BREAKING NEWS: Meet Alexandria’s First Black Female Mayor and the New City Council

ALEXANDRIA, VA – History was made in the city of Alexandria tonight. Alyia Gaskins shed her Presumptive Mayor title and became Mayor-Elect. The city councilwoman becomes the first black female mayor of Alexandria.

“Our city is the first tonight to break down those barriers,” a jubilant Gaskins told the gathered audience in her acceptance speech. “We are the first to shatter glass ceilings, and to show the rest of this country what happens when you believe in strong democrats, when you believe in change, and when you believe in progressive leadership.”

The crowd began pouring into Pork Barrel BBQ around 6:00 this evening for a Democratic watch party, hosted by the Alexandria Democratic Committee. The Del Ray eatery on Mount Vernon Avenue began to swell with elected officials and supporters, hunched over smartphones, and eying giant television screens, anxiously monitoring the tight presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

That pivotal national contest is capturing everyone’s attention. But the big local story tonight is Alyia Gaskins.

Alyia Gaskins’ Acceptance Speech:

“We have so much to celebrate tonight,” an ecstatic Gaskins told the crowd, to thunderous applause. “Because of you, we are going to deliver the most progressive council. When the votes are tallied, you are going to see a council that is going to deliver for you. On housing, on transportation, on climate change, on gun violence. On the issues that matter most to this community.”

Earlier Gaskins took time out from her busy night to talk to The Zebra Press. She reflected on her landmark win. She says she will model for her young daughter how to juggle a career, major political appointment, and motherhood.

What happens tomorrow? Zebra asked Gaskins. “Tomorrow I rest,” she laughed. But Gaskins intends to hit the ground running on Thursday, beginning to build her team and pull together an administration as she slides from councilwoman to mayor.

All incumbents are holding on to their seats. The race for Vice Mayor, which is determined by which candidate receives the most votes, was too close to call, but Sarah Bagley was 610 votes ahead of John Chapman at 10:14 pm.

City Council newcomers are Alexandria City former school board members Jacinta Greene and Abdel S. Elnoubi. Vice Mayor Amy Jackson lost her mayoral bid in the June primary. Mayor Justin Wilson did not seek reelection.

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