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Democrats have worked to improve public schools and have proposed policies to further strengthen them. Under Democratic Governor Ralph Northam, Virginia reoriented Virginia’s public education system to provide students with a wide range of knowledge and skills that will enable them to find rewarding jobs throughout their working lives. The approach includes strong emphasis on early childhood education; a focus on developing critical and creative thinking; an updated curriculum for higher grades, including expanded coverage of Black history; and wider access to affordable community college programs. This approach also includes measures to attract and retain good teachers, including pay raises. President Biden’s 2024 budget includes substantial additional funding for special education programs and universal, nationwide pre-K education for four-year-olds through a federal-state partnership. Republicans across the country are engaged in a broad assault on public education. In Florida, they are replacing the traditional curriculum with extremist indoctrination. In Virginia and elsewhere, they are injecting culture wars into classrooms while weakening the quality of educational programs. Over the past several decades Republicans have proposed abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, a critical source of funding for at-risk schools nationwide and of loans for students who lack enough in savings to cover college tuition. In Virginia, Republicans are rejecting a Democratic proposal to allot some of the state’s $5 billion surplus to long-underfunded K-12 public schools; Republicans want instead to use the money to expand tax cuts to the wealthy and to corporations. In Florida, Republicans support expansion of a voucher program that already diverts over $1 billion annually from public to private schools. Republicans have described their policies as protecting parents’ rights, but the only parental interests they protect are those of the minority of parents who agree with them. If Republicans capture the Virginia Senate and retain control of the Virginia House of Delegates this November, they, together with Governor Youngkin, would likely adopt in Virginia the changes recently implemented in Florida. Parents who want their children to have a broad range of books available in their school libraries would be out of luck. (Book banning has already begun in some Republican-controlled Virginia counties.) Parents who want their children to learn to treat people of all ethnic backgrounds and sexual identities with respect would be overruled by radical, partisan school districts. Tragically, parents who want their children to learn the full story of American history – with all its noble ideals and disastrous failures, and with its continuing inability to achieve those ideals – would find that story suppressed. Florida law now requires teachers to imply that slavery was actually good for enslaved people – that “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.” In a forceful speech, Vice-President Kamala Harris replied, Adults know what slavery really involved. It involved rape. It involved torture. It involved taking a baby from their mother, . . . . ow is it that anyone could suggest that in the midst of these atrocities that there was any benefit to being subjected to this level of dehumanization? . . . The new Florida Academic Standards do not mention that in many slave-holding states, it was a crime to teach an enslaved person to read or write. Governor Youngkin has not been in a position to impose similar academic “standards” in Virginia, but his sympathies are clear: on his first day in office, he banned the teaching of “inherently divisive concepts.” By this he meant anything that could be the basis for criticizing something that White people had done and thereby potentially making White students feel uncomfortable. The potential discomfort of Black children was not considered. Nor was there any consideration of the actual facts, of providing all students with an accurate understanding of their history. If Republicans take control of the Virginia legislature this fall, we can expect prompt adoption of Florida-style restrictions in Virginia’s schools. What can you do to help protect public education in Virginia? Plan to devote all of the time you can muster during the upcoming campaign season to knock on doors, make phone calls to voters and help elect Democrats throughout the state. Don’t let Virginia become Florida.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2023 Press Contact: communications@arldemsold.local Arlington, VA – The Arlington County Democratic Committee ("Arlington Democrats") is excited to announce the nomination of Maureen Coffey and Susan Cunningham as the Democratic Party candidates for Arlington County Board. Following the final ballot tabulations released by the Department of Voter Registration and Election on Saturday, June 24, Coffey and Cunningham emerged as the winners of the competitive six-way race for the two open County Board seats in the November 7, 2023, General Election. The June 2023 Democratic Primary was Arlington’s first-ever implementation of ranked-choice voting (RCV). Coffey won Round 4 of the Democratic County Board primary with 40% of the overall vote. She received 10,786 votes, which was more than any other candidate in that round. Cunningham won Round 6 with 60% of the vote. She received 14,208 votes, which was more than any other candidate in that round. To win outright, a candidate must receive more than 33% of the vote. Source: Virginia Department of Elections, June 24, 2023 ”We are thrilled to have these two outstanding County Board nominees who will represent the Democratic Party’s values in Arlington,” said Arlington Democrats Chair, Steve Baker. “Arlington is such a great community, and I’m honored to have earned the support of so many of our community members,” said Coffey. “Of course, this is just the primary. I’ve enjoyed the many conversations I’ve had with voters this year, but there is still a general election in November. I want to continue engaging voters on the issues that affect our community, whether they supported me in the primary or not.” Coffey continued, “This is all really exciting. I’m really proud of the campaign we ran, and I’m grateful to all of my volunteers and supporters who showed up each week across Arlington to make this happen.” Cunningham stated, “I am humbled by our community’s vote of confidence, and I am ready to get to work to earn the final vote in November’s general election. I am grateful to the other candidates for offering their ideas and service to our community, to our election officials for their hard work and integrity, to my campaign team for their tireless work and patience, and to all who made time to participate in our local democracy as volunteers and voters.” “As I criss-crossed our vibrant and diverse county, I heard many residents’ hopes and concerns about our community. There’s so much to be proud of and build on here in Arlington, yet there’s much more to do to make our government as responsive and transparent as we want it to be.” Under RCV, the two candidates who receive the most votes after multiple rounds of tallying win the nomination for the two open County Board seats. In RCV final round allocations, the Arlington Elections Office tallied the following maximum votes for other candidates: Natalie Roy, 8,132 (31%); Julius “J.D.” Spain, Sr., 6,236 (23%); G.O. “Tony” Weaver, 1,557 (6%); and Jonathan Dromgoole, 1,086 (4%). Voters could rank their top three choices. Final tallies will be announced by 5pm Tuesday, June 27. Cunningham and Coffey will appear on the Democratic Sample Ballot in the November election and Arlington Democrats will marshal the full resources of the Democratic Party to elect them. About Maureen Coffey Maureen Coffey is a public policy expert, a union member, and lifelong Northern Virginian who is proud to call Arlington her home. She is running for County Board to fight for progressive policies that unify our community, address institutional bias and discrimination, and ensure that all Arlingtonians are able to thrive. Maureen’s priorities include housing, transportation, education, mental health, the environment, and economic development. Maureen currently works at the Center for American Progress, a progressive policy think tank dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans. Her work is centered around designing public policy that understands and supports the real needs of families with an emphasis on gender and racial equity. She was appointed by Gov. Ralph Northam to the Virginia Family and Children’s Trust and she previously served on the board of the Arlington County Civic Federation. Maureen is an active community organizer and member of the Democratic Party. As President of the Virginia Young Democrats for two years, she navigated the organization through the pandemic and 2020 election. She served on the Democratic Party of Virginia’s Steering Committee, the 8th Congressional District Democratic Committee, and was an elected delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2020. About Susan Cunningham Susan Cunningham is a small-business owner, management executive, and experienced problem solver ready to serve our community. She is running in the June 20, 2023 County Board primary to bring common sense and build a stronger community together. Currently the interim Executive Director of Arlington Thrive, Susan recently served as interim CEO of affordable housing nonprofit AHC,Inc. She chaired the Hamm Middle School BLPC, Stratford Historic Site Interpretation Committee, Little Beginnings Child Development Center, and Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church Outreach. Susan also served on her civic association board, the Old Dominion/26th St Taskforce, and the Joint Facilities Advisory Commission (JFAC). Susan has led organizations with one employee to over 80,000, from urban US school districts to national governments, including senior leadership roles at the U.S. Treasury, McKinsey & Co., and Gensler’s Global Sustainable Design division. She has served on the boards of ChildTrends, GreenHOME,the SEED Foundation, and See Forever Foundation/Maya Angelou School. Susan holds a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering and is a Fulbright Scholar. She and her husband Philip have lived in Arlington for 24 years and have two teenage daughters in Arlington Public Schools. ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2023 Press Contact: communications@arldemsold.local Barbara Favola, Adele McClure, and Parisa Dehghani-Tafti win Democratic Primaries in Arlington; Unity Event on July 5 Arlington, VA – On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, Arlington County held a primary to determine the Democratic nominees for the November 2023 General Election. The Arlington County Democratic Committee (“Arlington Democrats”) congratulates the following winners: ·         State Senate District 40 – Barbara Favola. Barbara A. Favola won the Democratic nomination for State Senate District 40. Favola won 20,658 (83.75%) of the 24,666 votes cast for State Senate candidates. James A DeVita won 4,008 (20,658%). ·         House of Delegates District 2 - Adele McClure. Adele Y. McClure won the Democratic nomination for House of Delegates District 2. McClure won 6,042 (89.64%) of the 6,740 votes cast. Kevin S. Saucedo-Broach won 698 (10.36%). Saucedo-Broach withdrew from the race but his name remained on the ballot. ·         Commonwealth’s Attorney - Parisa Dehghani-Tafti. Parisa Dehghani-Tafti won the Democratic nomination for Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church. Dehghani-Tafti won 15,387 (55.98%) of the 27,486 votes cast. Josh D. Katcher won 12,099 (44.02%). Arlington Democrats note the following races continue to be tabulated: Arlington County Sheriff. Of 26,633 votes cast so far: Jose R. Quiroz, Jr., 10,565 (39.67%); Wanda R. Younger, 8,933 (33.54%); and James A. M. Herring, 7,135 (26.79%). County Board. After the preliminary announcement of the first round count, no candidate has received sufficient votes to win either of the two open County Board seats in a Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) system. The threshold percentage to win one open seat in the first round was over 33.3%. Of the 27,069 votes cast: ·         Susan R. Cunningham, 6,747 (25%) · Natalie U. Roy, 6,507 (24%) · Maureen E. Coffey, 6,037 (22%) · Julius D. “JD” Spain, Sr., 5,363 (20%), · G. O. “Tony” Weaver, 1,385 (5%) · Jonathan Dromgoole, 1,030 (4%) This year’s Democratic Primary marked the first time Arlington County implemented RCV. Under RCV, the two candidates who receive the most votes after multiple rounds of tallying win the nomination for the two open County Board seats. Arlington County’s Department of Voter Registration & Elections will begin tallying vote totals after the mail-in ballot deadline on Friday, June 23, at 12:00 p.m. The results will be announced upon completion of the vote tallying process.  Arlington Democrats Chair Steve Baker said, “Congratulations to our 2023 Democratic nominees, and thank you to everyone who stepped forward to run. We started with 23 candidates–the largest number I have seen.”  “I extend my congratulations to our Constitutional office nominees, both returning and new. Congratulations to our returning General Assembly delegation and our new Delegate nominee, Adele McClure! We look forward to learning the final results of the RCV tabulation over the coming days and to electing our County Board nominees in November,” said Baker. The following candidates did not have a primary opponent and will appear on the November ballot: Adam Ebbin, State Senate District 39; Patrick Hope, House of Delegates District 1; Alfonso Lopez, House of Delegates District 3; Paul Ferguson, Arlington County Clerk of the Court; Carla de la Pava, Arlington County Treasurer; and Kim Klingler, Arlington County Commissioner of the Revenue. The next monthly meeting of the Arlington Democrats on Wednesday, July 5, will feature a Democratic unity event at 7:00 p.m. at Lubber Run Community Center.  *Results reflect vote totals as of 11:00 p.m. ET Tuesday, June 20.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2023 Press Contact: communications@arldemsold.local Arlington, VA – The Arlington County Democratic Committee ("Arlington Democrats") is pleased to announce Miranda Turner has been selected as the winner of the 2023 School Board Endorsement Vote. After the polls closed on Saturday, May 13, Miranda Turner received 1004 votes, surpassing Angelo Cocchiaro, who received 332 votes. There were seven ballots with no vote, eight provisional ballots, and zero spoiled ballots. “I am honored to have the Democratic endorsement in this year’s School Board election and am excited to serve Arlington Public Schools,” said Miranda Turner. “Our schools are the cornerstone of our community and our students and teachers deserve the very best. If elected in November, I will have a laser focus on instruction and provide an excellent education for all students. I will advocate for measures to help close the achievement gap, address the needs of our diverse student population, and promote policies that support the well-being and academic achievement of all students in APS.” While School Board races in Virginia are officially nonpartisan, party committees can endorse candidates in local races. As the endorsed candidate, Miranda Turner will be identified as a Democrat on the County Committee’s Sample Ballot for the November election because the Official Ballot will not have a party affiliation notated next to candidates’ names. “Public education has always been a top priority in our community. I am pleased that the Arlington Democrats ran an expanded process and that we now have an endorsee. I am confident our School Board will continue to make certain that all of our students have access to a great education in a safe and inclusive environment,” said Arlington Democrats Chair, Steve Baker. The 2023 School Board Endorsement Vote featured in-person voting hours at three APS venues across the county. Full-day voting on Sunday, May 7, and Saturday, May 13, and midweek voting hours on Wednesday, May 10, provided Arlingtonians with many ways to participate. Arlington Democrats undertook an extensive program of community outreach, including the distribution of over 25,000 door hangers to inform voters about voting locations and schedules. The communications team also ensured that outreach materials and candidate biographies were translated into five commonly spoken languages in APS households. “It takes a village to make this process run smoothly. I want to thank the whole Arlington Democrats organization, including the many volunteers who facilitated the process this week,” said 2023 Caucus Director Meg Flores. Earlier this year, Arlington Democrats approved a set of rules governing filing requirements, voting, and eligibility. The unassembled caucus was open to any registered Arlington voter who signed a form pledging to support the Democratic Party endorsee. Voters were also asked to provide their names and addresses. For more information about Miranda Turner visit https://www.mirandaturner.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2023 Press Contact: communications@arldemsold.local Arlington, VA – At the annual Blue Victory Dinner on Saturday, April 29, 2023, the Arlington County Democratic Committee announced eight volunteers of the year in front of a sold-out crowd at the Hilton Arlington. Newcomer Of The Year Award: Elizabeth Escovar Elizabeth is a changemaker. She joined the committee in 2022 and jumped right in. Her leadership presence has been felt across the organization. She is the lead point-person on our committee-wide email communications and a powerful voice in outreach, driving efforts to model how caucuses communicate with the communities we represent. Elizabeth is always thinking creatively and is always solutions oriented. Despite her many work and personal obligations, she's always "on call" and always willing to help. Last year, she helped write and format Beyond Arlington and Joint Campaign Committee emails, sometimes within 24 hours of receiving them -- helping us get our information out expeditiously and fundraise accordingly. She's helped Beyond Arlington synthesize their priorities in written messages. She developed an entire Caucus Communications Plan for the Latino Caucus, proposing a structure that could become a model for how others use their social media and manage their email lists. And not to be outdone, she stepped up as leader of the Latino Caucus. She is a reliable and driven person who is highly focused on ensuring we're talking to communities equitably, and her service in two important roles on the committee straddling different but interrelated areas make her a prime candidate for the newcomer of the year. Campaigner Of The Year Award: Mark Perlman Mark is an incredibly steadfast and loyal volunteer. Not only does he perform duties as an ArlDems precinct captain, but he has also volunteered with the Young Dems as well for the past four years and currently serves and the Diversity & Inclusion Director. Throughout the year, and especially during campaign season, he shows up everywhere. For years, Mark has led the way on the number of doors knocked. He is a legend. This past year, he again went out to almost every canvass he could and volunteered whenever possible, knocking hundreds of doors to help candidates in Arlington and beyond. We are incredibly grateful for all of Mark’s hard work and loyalty to the Democratic cause. Unsung Hero Award: Sangeeta Rao Sangeeta joined the Young Democrats back in 2004 and helped out by putting up signs and registering voters, helping again in 2012 by canvassing for President Obama's reelection. In 2016, she became a Precinct Captain in Barcroft and continues to sign up for poll greeter shifts. With Beyond Arlington, she canvassed in Henrico and Chesterfield counties for Abigail Spanberger in 2018. In 2019, Sangeeta stepped up to chair the AAPI Caucus. She created and organized their annual signature event, Diwali, which is the only Diwali festival in Arlington County. Today Sangeeta serves in the elected role of Outreach Chair where she advocates on behalf of our caucuses and and all of our communities in Arlington. Erik Gutshall Community Leader Award: Bryant Atkins Bryant has contributed much to Arlington Democrats and our Arlington community. He holds a leadership role with the Arlington Dems Disability Caucus. As Party Representative for Arlington Young Democrats, he helps keep AYD engaged with critical electoral races and reporting on AYD events and accomplishments at both Steering Committee meetings and Arlington Democrats monthly committee meetings. He’s been a strong housing advocate and testified before the Arlington County Board in support of a more inclusive housing policy. He has also recently joined the Arlington Disability Commission and is working to raise awareness of the rights and needs of people with disabilities. Bryant has also played an integral part in the planning and execution of the Blue Victory Dinner in 2022 and again this year. He is helping out with the 2023 Joint Campaign Committee and works tirelessly for many of our candidates. Herselle Milliken Precinct Captain of The Year Award: Colleen McCool Colleen is a Precinct Captain in Campbell, one of our most Democratic and diverse precincts where she actively works to register more voters in the heart of a heavily Spanish-speaking neighborhood. You can also frequently find her at Beyond Arlington events as well as the Courthouse Farmers Market where she works tirelessly to recruit volunteers every Saturday. Her commitment and devotion shines through on all she does. Jean Marshall Crawford Women’s Leadership Award: Sarah Flourance Sarah led the Arlington Dems response in the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization U.S. Supreme Court decision reversing the constitutional right to abortion. She worked around the clock to create the outstanding Arlington Dems Roe Action Center website. This invaluable resource provided those in Arlington and the Commonwealth with the information they needed regarding reproductive health at a time when it was under attack. Although her efforts speak for themself, our data shows that the Resource Center was one of our website's most visited pages last year and was used as a resource throughout the Commonwealth. Young Democrat of the Year Award: Sam Shirazi In just one year's time, Sam has become a leading contributor to the Arlington Democrats social media channels, producing content that relates news events to our messages. Sam has the impressive ability to do this almost seamlessly, as if writing riffs about statewide politics comes as naturally to him as putting on shoes. Our followers love the voice of the Arlington Democrats online, and his posts are frequently quoted by local press. More generally, Sam is also a leader on our committee, helping with Blue Families and generously giving us his time despite raising young children. He's a proud dad, proud Arlington Democrat, and effective communicator. Mary Marshall Outstanding Democrat Of The Year Award: Natalie Hall Natalie has been a quiet worker for decades, making things happen and getting things done without a lot of fanfare. Serving as both a precinct captain and an area chair, helping out with literature bundling, Metro leafleting, postcard writing and voter registration, she is always organized, upbeat, and willing to help. A former school administrator, she and her husband have staged many canvass launches, hosted many fundraisers, and done so in one of Arlington’s toughest precincts. She is a dedicated Beyond Arlington canvasser, and she always makes Election Day volunteers feel special and appreciated. We congratulate and thank this exceptional Democrat for her years of service. ###

Arlington, VA – The Arlington County Democratic Committee (“Arlington Democrats”) is excited to announce the field of candidates who have filed paperwork with the party for the Democratic nomination in the June 20, 2023, Democratic Primary. The candidates represent a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to advancing Democratic values in Arlington and across Virginia. The General Assembly candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, listed alphabetically by race, include James DeVita and Barbara Favola in State Senate District 40, Adam Ebbin in State Senate District 39, Patrick Hope in the House of Delegates District 1, Adele McClure and Kevin Saucedo-Broach in the House of Delegates District 2, and Alfonso Lopez in the House of Delegates District 3. The six County Board candidates seeking the Democratic nomination include Maureen Coffey, Susan Cunningham, Jonathan Dromgoole, Natalie Roy, Julius D. (“JD”) Spain, Sr., and Tony Weaver. The candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for Commonwealth’s Attorney include Parisa Dehghani-Tafti and Josh Katcher. Paul Ferguson is seeking reelection for Clerk of the Court. Kim Klingler is seeking election for Commissioner of Revenue. Carla de la Pava is seeking reelection for Treasurer. And James Herring, Jose Quiroz, and Wanda Younger are seeking the Democratic nomination for Sheriff. "We are excited to have a strong and diverse field of candidates filing for our June 20 Democratic Primary. They each bring a wealth of experience and a commitment to our shared values, and we look forward to working with them to build a better and more inclusive community,” said Arlington Democrats Chair Steve Baker. All candidate paperwork will be verified to ensure it meets state filing requirements. For more information about the candidates and the upcoming primary, including links to information about the new ranked-choice voting procedure this year, please visit the Arlington Democrats website at http://arldemsold.local/. NOTE: An earlier version of this release indicated that Kim Klinger is seeking re-election. She is seeking election to a first term as Commissioner of Revenue.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 2023 Press Contact: pr@arldemsold.local Arlington, Virginia -- The Arlington County Democratic Committee (“Arlington Democrats”) have announced that three candidates have filed for the School Board Endorsement Vote. The candidates, listed in alphabetical order, are Angelo Cocchiaro, Erin Freas-Smith, and Miranda Turner. The voting for the endorsement will be held at three different locations on the following dates: May 7, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Drew Elementary School May 10, 2023, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Campbell Elementary School May 13, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Washington-Liberty High School The voting process will use ranked-choice voting, and additional rules and information about the process will soon be available at the Arlington Democrats' website. The next monthly meeting of the Arlington Democrats will take place Wednesday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m at Lubber Run Community Center and will feature some candidate announcements. The Committee looks forward to upcoming candidate forums where the public can meet and learn more about the candidates. Arlington Democrats will also be reaching out to a diverse coalition of community stakeholders to ensure as broad as community participation as possible. ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 21, 2023 Press Contact: pr@arldemsold.local Arlington, Virginia - Arlington Public Schools Chair Reid Goldstein released the following statement: “After serving nearly eight years on the Arlington School Board, I have made the decision not to seek another term. I have always believed that building a healthy and desirable community is not a spectator sport and have been committed to public service in Arlington for almost 25 years. However, as this chapter of my life comes to a close, I am excited to explore new ways of serving the community. I am deeply grateful to the Arlington community, students, teachers, support staff, administrators, parents, and colleagues who have made my time on the School Board so fulfilling. Together, we have made great progress and I am proud of what we have accomplished. I will make a formal announcement about my decision not to run at the next meeting of the Arlington Democrats on March 1.” ###

The two massive February 6 earthquakes and their aftershocks in Turkey and Syria destroyed thousands of buildings. The death toll as of this writing is over 40,000, and the UN estimates that with continuing recovery work this number will likely soon double. Photos show widespread devastation. The quakes toppled buildings that have stood – in an earthquake-prone area – for many centuries. Modern and even recently constructed buildings collapsed as well. The earthquakes occurred relatively close to the earth’s surface, increasing their destructive power. Rescue efforts have been hampered by alternating freezing weather, snow, and heavy rains, conditions that are further exacerbating the human suffering. The general who leads the U.S. European Command called the earthquakes “an incalculable disaster.” The U.S. military has begun relief work in Turkey, including search-and rescue operations and medical services. The U.S. has also allocated funds for relief work in Syria, although given the civil war that effort will be difficult. The U.S. Treasury Department has lifted for six months, for earthquake related transactions, sanctions otherwise in place against Syria. The humanitarian needs created by these quakes are enormous. There are now thousands of refugees, as there is a severe shortage of safe housing in affected areas. Medical facilities are wholly inadequate. Restoring electrical and water service will take time. It is critical that the U.S. expand its assistance efforts. A pending House resolution would encourage delivery of that help. It expresses condolences from the United States and urges the Biden Administration to provide “immediate assistance” to the people of Turkey. What You Can Do Express your support for on social media “I support the House Resolution encouraging immediate assistance to the people of Turkey and I urge its immediate passage. Time is of the essence and the people in earthquake-shattered areas of Turkey need our help.” Donate to at least one of the following organizations that is working to provide urgent and much-needed assistance to the people in the earthquake-affected areas: Turkish Philanthropy Funds: https://donate.tpfund.org/campaign/tpf-turkiye-earthquake/c465112 Turkish Philanthropy Funds is the leading U.S.-based community foundation dedicated to social projects in Turkish and Turkish-American communities. AHBAP: https://ahbap.org/ This local Turkish organization “works with value systems based on solidarity, sharing, and belonging.” World Central Kitchen: https://donate.wck.org/give/417669/#!/donation/checkout WCK works as a first responder in disaster zones in the United States and abroad. This not-for-profit, non-governmental organization delivers food to existing restaurants and other local institutions with commercial kitchens, which then prepare free meals for local residents. WCK, founded by chef Jose Andres in 2010, is already on the ground in areas of Turkey devastated by the earthquakes. CARE: care.org/earthquake CARE, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1945, is a major humanitarian agency that, among other things, delivers emergency relief where needed around the world.

The filing period for the Democratic endorsement for 2023 Arlington County School Board Member election has opened. Candidates seeking endorsement must submit the Arlington County Democratic Committee's Candidate Declaration Form and must hand deliver the form Arlington Democrats Chair Steve Baker (chair@arldemsold.local), or his authorized representative, by 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2023. Learn more about the School Board Endorsement Vote Rules.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2022 Press Contact: Paul Ruiz, communications@arldemsold.local ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – Hundreds of Arlington County Democratic Committee (Arlington Democrats) volunteers worked tirelessly to succeed in three Arlington races on Election Day. In Virginia's 8th Congressional District, incumbent Congressman Don Beyer (D) won a fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating his Republican challenger by a wide margin. In Arlington County, incumbent Matt de Ferranti won a second term on the Arlington County Board. “I’m honored, humbled, and deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve,” said de Ferranti. “I love working for Arlington residents and will work my heart out over the next four years to be as good as they are—smart, thoughtful, compassionate, and forward-looking.” In his first term on the County Board, de Ferranti helped preserve over 1,300 units at the Barcroft Apartments and began a Hunger and Food Insecurity Working Group. He also led an effort as Arlington County Board Chair to deliver lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines to Arlingtonians, ensuring that our schools, economy, and community could return to their operating capacities. “Matt has been a proven leader over the past four years. Arlington Democrats look forward to supporting him while he advances his goals of building an economy that works for all, ending hunger in Arlington, promoting sustainability to combat climate change, and tackling affordable housing,” said Arlington Democrats Chair Steve Baker. Arlington Democrats also celebrated Bethany Sutton, who won a four-year term on the Arlington School Board. “Thank you, Arlington voters, for upholding our campaign’s values of high-quality education, equitable outcomes for students, inclusiveness, support for teachers and staff, and strong governance,” said Sutton. “I’m excited to hit the ground running and partner with parents and staff to support kids in Arlington.” Sutton previously served in the President's office at the American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) for over 17 years and is a certified leadership coach and consultant. She serves as Chair of the APS Advisory Council on Teaching and Learning. As a parent on the Randolph Elementary School’s Parent-Teacher Association, Sutton spearheaded the creation of Randolph Food Pantry to meet food insecurity needs in the Randolph Elementary School community. Sutton will replace Arlington School Board member Dr. Barbara Kanninen, who currently serves as Chair. Her term expires on December 31. Earlier this year, Dr. Kanninen announced she would not seek reelection. “We are grateful for Dr. Kanninen’s service to our schools and the community,” said Baker. “She led APS through a period of uncertainty and growth.” Preliminary data shows over 82,042 eligible Arlington voters (56%) turned out in this election, with 2,500 provisional ballots and post-election mail ballots to be counted. “We extend our thanks to everyone who came out to vote, volunteer, poll work, and support this important election victory,” said Baker. “Hundreds of Election Day poll greeters responded to our call for volunteers, handing out sample ballots at the polls and Metro stations, and knocking on doors.” Arlington voters also overwhelmingly approved bond referenda to fund critical infrastructure improvements in transportation, stormwater, and water treatment, and special projects in parks and public schools. In August, Arlington Democrats voted to endorse all six of Arlington’s bond issues. Arlington Democrats Celebrate Abigail Spanberger’s Win in VA-7, National Results In Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, incumbent Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger beat the Republican challenger in a deeply contested seat. This year, the Arlington Democrats’ Beyond Arlington and Blue Families programs dispatched hundreds of volunteers to make calls and knock on doors for Congresswoman Spanberger every weekend since July. “Arlington Democrats are inspired by Abigail’s defense of abortion rights, voting rights, and promotion of gun safety,” said Beyond Arlington Deputy Chair Kip Malinosky. “Beyond Arlington and Blue Families volunteers made a huge difference in this critical race. Congratulations, Congresswoman Spanberger.” Arlington Democrats also celebrated national election returns that beat electoral precedent and exceeded expectations. Historically, the President’s party has lost dozens of House seats and a few Senate seats with few exceptions since World War II. While votes across the country are still being counted, Arlington Democrats remain hopeful for continued Democratic victories and peaceful transitions of power. “Several races remain too close to call,” said Baker. “But two things are certain–this is not a red wave, and Arlington Democrats will continue working to elect Democrats everywhere.” ###

Whereas expansion of the times, places, and methods of voting in recent years has fostered increased voter turnout by making the process of voting more convenient for many voters; Whereas making voting more convenient benefits communities by encouraging civic engagement among its citizens; Whereas use of drop boxes that can receive completed absentee ballots twenty-four hours per day and even days per week has been one of the innovations that has helped increase voter turnout; Whereas Arlington has utilized nine drop boxes in recent elections; Whereas use of drop boxes has not been shown to enable fraud or any other harm to the integrity of the voting process, in Arlington County or elsewhere; Whereas use of drop boxes does not impose a significant financial burden on Arlington County; Whereas there are pending proposals to reduce the number of Arlington’s drop boxes by up to two-thirds; Whereas reducing the number of drop boxes would likely reduce voter turnout; therefore be it Resolved, that the Arlington County Democratic Committee supports maintenance of all nine drop boxes currently in use for the full duration of early voting and opposes efforts to reduce the number of drop boxes available to Arlington voters by any number, for any length of time. Passed and Approved on the 2nd day of November, 2022.