The Democratic Party’s nominee for a deep-blue House of Delegates seat in southeast Fairfax County was determined yesterday (Sunday) by a mere 54 votes.
Ultimately, it was United Community Board of Directors chair Garrett McGuire who claimed victory in Sunday’s firehouse primary, narrowly besting veteran teacher Joy McManus in the race to succeed Mark Sickles as delegate in the 17th House District.
“This contest, which drew four candidates, was made possible by nearly 100 volunteers who mobilized in under a week’s notice and during the busy holiday season to ensure voters could be heard,” the 17th House of Delegates Democratic Committee said in a statement.
McGuire garnered 801 of the 2,356 votes cast, accounting for 34% of the vote. A total of 747 votes were cast for McManus — just shy of 32%.
Two other candidates, Carla Bustillos and Russell Brooks, each finished with less than 25% of the vote.
Also an AT&T lobbyist and president of the Fair Haven Citizens Association, McGuire received endorsements from Sickles, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay and Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, among others.
Accordingly, McGuire advances to the Jan. 20 special election that will officially seat the new delegate. Sickles, who held the office since 2004, resigned earlier this month to become the finance secretary in the administration of Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.
In a statement posted to social media, McGuire said he was “honored and grateful” to earn the party’s nomination.
McGuire’s Republican opponent is not yet known. The Fairfax County Republican Committee has scheduled a canvass for this morning (Monday) to determine its party’s candidate in the race.
Rated as “strong Democratic” by the Virginia Public Access Project, the seat is likely to remain in Democratic control regardless of the Republican nominee.
In November, Sickles bested Republican candidate Naomi Mesfin with more than 77% of the vote. No Republican qualified for the ballot in 2023.
The district consists of the Franconia and Huntington areas of Fairfax County, just south of Alexandria City.
