Three Democrats announce bids for Ebbin's seat; filing deadline today
Candidates must file by 4 p.m.; firehouse primary is Tuesday
Three Democrats have announced they are running for state Sen. Adam Ebbin’s seat ahead of today’s filing deadline, with voters set to choose a nominee in a firehouse primary Tuesday.
Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, former Del. Mark Levine and activist Charles Sumpter have all said they will seek the Democratic nomination for Senate District 39.
Candidates must file in person or submit notarized paperwork between 1 and 4 p.m. today at the Alexandria Democratic Committee office at 2101A Mount Vernon Ave. The filing fee is $360.
Bennett-Parker, who defeated Levine in a 2021 House of Delegates primary, has rolled out endorsements from Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger, Ebbin and numerous local officials across Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax County.
Levine, an attorney who served in the House of Delegates from 2016 to 2022, is making his second bid against Bennett-Parker.
Sumpter, founder of Safe Space NOVA, a nonprofit providing housing and mental health services to displaced LGBTQ+ youth, is positioning himself as a progressive outsider. His platform includes affordable mental health care, housing stability and protecting immigrant communities.
District 39 includes portions of Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax County. Voters can check their district at the Virginia Department of Elections website.
The firehouse primary is Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Beatley Central Library and Charles Houston Recreation Center. The special election is Feb. 10.
This story will be updated after the filing deadline.
