Yes, Alexandria — There’s Another Primary Tuesday, January 20. Here’s What It Is, Who Can Vote, and Why It Matters

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Alexandria voters are heading back to the polls Tuesday for yet another election — but this one is only for residents of Virginia House District 5.

The firehouse primary will determine the Democratic nominee for the House of Delegates seat currently held by Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, who recently won the Democratic nomination for State Senate and is expected to resign her House seat on February 18.

Who is running (as of now)

As of Friday, two candidates have entered the race:

• Kirk McPike, an Alexandria City Council member
• Eileen Cassidy Rivera, a former Alexandria City School Board member

Candidates have until 4 p.m. Sunday to file, so additional names could still appear on the ballot.

When and where to vote

Voting will take place Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the same two locations used earlier this month:

• Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St.
• Charles E. Beatley Jr. Library, 5005 Duke St.

This election is not citywide. Only voters who live within House District 5 are eligible to participate.

The contest is being run as a firehouse primary, meaning it is organized by the Democratic Party rather than the state. Voters will be asked to affirm their identity as Democrats before casting a ballot.

What is House District 5?

House District 5 is one of Virginia’s 100 House of Delegates districts and covers a portion of the City of Alexandria. The district boundaries were redrawn during the most recent redistricting cycle.

Voters who are unsure whether they live in District 5 can confirm their eligibility using the Virginia General Assembly’s “Who’s My Legislator?” tool or the Virginia Department of Elections interactive district map, both of which allow residents to enter their home address and view district boundaries.

Why is this election happening now?

The primary is being held because Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, first elected to the House of Delegates in 2022, recently won her party’s nomination for State Senate District 39. Once she formally resigns her House seat, Virginia law requires a special election to fill the vacancy.

Because special elections move quickly, party nominations must occur on a compressed timeline, resulting in back-to-back elections for Alexandria voters.

What happens next — and the potential domino effect

The winner of Tuesday’s firehouse primary will become the Democratic nominee for House District 5 and advance to the special general election to fill Bennett-Parker’s seat.

But if Kirk McPike ultimately wins that seat, the ripple effects don’t stop there.

McPike currently serves on the Alexandria City Council. If he is elected to the House of Delegates, he would be required to resign his City Council seat, creating a vacancy.

Under Alexandria’s city charter and long-standing practice, a City Council vacancy that occurs with more than six months remaining in the term is typically filled by a special election, rather than an appointment. That means Alexandria voters could be asked to return to the polls yet again to choose a replacement council member.

In short:

• A McPike win Tuesday could lead to
• A special House election, followed by
• A special City Council election

This potential chain reaction is one reason some voters have expressed concern about election fatigue and turnout in what has already been an unusually busy election season.

Why your vote matters

Although this primary is limited to House District 5, its outcome could shape representation at both the state and local level.

Because District 5 is heavily Democratic, the party’s nominee is widely viewed as the front-runner in the special general election — making Tuesday’s vote especially consequential for residents of the district.