Alexandria Republicans to choose House District 5 nominee Sunday
Democrats also filing Sunday; three candidates have announced
The Alexandria Republican City Committee will hold a canvass Sunday to select its nominee for House District 5, setting up a Feb. 10 special election matchup with the winner of Tuesday’s Democratic firehouse primary.
The canvass will take place from 2-4 p.m. at ARCC headquarters, 221 S. Henry St. All Republicans who live in House District 5 are eligible to participate. There is no fee or pre-registration required.
“We will know tomorrow evening who the Republican candidate will be,” ARCC Chairman Chris Howell told The Alexandria Brief on Saturday.
The deadline for Republicans to file for the nomination was 6 p.m. Saturday. Candidates must be at least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen, a Virginia resident for at least one year and a registered voter in House District 5.
If only one candidate files, that person will be declared the nominee and no canvass will be held. If no candidates file, the canvass will be canceled and the committee reserves the right to select a nominee before the Feb. 10 ballot filing deadline.
That’s what happened last week with the Senate District 39 nomination. Republicans canceled a planned Jan. 13 canvass after Lineberry was the sole applicant.
“I am pleased to announce that local realtor and community volunteer Julie Robben Lineberry will be our Republican nominee for the February 10, 2026 Special Election in Virginia State Senate District 39,” Howell wrote on the ARCC website.
Lineberry will face Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, who won the Democratic firehouse primary with 70.6% of the vote, in the Feb. 10 special election.
Democrats are also filing Sunday, with a 1-4 p.m. deadline at the Alexandria Democratic Committee office on Mount Vernon Avenue. Three candidates have announced: City Councilman Kirk McPike, former School Board member Eileen Cassidy Rivera and criminal defense attorney Chris Leibig.
House District 5 is located entirely within Alexandria and is considered solidly Democratic — Bennett-Parker ran unopposed in her last two elections.
Key dates
Sunday, Jan. 18 (1-4 p.m.): Democratic candidate filing deadline
Sunday, Jan. 18 (2-4 p.m.): Republican canvass at 221 S. Henry St.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 (8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.): Democratic firehouse primary
Feb. 10: Special election