Publisher's Note: Don't blame the process. Change it.
On firehouse primaries, cynicism, and what actually fixes democracy
Over the past few weeks, I’ve covered two firehouse primaries, a candidate debate, and held one-on-one live virtual conversations with four candidates. I’ve listened to a lot of rhetoric about the process.
Some of it is fair. The timeline was rushed. Voters had days, not weeks, to learn about candidates. Firehouse primaries aren’t perfect — they’re run by parties, not the state. They have limited locations and hours. Turnout is lower than in regular elections.
That’s all worth criticizing. And some candidates offered real solutions: require more notice before special elections, expand voting locations, and allow weekend voting. That’s how you change the process. That’s constructive.
But some of the rhetoric wasn’t about fixing anything. It was about delegitimizing the process before it even happened.
Just days before Democrats went to the polls for the Senate District 39 firehouse primary, Republicans named Julie Lineberry as their nominee. In her announcement, she decried “high-jinx” and “election manipulation.” She said “the political machine is undermining democracy for our citizens.”
When I interviewed Lineberry Thursday, I asked if she genuinely believes Democrats broke the law or acted unethically. She softened her tone.
“I’m not sure those were my lead words, but they are words that I used,” she said. She framed her concerns as criticism of party processes rather than allegations of illegal activity.
At the Senate District 39 debate on January 12, former Del. Mark Levine implied his Del. Bennett-Parker had advance notice, that the whole thing was set up before anyone else had a chance.
Then the votes came in. Bennett-Parker won with 70.6%. McPike decisively won his primary a week later. The outcomes weren’t close.
The rhetoric softens after the fact. But maybe that’s the strategy. Sow doubt before the election. Tell voters the game is rigged. And if fewer people show up? That’s the point.
I think about who’s listening. Just like kids hear how we talk about their schools, voters hear how we talk about their elections. If leaders and candidates tell them the process is broken, rigged, or manipulated — why would they show up?
Cynicism doesn’t fix anything
When you tell voters the game is rigged before they play, some of them won’t show up. Why bother if it’s already decided?
Low turnout then becomes “proof” of the original claim. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Calling an election rigged before votes are cast — without evidence — isn’t protecting democracy. It’s undermining faith in it. It’s telling your neighbors their participation doesn’t matter.
What actually changes things
You want better elections? Here’s how you change the process:
Advocate for reform. Contact your state legislators. Virginia’s election laws govern how special elections are held. Push for required notice periods, more voting locations, and weekend voting. The General Assembly is in session right now.
Get involved with your party. Firehouse primaries are run by local party committees - the Alexandria Democratic Committee and Alexandria Republican City Committee, not the city or state. If you don’t like how they’re run, join the committee. Show up to meetings. Change it from the inside.
Become an election officer. Alexandria always needs poll workers. You’ll see how elections actually work — and you’ll be part of making them work.
Organize. Low turnout isn’t fixed by complaining. It’s fixed by knocking on doors, making phone calls, and driving neighbors to the polls.
Run for something. School board. City council. A board or commission. If you think the people in charge are doing it wrong, replace them.
That’s how you change the process. Not by calling it rigged. Not by implying the outcome was predetermined. Not by sowing doubt before a single ballot is cast.
I’ve written before about showing up. About asking “what can I do?” instead of “who can I blame?” About neighborhoods being built by people who show up, not just people with opinions.
The same applies here.
What’s next
Early voting for the Feb. 10 special election begins Jan. 31. Two seats are on the ballot, Senate District 39 and House District 5.
I’ve been hosting one-on-one conversations with candidates so voters can hear directly from them. I’ll keep doing that. Information is the antidote to cynicism.
But information only matters if people show up.
Don’t blame the process. Change it.