Search Results

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) to Headline Event and encourage eligible attendees to immediately vote “absentee in person” OCT. 14, 2019, ARLINGTON, Va.—A 13-foot “Baby Trump” balloon, similar to the ones that have attracted crowds across the country and in Europe, will dominate the stage at an Arlington County Democratic Committee (Arlington Dems) “Impeach Trump, Then Vote!” rally, at noon Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood. The rally will feature remarks by U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), who represents Arlington and has been a strong proponent of Congress’ ongoing impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump. Beyer will be joined by the “Baby Trump” balloon, like the ones that have appeared at protests in Orlando, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, London, and elsewhere. The rally will take place in the Metro-accessible Courthouse Plaza at 2100 Clarendon Blvd., which is adjacent to the Bozeman Government Center, where “absentee voting in person” is underway for Virginia’s critical Nov. 5 election. Rally attendees are encouraged to come prepared to vote absentee immediately after the rally. Absentee voting information, including eligibility criteria, is available on the Arlington County Registrar’s website. For example, Arlington voters who work in DC are eligible to vote absentee in person and are encouraged to do so now to avoid Election Day logistical challenges. Absentee voting in person is available at various hours Mondays-Saturdays until Nov. 5. It’s open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Oct. 19. Virginia is the only state in the country in which Democrats are regarded as having a serious shot at flipping both houses of its legislature blue this year. Virginia Republicans now have only a two-seat majority in both the House of Delegates and the Senate. The state’s Democratic Party has mounted a formidable #RetakeTheMajority campaign to flip both houses blue, but success will require robust voter turnout between now and the Nov. 5 election. “Virginians have a beautiful, amazing, really unbelievable opportunity to show Trump that his time is nearly up: by voting bigly in this November’s election!” Arlington Democrats Chair Jill Caiazzo said, mocking the loquacious, superlative-loving Trump. “In all seriousness, it’s time for people of conscience to stand up against this corrupt president and his Republican enablers—at our family-friendly rally in Arlington and at the polls across Virginia Nov. 5.”

Join the Arlington Dems for our monthly meeting in October at Key Elementary! This meeting will feature an overview of volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, and special Get Out the Vote mini trainings. Create change in your community. Get involved with Arlington Dems today! View Agenda | Event Details

Sheila Bynum-Coleman, Surging Democratic Challenger to the Virginia House Speaker, Will Also Fire Up Activists Heading into Pivotal November Election ARLINGTON, VA., Monday, Sept. 23, 2019—Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action Against Gun Violence in America (Moms Demand Action) will rally progressive activists at the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s (Arlington Dems) annual Golden Gala on Oct. 19. Joining Watts will be activist Sheila Bynum-Coleman, whose campaign to unseat right-wing Republican Virginia House Speaker Kirk Cox in this year’s pivotal election, has attracted national attention. The event will be from 6-9 p.m. at Lyon Village Community House, 1920 N. Highland St., in Arlington. The commonwealth is the only state in the country in which Democrats are regarded as having a serious shot at flipping both houses of its legislature blue this year. Virginia Republicans now have only a two-seat majority in both the House of Delegates and the Senate. The state’s Democratic Party has mounted formidable #FightFor51 and #Fightfor21 campaigns to flip both houses blue, but success will require significant financial and organizing support. Watts was a stay-at-home mother of five and former communications executive at the time of the Dec. 14, 2012, Sandy Hook Elementary School gun massacre. A day later, she created a Facebook group imploring Americans to do more to reduce gun violence. The resulting online conversation transformed into a grassroots movement that led to the creation of Moms Demand Action, one of the most powerful gun safety organizations in the United States. Moms Demand Action now has a chapter in every U.S. state, and is part of the 6-million-strong, Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country. “Because Congress is unwilling to tackle common sense gun-safety legislation, we are fighting and winning this battle one state at a time,” Watts said. “We’ve shown that we can make a difference in the voting booth, including in several important past elections in Virginia. Moms Demand Action is excited to support Arlington Democrats and its work to flip both houses of the Virginia Legislature so that the commonwealth’s citizens can be safer through passage of common sense gun safety legislation.” Watts said Moms Demand Action was particularly interested in supporting Virginia gun-safety candidates, like Bynum-Coleman, after the indifferent reaction of the commonwealth’s Republicans to the May 31 Virginia Beach gun massacre that killed 12 and injured four. After only two hours, Republicans, under Cox’s House leadership, adjourned a July 9 special state legislative session called by Gov. Ralph Northam to consider new gun-safety measures. Although Cox labeled the special session an “election-year stunt,” Democratic challenger Bynum-Coleman has made strengthening gun-safety laws a campaign priority. “We’re particularly grateful for the support of Moms Demand Action after the total failure in leadership by Virginia Republicans following the Virginia Beach tragedy,” Arlington Democrats Chair Jill Caiazzo said. “Arlington Dems are laser-focused on common-sense gun safety reform, and we’re working incredibly hard to elect gun-safety advocates throughout the state. We invite everyone in the community committed to ending the horrors of gun violence to join us Oct. 19 to be inspired by Shannon Watts.” Individual tickets to the Golden Gala are available online for $150, but for only $100 more, supporters also gain admission to Arlington Dems’ “Honoring a Senior Dem Celebration” Sunday, Sept. 22, and Arlington Young Democrats’ Knok-Toberfest, Saturday, Oct. 5. Seniors, Young Democrats, and members of Arlington Dems’ Roosevelt-Obama Society receive discounts on individual event and Gold Card prices. “Much is at stake for the everyday lives of Virginians in the Nov. 5 election,” Caiazzo said. “The Arlington Dems’ Gold Card gives you access to great events leading up to the election and directly funds our efforts to organize victorious campaigns for Democratic candidates seeking office this year, and to build a Democratic powerhouse for 2020. You can make a difference by supporting -- and joining! -- our efforts to spread the positive Democratic message in our community and to get out the vote in November.” The Arlington County Democratic Committee (Arlington Dems) is the official county organization for the Democratic Party of Virginia. Arlington Dems is open to anyone interested in advancing Democratic candidates, policy priorities and values in Arlington and beyond. Learn more at the Arlington Democrats website, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

WASHINGTON, DC and ARLINGTON, VA — The District of Columbia Democratic State Committee (DC Democratic Party) and the Arlington County Democratic Committee (Arlington Dems) today announced a strategic partnership with the twin goals of matching D.C. Democrats with volunteer opportunities in support of legislative campaigns in neighboring Virginia, and leveraging the organizing might of Arlington Democrats in support of DC statehood. Support Democratic Candidates in Virginia Virginia has a serious shot at turning its legislature blue this year. Virginia Republicans now have only a two-seat majority in both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate. The state’s Democratic Party has mounted formidable #FightFor51 and #Fightfor21 campaigns to flip both houses blue, but success will require significant financial and organizing support. The DC Democratic Party has answered this call by partnering with Arlington Democrats. In particular, DCDSC will direct DC Democratic volunteers to the Arlington Democrats’ robust “Beyond Arlington” program, which is providing field support to key races in swing districts throughout Virginia this year. In addition to identifying key races, this program organizes canvassing trips to swing districts, arranges car pools, and facilitates volunteer overnight housing when needed. Interested DC Democratic volunteers will be encouraged to signup via Facebook (@BeyondArlington) or by contacting beyond@arldemsold.local. “DC Democrats can make the critical difference this year in Virginia’s close legislative races, and we are grateful for their support,” Arlington Democrats Chair Jill Caiazzo said. “Arlington Democrats will serve as a primary gateway to Virginia for DC Democrats. We will ensure that DC Democratic volunteers are deployed to strategic field locations in close races.” Arlington Democrats’ “Beyond Arlington” Chair Steve Baker also observed: “The ‘Beyond Arlington’ program will make it easy and fun for D.C. Democrats to plug into Virginia legislative races. We handle the administrative details of liaising with campaigns so that volunteers can hit the ground running where they are needed most.” DC Democratic Party Chair Charles Wilson observed: “DC Democrats have always been good neighbors to local campaigns, but this partnership takes that effort to the next level. We are eager to support Democratic candidates in Virginia this year who support DC statehood – and to pave the way for even greater collaboration for the presidential race in 2020.” Support DC Statehood Addressing the second goal of the new partnership, Arlington Democrats unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday declaring their support for D.C. statehood. Citing the right of every United States citizen to have Congressional representation, Arlington Democrats joined the Wyoming Democrats in publicly endorsing a plan to make the District of Columbia the 51st state. In response to the passage of this resolution, DC Democratic Party Chair Charles Wilson noted: “It is long past time that all U. S. citizens are granted the full rights and freedoms afforded to them by the Constitution. We thank Arlington Democrats for taking a stand on such an important issue for over 700,000 District residents and look forward to working with them to make statehood a reality for the District of Columbia.” DC Democratic Party Vice Chair Linda Gray also observed: “We have been shouting about taxation without representation for years. We deeply appreciate the support from our fellow Democrats in Arlington.” James S. Bubar and Andria Thomas, co-chairs of the DC Democratic Party’s Statehood Committee, released the following statement: “We are grateful that the Arlington Dems are joining the DC Democrats in the struggle for Statehood and full democracy for the residents of the District of Columbia.” The formal support of Arlington Dems comes ahead of the Sep. 19 DC statehood hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight and Reform Committee chaired by U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD). The committee will consider U.S. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s bill, H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. The bill has the support of 218 House members. An identical bill in the U.S. Senate, S. 631, introduced by Sen. Tom R. Carper (D-DE) has the support of 33 Senators, including Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). To learn more about the DC Democratic Party, please visit www.dcdemocraticparty.org. The Arlington County Democratic Committee (Arlington Dems) is the official county organization for the Democratic Party of Virginia. Arlington Dems is open to anyone interested in advancing Democratic candidates, policy priorities and values in Arlington and beyond. Learn more at the Arlington Democrats website, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Whereas the District of Columbia has no substantive voting rights in either chamber of Congress; Whereas the District of Columbia has a larger population than the State of Wyoming and the State of Vermont, each of which currently has two Senators and one Representative in Congress; Whereas those opposing statehood for the District of Columbia have not advanced a substantive argument in support of their position; Whereas one leading Republican has conceded that the GOP opposes D.C. statehood only because the District is predominately Democratic and, were it a state, would likely elect two Democratic Senators and one Democratic Representative; Whereas residents of the District of Columbia paid more in federal taxes than the residents of 21  states in 2018; Whereas a rallying cry among American patriots in the years leading up to the American Revolution, and a fundamental ideal of the country to this day, is “No taxation without representation;” Whereas pending in the House of Representatives is H.R. 51, which provides for the admission of a new state, Washington, District of Columbia, into the Union; Whereas denying Congressional representation to the citizens of the District of Columbia denies them, for no valid reason, the voting power to which most other Americans are entitled; Whereas denying Congressional representation to the citizens of the District of Columbia impacts which political party holds the majority in both chambers of Congress, thereby potentially denying Democratic voters throughout the country fair representation of their views in Congress; therefore, be it Resolved, that the Arlington County Democratic Committee hereby supports the granting of statehood to the District of Columbia. Passed and Approved this Resolution on the 4th day of September, 2019.

Join the Arlington Dems for our monthly meeting in September at Key Elementary! This meeting will feature an overview of volunteer opportunities and upcoming events. Create change in your community. Get involved with Arlington Dems today! Event details | View Agenda | View Meeting Slides

Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Prominent Virginia Democrats Will Inspire Democrats at Events Slated through October ARLINGTON, Va., Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019—Democratic National Committee (DNC) CEO Seema Nanda will headline the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s (Arlington Dems) annual Labor Day Chili Cook-Off on Monday, Sept. 2. It is the first of four Arlington-focused events to support Democrats in the run-up to the November elections. Nanda will be joined by U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia; Virginia Del. Kathy Tran, D-42nd; NoVa Labor Federation President Virginia Diamond; Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) organizer Xiomara Vasquez; and Oscar Martinez, a worker at local employer Didlake, which has battled to bar Arlington-based employees from unionizing. Arlington School Board Chair Tannia Talento will emcee the event. The Chili Cook-Off will be 2-5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in the Lyon Park Community Center, 414 N. Fillmore St., in Arlington. Support Democratic Candidates by Buying a Gold Card Arlington Dems urge anyone supporting the party’s platform and inclusive philosophy to purchase its Gold Card. The Gold Card benefits the campaigns of Arlington Democratic candidates and grants admission to the Chili Cook-Off and three more events before the Nov. 5 election. The Commonwealth is the only state in the country in which Democrats are regarded as having a serious shot at turning its legislature blue this year. Virginia Republicans now have only a two-seat majority in both the House of Delegates and the Senate. The state’s Democratic Party has mounted formidable #FightFor51 and #Fightfor21 campaigns to flip both houses blue, but success will require significant financial and organizing support. “Gold Card supporters directly fund our efforts to organize victorious campaigns for Democratic candidates seeking office Nov. 5, and to build a Democratic powerhouse for 2020,” said Arlington Democrats Chair Jill Caiazzo. “You can make a difference by buying a Gold Card to support our positive message and get out the vote in November.” Gold Cards may be purchased on the Arlington Dems’ website. Tickets to individual events also are available. Labor Day Chili Cook-Off Recognizes Power of Organized Labor Nanda was named DNC CEO in June 2018. She previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, as well as chief of staff to then-Labor Secretary Tom Perez, who is now the DNC chair. Her career has centered on immigration, employee and civil rights issues. Manassas-based Didlake, which employs hundreds of people with special needs and places them in contract positions throughout the DMV, has fought since 2015 to forbid disabled workers at the Didlake-staffed Army National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington to unionize. Workers report that they are paid less for the same work than non-disabled colleagues, and required to buy inferior health insurance. Arlington Dems have supported the workers’ right to unionize. Second Arlington Dems Event Honors 2019 Senior Democrat, Followed by Oktober Fest and Golden Gala For his nearly two decades of service to the local political party, on Sept. 22, Arlington Dems will honor Charley Conrad as its 2019 Senior Democrat. Celebrating Conrad will be Congressman Don Beyer; former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe; Virginia state Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-30th; Virginia Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-49th; Virginia Del. Danica Roem, D-13th; former Virginia Congressman Jim Moran; and Sandra Brandt, Chair of the Second Congressional District Democratic Committee. Tickets to this event are included in the Arlington Dems’ Gold Card, or individually on the Arlington Dems’ website, which provides additional event details. Other events included in the Arlington Dems’ Gold Card include the Arlington Young Democrats’ Oktoberfest Saturday, Oct. 5, and the Golden Gala Saturday, Oct. 19. More details for both events will be announced soon on the Arlington Dems’ website. The Arlington County Democratic Committee (Arlington Dems) is the official county organization for the Democratic Party of Virginia. Arlington Dems is open to anyone interested in advancing Democratic candidates, policy priorities and values in Arlington and beyond. Learn more at the Arlington Democrats website, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Republicans control the Virginia legislature, but their majority is thin – only two seats in each chamber. Democrats are well-positioned to flip both houses on November 5, IF we really work at it. We have a Democratic governor, and with Democratic majorities in both halves of the General Assembly, Virginia could begin to address the important problems confronting our state, problems the Republican majority has ignored or even exacerbated. One critical issue for which a Democratic General Assembly would make a difference is income inequality. Now at its highest level since the 1920s, the growing gap between the richest and poorest Americans contributes to our deepening social divisions. To strengthen our nation and in the interest of fundamental fairness, we need to reduce income inequality. Regressive tax structures in most states, including Virginia, actually make inequality worse. In the most recent year for which statistics are available, Virginians in the lowest 20% by income paid nearly 10%of their income in state taxes of some kind, while the wealthiest 1% paid only 7%of their much higher income to the state. Governor Northam attempted to address this problem in his 2018 budget proposal, which sought to allocate $300 million to rebates or tax reductionsfor Virginia families earning less than $54,000 annually, the state’s median income. His plan was designed to mitigate the inequality-worsening effects of the 2017 Trump federal tax cut, which heavily favored large corporations and the very wealthiest. The Republican majority in the House of Delegates rejected Northam’s proposal, preferring to use to the money in a way that favored Virginians earning at least $125,000 per year, that is, Virginians in the top 20% by income. The contrast between the parties’ policies could not be starker – one wants to assist those with below-median incomes while the other wants to further enrich the most comfortable among us. Clearly, Virginia will make little progress in reducing income inequality as long as Republicans control the General Assembly. Many other core Democratic programs – making reliable, affordable health insurance available to all, strengthening affordable public education from preschool through vocational and graduate schools, and promoting real equal opportunity for all – would also reduce the effects of income inequality. Each of these programs, and especially all of them combined, would make Virginia a stronger, healthier, and fairer place. Help flip both houses of the General Assembly this November. Volunteer to help elect Democrats in Arlington. Volunteer to help with key Democratic campaigns in other parts of the state. Donate to Arlington Democrats to support our voter registration, education, and turnout efforts locally and in flippable Virginia districts.

TAKE ACTION. Join the Arlington Dems for our monthly meeting in July! Each meeting features an overview of volunteer opportunities and upcoming events, as well a statewide campaign information session! Create change in your community. Get involved with Arlington Dems today! View the Agenda | Location and Details

More Virginians died from gun violence in 2017 than were killed in vehicle accidents. They died from guns at a rate of almost three people per day. Nearly 2/3 of these gun deaths were suicides, and the majority of suicides in Virginia were committed with guns. Nationwide in 2017, the most recent year for which data are available, there were 12 gun deaths per 100,000 people, the highest rate since the mid-1990s. Governor Northam has repeatedly sought sensible rules for gun ownership, storage, and use in order to reduce the number of Virginians lost to gun violence. As a military physician, he has “seen firsthand what a bullet can do” to a person. But the Republican majority in the Virginia General Assembly has killed his bills in committee; none has ever come up for a vote in either the House of Delegates or the Senate. After the mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center in May that killed twelve people and injured four more, Governor Northam called a special session of the legislature to consider a new package of proposals for curtailing gun violence. It is to convene on July 9. The Governor wants the legislature to require universal background checks– checks in all gun sales, not only those made by gun dealers. The Governor is also seeking a ban on assault weapons and silencers. He wants adoption of a “red-flag” law like that adopted in Florida after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. These laws enable the police or relatives to petition a court to temporarily remove weapons from the possession of someone exhibiting signs of dangerous mental instability. Even Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham has expressed support for these laws at the state level. Over a dozen states have now adopted them. The governor also urges reinstatement of Virginia’s rule limiting a person to the purchase of one gun per month. Before 1993, Virginia was a primary source of guns used in crimes throughout the Northeastern part of the country. Then Virginia enacted a one-gun-per-month law that eliminated bulk gun sales. The law remained in effect until 2012, and during this time the percentage of Virginia-sold guns used in Northeastern crimes fell precipitously. In addition, Northam’s legislative package would include rules limiting children’s access to guns, require reporting of lost or stolen firearms, and expand local authority to regulate the presence of guns in government buildings. These are specific, targeted measures that would reduce the horrific toll of gun violence in Virginia without unduly infringing on safe and lawful gun ownership. All of the proposals have been adopted elsewhere and proved helpful in making communities safer. None of these proposals interferes with Second Amendment rights under any reasonable reading of the Constitution. The General Assembly should adopt all of them in its special session. What can you do? Right now, you can tell Arlington’s representatives in Richmond that: “Virginia needs to address the gun violence that destroys so many lives in our state. In the special session, please support all of Governor Northam’s proposed gun-safety measures.” You can reach Arlington’s representatives at: Delegate Patrick Hope - DelPHope@house.virginia.gov Delegate Mark Levine - DelMLevine@house.virginia.gov Delegate Alfonso Lopez - DelALopez@house.virginia.gov Delegate Rip Sullivan - DelRSullivan@house.virginia.gov Senator Adam Ebbin - district30@senate.virginia.gov Senator Barbara Favola - district31@senate.virginia.gov Senator Janet Howell - district32@senate.virginia.gov This summer and fall, you can help flip control of the General Assembly in the November elections. Democrats are only two seats shy of control in each chamber. You can volunteer to help elect Arlington Democrats to represent us in Richmond or to help with Democratic General-Assembly campaigns in other parts of the state with Beyond Arlington.

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.”