Alison Virginia O’Connell Announces Candidacy for Alexandria City Council Special Election

ALEXANDRIA, VA – A new candidate has entered the race for Alexandria’s upcoming City Council special election.

Alison Virginia O’Connell, a local community organizer and long-time Alexandria resident, announced her candidacy on February 27 for the open seat that will be decided in the April 21 special election.

In a statement announcing her campaign, O’Connell described herself as a progressive voice seeking to reshape the direction of city leadership.

“I am joining this race because our city council is severely lacking in principled, progressive voices willing to think outside the box and imagine a city that serves all its people, not the interests of wealthy developers or megacorporations,” O’Connell said. “Alexandria deserves a councilmember who will do everything in their power to counteract the rise of fascism, taking bold action that puts the material needs of the most vulnerable Alexandrians first.”

O’Connell has previously served on the City of Alexandria’s Commission on Persons with Disabilities and the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee.

She is also a co-founder of Alexandria for Palestinian Human Rights, a local advocacy group focused on foreign policy and municipal investment issues. In her announcement, O’Connell referenced efforts to address what she described as “the city’s financial role in supporting human rights abuses around the globe.”

Her campaign platform outlines positions on affordable housing, LGBTQIA+ rights, public education funding, and adoption of an ethical investment policy for the city.

O’Connell has also been active in local immigration advocacy efforts, including opposition to Sheriff Sean Casey’s policy of voluntary cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In her campaign statement, she criticized what she characterized as “mass deportation” efforts and pledged to advocate for immigrant protections.

“I know firsthand how hard it is to find affordable housing in our city, and personally have experienced the daily stress of choosing between rent, food, medicine, and transportation,” O’Connell said. “I’m running because I believe every person deserves dignity, safety, and opportunity.”

The April 21 special election will fill the open City Council seat following recent shifts in local leadership. Today was the deadline for filing to run.

For more information about O’Connell’s campaign, visit avo4alx.com.