Voters in the City of Alexandria, Virginia, along with others in the surrounding areas and the commonwealth, face one of the most consequential general elections on Nov. 4, 2025. Choices will help determine the statewide policy course over the next two years, from abortion and reproductive rights to fiscal policy and the cost of living, to public education, school funding, and more.
The battle centers on partisan control. For Democratic voters, the election focuses on the opportunity to secure a trifecta — control of the governorship and the House of Delegates, since they already hold the state Senate. Votes matter even in uncontested races. Numbers of votes here could indicate opposition for current policies in Washington.
For Republican voters, the strategic goal is to prevent the opposing party from gaining control. Numbers of votes here could indicate support for current policies in Washington.
We sent questionnaires to the local House of Delegates candidates running to represent the City of Alexandria, although all three incumbents are running unopposed. Depending on voters’ mailing addresses, the candidates for House of Delegates running in the City of Alexandria are:
HD-4: Charniele L. Herring (D) unopposed
HD-5: Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (D) unopposed
HD-3: Alfonso H. Lopez (D) unopposed
At the state level, City of Alexandria voters will have choices in the race for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. The Virginia Press Association, a nonpartisan group, has produced its 2025 Virginia Voter Guide which will be included with the PDF edition of this newspaper, available at https://www.connectionnewspapers.com/PDFs/.
Local races in the City of Alexandria include the Commonwealth's Attorney and Sheriff, although both are also unopposed. For official election details, registration, and polling information, visit: https://www.alexandriava.gov/Elections
HD-4 Charniele Herring (D)
No reply received
Website: https://www.charnieleherring.com/
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (D), candidate for Virginia House of Delegates District 5
Running Unopposed
By Mercia Hobson, The Connection
HD-5 Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (D)
Professional:
Legislator, small-business owner, and mother. Previously served as co-leader of Together We Bake, a nonprofit job training and personal development program for underserved women, and founded Fruitcycle, a social enterprise fighting food waste and food insecurity.
Education:
Graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Cornell University; served as a Fulbright Fellow; earned a master's from the University of London.
Personal:
Born in Alexandria; mother to a 2-year-old
Public Service:
Delegate, HD-5 (running for a third term). Currently serves in leadership on the House Finance and Counties, Cities, and Towns Committees and is a member of the General Laws Committee. Previously served as vice mayor of Alexandria and as the chair of the Operation Board of the Virginia Railway Express.
Legislative Priorities:
Ensuring economic equity; protecting rights and freedoms (including reproductive freedom, marriage equality, and voting rights restoration); providing world-class education; enacting gun safety reforms and paid leave; and fighting climate change. Residents’ Biggest Challenge: The rising cost of living and the impact of federal layoffs, funding cuts, and the shutdown on livelihoods. Proposed Legislative Solution: Bills address the housing crisis and prevent evictions/foreclosures. One bill enables localities to better preserve affordable housing. Another requires large landlords to offer a payment plan for tenants one month or less behind on rent before eviction. These bills were co-patroned but vetoed
Data Centers:
Data centers provide economic benefit, but development must not cost the environment or residents. Co-patroned legislation directs the State Corporation Commission to ensure data centers are reasonably charged for energy. Also co-patroned bills requiring site assessments for noise impact on residential areas/schools and clarifying that localities can require information on impacts to water, agriculture, parks, and electric utility infrastructure
State Underfunding Public Education:
Supported creating the Joint Subcommittee on Education Funding. The 2025 budget fully funds the outdated support cap, but more is needed, including adding support services to the biennial rebenchmarking process. Also seeks LCI changes to account for Alexandria's high proportion of English Language Learners and free/reduced-meal students.
Casinos:
The 2020 law allowing cities to hold a referendum on casinos was successful in four cities, creating jobs. Concerned the 2025 bill lacked Fairfax Board of Supervisors' support. Alternatives include investing in sectors like AI, biotech, and space (per the NOVA Road Map) or implementing a fair share tax on high-income earners.
Other Information
The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s NOVA Road Map lays out promising ways to strengthen Northern Virginia’s economy and boost revenue by investing in and expanding sectors like AI, quantum computing, biotech, semiconductors, and space. I am interested in these ideas in the face of the impacts of the federal government.
Candidate Website:
https://www.elizabethfordelegate.com/
Del. Alfonso H. Lopez (D-3), candidate for Virginia House of Delegates District 3, Arlington County and City of Alexandria