Bell, a retired U.S. Air Force major, is among several Democratic contenders seeking to replace retiring state Sen. Richard H. Black, in a district representing the western half of Loudoun and a portion of Prince William counties. Black has been notorious for opposing same-sex marriage, vocally supporting human rights and war crimes strongman Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and handing out plastic fetuses to commonwealth legislators to emphasize his opposition to abortion rights. Helmer, an Army veteran and member of the U.S. Army Reserve, is challenging 10-term Del. Tim Hugo, to represent a district that includes parts of Fairfax and Prince William counties. Hugo defeated 2017 Democratic challenger and former U.S. Air Force Capt. Donte Tanner by a razor-thin 99 votes. McAuliffe Foregoes Presidential Run to Help Turn Virginia Legislature Blue McAuliffe just last week announced that he will forego a bid for the presidency to instead respond to appeals from Virginians that he lead the Democratic Party to victories in both houses of the General Assembly in November. The commonwealth is the only state in the country in which Democrats are considered to have a serious shot at turning the entire legislature blue. Virginia Republicans now have only a two-seat majority in both the House of Delegates and the Senate. However, the Democratic Party’s formidable #FightFor51 and #Fightfor21 efforts have had to contend with the high-profile scandals earlier this year involving the Commonwealth’s top three elected officials. “I had full intentions of running” for president, McAuliffe said in an April 17 interview with The Washington Post. “But after February, when we began to have the issues that we had in Virginia, people began to call … ‘We’re really in a bad way. We really need your help.’ My heart was with Virginia, as much as… I wanted to run for president. It kept tugging at me ... I just didn’t think I could walk away from Virginia.” Arlington Democrats Chair Jill Caiazzo said McAuliffe is the perfect keynoter for the 2019 Blue Victory Dinner because of this commitment. “There’s nobody better than Gov. McAuliffe to fire up Democrats in Arlington County and beyond, as we work to secure a total blue victory in Arlington and across the commonwealth,” Caiazzo said. “He fully understands the urgency of attaining Democratic majorities in the General Assembly, so that we can achieve a more prosperous, verdant, and inclusive Virginia for all.” Event’s Details This year’s Blue Victory festivities will begin Saturday, May 11, with VIP and general receptions at 6 p.m., at the Westin Arlington Gateway, 801 N Glebe Road, in Arlington, near the Ballston Metro stop. The 7 p.m. program and dinner will be followed by Arlington Young Democrats’ Blue Victory After Dark Celebration at 9 p.m. Purchase tickets at 2019 Arlington Democrats Blue Victory Dinner. In addition to remarks by McAuliffe, Bell, Cole and Simonds, and the traditional silent auction, attendees will be entertained by local acoustical blues band Two Blue Band, featuring former Arlington County Board Member Mary Hynes, and local singer Karen Archer.

As we read the headlines about the inspiring initiatives of Congressional House Democrats – both in oversight and policy – we are reminded of how much elections DO make a difference and how important it is for us in Arlington to support Democratic  candidates all across the Commonwealth. 2018’s Blue Wave election was great – and November 5, 2019 will be our next challenge. We have a very serious opportunity to take decisive majorities in both the Virginia House and Senate, begin to play policy offence instead of veto-based defense, create fair and representative districts in 2020, and remove all Republicans from the chain of succession.  We’re here to tell you that the Beyond Arlington project of the Arlington Democrats stands poised and ready to play a significant role in making this happen, just as we did in flipping the Virginia Congressional Delegation in 2018. What happens in Richmond affects lives all over Virginia, including here in Arlington. Whether it be women’s issues such as the ERA and reproductive rights, environmental issues (imagine if Virginia had state support for renewable energy!), social issues such as marriage equality, labor issues, gun control, or transportation, the actions of the Virginia General Assembly have significant, if sometimes hidden, impact on us all. Thank you to all who came out in previous years, we hope to see you again in 2019! If this would be your first time working outside of Arlington – welcome! As before, we will campaign for Democratic candidates outside of Arlington through regularly scheduled phone banks, canvassing, textbanking, and voter registration events. We are open to great candidates anywhere in Virginia but will concentrate our efforts in House and Senate seats in NoVa, Richmond and SE Virginia where there are a number of flippable districts, along with districts we need to defend following our 2017 gains. In the weeks and months ahead, we will begin sharing a weekly email with a complete list of upcoming events. We are reaching out to Democratic candidates who do not have a primary opponent following the March 23 filing deadline, and we will do the same with primary winners after June 11. Please sign up, engage with us often on Facebook, and recruit a friend to join you at our upcoming events. The work can be intense but always fun. The campaigns will be incredibly grateful for your efforts and the satisfaction of flipping a seat is immeasurable. Thank you in advance for stepping up and joining this crucial effort.

It is past time to rename the portion of U.S. Route 1 that runs through Arlington. Currently called Jefferson Davis Highway, after the president of the Confederacy, it should be renamed the Richmond Highway. The City of Alexandria made this change for the portion of Route 1 within its borders over a year ago. Although most Arlingtonians want to change the route’s name here as well, there had been uncertainty about the legal ability under Virginia law of Arlington – which is a county, with different rights than a city – to accomplish this change without action by the Republican-controlled state legislature. Now Virginia’s Attorney General, Mark Herring, has determined that if Arlington’s County Board requests the name change, the Commonwealth Transportation Board has the power to approve it. Arlington’s portion of U.S. Route 1 was named for Jefferson Davis in 1922, at a time when Southerners who opposed racial equality promoted the building of statutes and the naming of official roads and buildings to memorialize the leaders of the Confederacy. Although the Confederacy had lost the Civil War, these Southerners hoped to maintain many of its policies, particularly suppression of the rights of people of color. For decades, they largely succeeded. In recent decades, the civil-rights movement has moved our society closer to one in which all have equal rights and opportunities. But much work remains to be done. One of many unfinished tasks is to remove the statues and change the names that honor those who supported slavery, and who indeed fought a war to preserve it. What you can do The first step in the process for Route 1 is for the Arlington County Board to ask the Commonwealth Transportation Board to approve the name change. You can help make this happen by contacting the members of the County Board and letting them know you want to see Route 1 renamed now. You can email all five members of the County Board collectively at Countyboard@arlingtonva.us. Tell them: "I support changing the name of Route 1 in Arlington to Richmond Highway. Please request that the Commonwealth Transportation Board authorize this change immediately."

There are seven categories this year to highlight and celebrate some of our outstanding volunteers. Voting will be open starting April 3rd and end at 11:59 on April 26th. Voting is now closed for the 2019 awards.