Alexandria Voters Send Bennett-Parker to Senate, McPike to House in Special Elections

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria voters reshaped the city’s representation in Richmond Tuesday night in a pair of closely watched Alexandria special elections that determined who will represent the city in both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates.

In the race for Virginia Senate District 39, Bennett-Parker won decisively, securing a strong majority of the vote over Republican challenger Julie Robben Lineberry.

Bennett-Parker, who previously represented Alexandria in the House of Delegates, now moves to the upper chamber, where she will represent the City of Alexandria along with portions of Arlington and Fairfax counties.

Her victory ensures Alexandria retains experienced representation in the Senate at a time when major statewide policy debates are underway.

Meanwhile, in House District 5, Alexandria City Councilman R. Kirk McPike won the open seat in another decisive result, defeating Republican candidate Mason Butler.

The Alexandria special elections were triggered by a chain of resignations and appointments in Richmond after Sen. Adam Ebbin stepped down to become a senior advisor at the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority in Governor Abigail Spanberger’s administration.

With Tuesday’s results, Alexandria maintains Democratic representation in both chambers of the General Assembly — but with a reshuffled lineup.

McPike, a longtime local leader, will now represent Alexandria in the House of Delegates, where delegates serve two-year terms and address state legislation affecting local education funding, transportation, housing, environmental policy, and economic development.

Bennett-Parker’s move to the Senate places her in a four-year term position, representing a larger district that includes Alexandria and surrounding Northern Virginia communities.

The special elections were part of a broader series of contests across Northern Virginia caused by appointments and resignations within the Spanberger administration. Ebbin’s transition to the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority set off the chain reaction that ultimately led to both races appearing on Alexandria ballots this month.

Preliminary turnout reflected typical participation levels for a special election, with several thousand Alexandria voters casting ballots.

Unofficial results will be certified in the coming days by the Virginia Department of Elections.

For Alexandria, the outcome means continuity in legislative priorities — but also a new dynamic in Richmond, as Bennett-Parker and McPike step into their respective roles in the Senate and House.