Democrats set Tuesday firehouse primary for Ebbin's Senate seat
Bennett-Parker, Levine face off again in race to succeed Ebbin in Senate District 39
The Alexandria Democratic Committee will hold a firehouse primary Tuesday to select a nominee for state Sen. Adam Ebbin’s seat, as Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker announced a wave of endorsements including Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and Ebbin himself.
Voting runs from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Beatley Central Library at 5005 Duke St. and Charles Houston Recreation Center at 901 Wythe St. Curbside voting will be available.
The accelerated timeline comes after Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas issued a writ setting the special election for Feb. 10. Party rules require the firehouse primary be held within five days of the writ.
Bennett-Parker, who has passed 21 bills in the House of Delegates, faces former Del. Mark Levine in a rematch of their 2021 primary, which she won.
Spanberger called Bennett-Parker “a dedicated and effective leader who listens and delivers.” Ebbin, whose resignation to join Spanberger’s administration triggered the race, said she is “dedicated, hardworking, and gets things done.”
Bennett-Parker’s endorsements span all three jurisdictions in District 39, including Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, Councilman Kirk McPike, House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, Fairfax County Board Chairman Jeffrey McKay and Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti.
Candidates must file by Sunday between 1 and 4 p.m. at the Alexandria Democratic Committee office at 2101A Mount Vernon Ave.
Solid breakdown of the timeline here. The 5-day primary window really compresses voter outreach, which prrobably favors Bennett-Parker since she's got that 2021 win and all those endorsements already locked in. I dunno if Levine can shift enough minds in less than a week, especialy when people like Herring are backing her opponent.