McPike wins House District 5 firehouse primary
City councilman captures 60% of vote; will face Republican Mason Butler in Feb. 10 special election
This story was updated Jan. 21 to include McPike’s statement and reaction from YIMBYs of Northern Virginia.
City Councilman Kirk McPike won the House District 5 Democratic firehouse primary Tuesday night, defeating three opponents to become the party’s nominee for Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker’s seat.
“Thank you to the voters of Alexandria for choosing me as the Democratic nominee for the House of Delegates in District 5,” McPike said in a statement. “It would be an incredible honor to fight for our community and its values in Richmond.”
McPike received 1,279 votes (60.5%), according to results released by the Alexandria Democratic Committee. Former School Board member Eileen Cassidy Rivera finished second with 508 votes (24.0%), followed by criminal defense attorney Chris Leibig with 265 votes (12.5%) and Gregory Darrall with 63 votes (3.0%).
A total of 2,115 voters cast ballots at two locations — 1,508 at Charles Houston Recreation Center and 607 at Beatley Library — representing roughly 3% of the district’s 71,996 registered voters.
McPike thanked his opponents for their service to the community.
“I have known Eileen and Chris for years,” he said. “Eileen’s work on behalf of Alexandria’s schools, and Chris’s commitment to civil rights and criminal justice reform are inspiring. Though I just met Greg yesterday, I appreciate his willingness to step forward to serve.”
Continuing Ebbin’s legacy
McPike said he looks forward to continuing a legacy of LGBTQ+ representation from Alexandria that began more than two decades ago.
“More than 20 years ago, Adam Ebbin made history by becoming the first openly-gay person elected to Virginia’s House of Delegates,” McPike said. “I am excited to have this opportunity to continue his legacy of LGBTQ+ representation from Alexandria.”
He also tied his campaign to the constitutional amendments Democrats are advancing in Richmond.
“I look forward to campaigning to ensure that my marriage to my husband Jason, and the marriages of thousands of other LGBTQ+ couples across Virginia, are protected by our Commonwealth’s Constitution,” he said.
McPike will face Republican Mason Butler in the Feb. 10 special election. That same ballot will feature the Senate District 39 race between Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and Republican Julie Lineberry.
Housing advocates celebrate
YIMBYs of Northern Virginia, a housing advocacy group that endorsed McPike, celebrated the win.
“Alexandrians have shown once again that they support candidates who will address our housing shortage, not just within the city but across the Commonwealth,” the group said in a statement. “Kirk has an unimpeachable record as a housing champion on Council.”
The group also signaled interest in the looming council race: “With Councilman McPike’s seat likely to open up on Council, we also look forward to meeting with new candidates and endorsing the city’s next housing champion.”
What’s next
Early voting for the Feb. 10 special election begins Saturday, Jan. 31, and runs through Saturday, Feb. 7. The last day to register to vote or update an existing registration is Feb. 3. Same-day registration begins Feb. 4.
Mail ballot applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Jan. 30. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Feb. 10 and received by noon on Feb. 13.
On Election Day, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Resignations and transitions
Sen. Adam Ebbin and Del. Bennett-Parker have both announced their resignations, effective Feb. 18 — Ebbin to join Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration as a senior advisor at the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, and Bennett-Parker to take her Senate seat if she wins Feb. 10.
If McPike wins the special election, he would likely resign from City Council and assume his House seat around the same date. He would also have to leave his federal job — McPike has served as chief of staff to Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) for 13 years. During a conversation with The Alexandria Brief on Sunday, McPike said he will have to resign that position because federal employees cannot simultaneously hold state office.
“I have loved serving Alexandria on our City Council,” McPike said. “Though joining the House of Delegates would mean no longer serving with Mayor Gaskins, Vice Mayor Bagley, my Council colleagues or our talented City staff in that capacity, I know that we will continue to work together to address our City’s challenges and build a brighter future for its residents.”
Council vacancy looms
McPike’s victory sets up yet another special election. Under Alexandria’s city charter, a council vacancy that occurs more than 180 days before the next regular council election must be filled by a special popular election.
Once the council certifies the vacancy to the circuit court, the court orders a special election 40 to 60 days later — likely putting the vote in April, potentially on the same ballot as the constitutional amendments referendum Democrats are advancing.
The next regular council election is in November 2027.
About the candidates
McPike has served on the Alexandria City Council since 2021. He came to Alexandria in 2010 to run Adam Ebbin’s first Senate campaign. He picked up endorsements from Rep. Don Beyer, Dels. Paul Krizek and Laura Jane Cohen, and several local elected officials.
Butler, a business executive and federal contractor, ran for Alexandria City Council in 2024 as an independent, finishing last among nine candidates with 14,329 votes (4.75%). He currently serves as head of precinct operations for the Alexandria GOP and has lived in Alexandria for more than a decade.
House District 5 is located entirely within Alexandria and is considered solidly Democratic — Bennett-Parker ran unopposed in her last two elections.