Democratic voters in Fairfax County’s Braddock District have yet another visit to the polls to add to their calendar.
Even as early voting continues for the statewide Nov. 4 general election, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) has scheduled a firehouse primary for Oct. 4 to determine its nominee for Braddock District supervisor.
The primary will precede a special election expected on Dec. 9 to fill the seat vacated earlier this month by James Walkinshaw, who resigned a day after getting elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 9.
The upcoming Democratic primary will serve as a test of new election software that will allow voters to rank the candidates in order of preference and cast ballots electronically.
While ranked choice voting remains rare in Virginia, with only Arlington and Charlottesville formally adopting it for municipal elections, the FCDC has regularly used the method in the past for local offices, including in school board endorsement caucuses, according to Chair Aaron Yohai.
However, this will be the party’s first primary using ElectionBuddy software.
“Any registered voter in Braddock district will have the option to participate in the October 4th party-run primary as in any state-run primary, and may visit fairfaxdemocrats.org/braddock for instructions on how to vote,” Yohai told FFXnow. “I’m proud of the work our Braddock taskforce and staff put into accomplishing this.”
Democratic voters in the Braddock District will be able to pre-register for an online ballot starting Saturday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1. ElectionBuddy ballots will then be emailed at noon on Oct. 2 and must be cast by 5 p.m. on Oct. 4.
Voters can also cast a ballot in person on the actual primary day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Braddock District supervisor’s office (9002 Burke Lake Road), the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway) and the Landings Community Center (6001 Cove Landing Road) in Burke.
So far, the Democratic field includes two previously-elected officials: Ilryong Moon (At-Large) and Rachna Sizemore Heizer (Braddock), who both currently serve on the Fairfax County School Board.
Also seeking the party’s nod is Sabrina Mattin, who serves as one of two co-presidents of the Fairfax Young Democrats, and April Pavis-Shroeder, a librarian and Ravensworth Farm resident.
Now in his second full week as a U.S. Congressman, it is unclear if Democrat Walkinshaw intends to wade into the race and make an endorsement. An inquiry to a spokesperson went unanswered.
Republicans rally around lone candidate
Local Republicans appear to be rallying around Ken Balbuena, a former county appointee and civic association president from North Springfield, in hopes that he can wrestle the seat away from Democratic control.
Balbuena has been endorsed by numerous local Republicans, including Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity and John C. Cook, the Republican who represented the Braddock District from 2009 to 2019.
Cook opted not to seek a third term, paving the way for Walkinshaw’s first election to the Braddock District seat in November 2019. Walkinshaw was later reelected in 2023 with 77% of the vote, besting perennial candidate Carey C. Campbell.
“The people of Braddock and Fairfax County deserve a new leader who puts the needs of residents first,” Balbuena said. “My ‘People Before Politics’ approach makes me the best for Braddock.”
With Balbuena as the only Republican candidate in the race, the party appears unlikely to need a primary to determine its nominee.
