Fairfax County Democrats are once again asking voters to select a nominee for an empty House of Delegates seat on short notice.
The 17th House of Delegates District Democratic Committee will hold a firehouse primary this Sunday (Dec. 28) after House Speaker Don Scott scheduled a Jan. 20 special election to fill a seat vacated by Del. Mark Sickles on Wednesday (Dec. 24).
Sickles resigned a day after Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger announced that he had accepted an appointment to serve as Virginia’s next secretary of finance, ending a 21-year run representing the Franconia and Huntington area of Fairfax County in the state House.
Delegate Sickles has submitted his resignation.
I am calling for a special election for January 20, 2026 to fill the 17th District seat. pic.twitter.com/dHAzFmp6TT
— Speaker Don Scott (@SpeakerDonScott) December 24, 2025
The resignation came on the heels of a Democratic primary for the 11th House District, which also saw its longtime delegate, David Bulova, step down to accept a position in Spanberger’s incoming administration. Nominee Gretchen Bulova will face Republican Adam Wise for that seat in a special election on Jan. 13.
To identify Sickles’s likely successor in a solidly Democratic district, local party leaders are organizing a primary for Sunday where voters can either participate in person at select locations or online — presumably an acknowledgement that many people might be away from home for the post-Christmas weekend.
In-person voting will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at three different locations:
- Franconia Governmental Center (6121 Franconia Road)
- Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Alexandria (6421 Richmond Highway)
- Hotel Belvoir Springfield (6550 Loisdale Road)
Curbside voting will be available at all sites, and any district residents who aren’t already registered to vote can do so on the day of the primary, allowing them to cast a provisional ballot.
Voters planning to cast a ballot online must pre-register by 5 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) in order to receive a link to the online ballot via email. Like in-person voting, the online ballot will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Any technical issues that crop up — something that complicated the in-person Democratic primary for Braddock District supervisor in October — must be reported to the 17th House District committee (hd17info@fairfaxdemocrats.org) by 3 p.m. on Sunday so they can be addressed before voting closes.
Only voters who live in the 17th House District are eligible to participate in the primary, and the committee is requiring all voters to sign a pledge stating that they won’t support any candidate who emerges to oppose the Democratic nominee.
The Candidates
Four candidates qualified for the ballot, which was finalized Friday night.
Joy McManus
First to enter the fray, Joy McManus was a teacher at Fairfax County Public Schools for 36 years and gun violence prevention advocate as lead of Moms Demand Action’s Virginia chapter. She also serves as the Fairfax County Democratic Committee’s vice chair for membership and recently coordinated volunteers statewide for Spanberger’s gubernatorial campaign.
Citing affordable housing and healthcare, public schools funding and safety for children as top priorities, McManus has landed endorsements from Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk and Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, who represents southeastern Fairfax County as state senator for the 34th District.
“The people of the 17th District — including the communities of Huntington, Franconia, Kingstowne, and Springfield — deserve a delegate who will champion fully funded public schools, safe communities, affordable housing, and accessible healthcare,” Surovell said in a statement announcing his endorsement. “Joy McManus has the experience, the dedication, and the proven track record to deliver on these priorities in Richmond.”
Carla Bustillos
Also vying for the nomination is Carla Bustillos, a local business owner and organizer for both local Democrats and the Latino community. In addition to serving as president of the Democratic Party of Virginia’s Latino Caucus and on Spanberger’s transition committee, she co-founded the national Venezuelan-American Caucus and was founding director of the nonprofit Visión Democrática.
In her candidacy announcement, Bustillos said she would support paid family and medical leave, expanded affordable housing, funding for Northern Virginia transportation and public schools, and policies supporting small and local businesses, among other priorities, if elected.
“I am running because families in District 17 deserve leadership that understands their daily realities and fights for them,” she said. “From lowering costs and improving transportation to fully funding our public schools and standing up for federal workers, I am ready to bring a grounded and accountable voice to Richmond.”
Among others, her endorsements so far have included Franconia District School Board Representative Marcia St. John-Cunning and the nonprofit Clean Virginia, which has been challenging Dominion Energy’s political influence.
Garrett McGuire
However, Sickles has thrown his support behind Garrett McGuire, an AT&T lobbyist who chairs the board of directors for United Community. Focused on Fairfax County’s Richmond Highway corridor, that nonprofit provides food assistance, immigration, legal and education programs, and other support services.
Also the current president of Fair Haven Citizens Association and former Mount Vernon District representative on the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, which he chaired during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, McGuire said in a campaign announcement that he will advocate for “the most vulnerable in our community” in Richmond.
“Virginia needs leaders who understand how government works, how to get things done, and how to build partnerships that deliver real results,” McGuire said. “I’m running for delegate to put my experience to work for our community through making life more affordable, fully funding schools, supporting economic growth, and ensuring families have the tools they need to succeed.”
On top of securing an endorsement from Sickles, his campaign has been backed by former House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik and Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid, according to a press release.
Russell Brooks
A retired foreign service officer, Russell Brooks has been actively involved in the local Democratic party, serving as chair of the Northern Virginia Democratic Black Caucus and precinct captain in the Franconia District. He currently serves on Fairfax County Public Library’s Board of Trustees.
If elected, he would prioritize policies that address affordability challenges, support resources for public schools, increase access to health care and protect democracy and “fundamental freedoms,” according to his campaign website.
