The Great Blue Wave Election Alert Sign-Up Contest has begun, with free bottles of special Blue Wave Reisling wine awarded to volunteers who sign up at least 48 voters to receive Election Alerts from Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC). The…
Category: Issues
An “off-off-off year” election in November? Not this time!
By Jane Barker: If history holds, turnout for the election in November will be the lowest in Virginia’s four-year cycle of annual elections, as this poll comes three years after the previous presidential election. But so much hangs in the…
Lawmaker behind successful drive to abolish death penalty in NH speaks in Reston on Oct. 5
By Paul O’Shea: The leader of New Hampshire’s successful drive to abolish the death penalty – making it the 21st state to do so — will deliver the keynote at the annual luncheon of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death…
Ice cream in the service of equality
By Susan Laume: Lucky Clifton residents on Monday, Sept. 16, got an opportunity to sample free ice cream and show their support for Virginian ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Clifton was just one stop in an ice cream truck…
Asian-Americans may be key to turning Virginia blue in November
As the largest minority in Fairfax County, Asian-Americans are a major focus of outreach activity for the local Democratic Party, which faces a critical election on Nov. 5 to determine the control of the state assembly. Today Republicans hold one-vote…
Fairfax Dems commit to all-out pursuit of electoral sweep Nov. 5
Press release from the Fairfax County Democratic Committee: The Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) and Jeff McKay for Chairman have launched a joint field effort to help drive Democratic candidates to victory on November 5. This joint undertaking, called “Fighting…
New NAACP president says Dems are wrong to take black votes for granted
By Brad Swanson: Sean Perryman has only been president of the Fairfax County NAACP for a month, but he already has his priorities clear. “My plan is to focus on fewer issues, but go deeper,” he said. The top three…
New Virginia Latino Caucus leader aims to counter rising tide of fear
By Brad Swanson: Ricardo Alfaro is a man on a mission. As the newly elected president of the Latino Democratic Caucus in Virginia, he has crafted an ambitious workplan to expand the group’s reach and counter the rising tide of…
Blue slips are good news for potential Democratic voters
A pink slip at work is bad news. But blue slips may make the difference between Democratic wins and losses at this November’s election. Blue slips are the informal name for the one-page reminders that Democratic volunteers are handing out…
New program teaches students grassroots organizing
It’s never too early to begin grassroots organizing. That is the concept behind an innovative program at Sully District Democratic Committee that enables students to organize and participate in political events in their own community. Gun violence, unsurprisingly, is one…
Award-winning Reston farmers marketeer loves the gig, even after two decades
By Brad Swanson: What motivates a man to spend more than two decades – and counting – as a volunteer running a farmers market? In the case of John Lovaas, a manager of the award-winning Reston Farmers Market, the answer…
NY Times shows nation GOP indifference to gun violence in NoVA delegate race
By Brad Swanson: Like many readers of The New York Times, both here in northern Virginia and across the nation, Dan Helmer was taken aback by the indifference to gun violence shown by an incumbent Virginia state delegate, especially in…
Renoir’s boaters raise a blue wave in Fairfax County
By Kimberly Davis: A curious alteration of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s famed Impressionist painting “Luncheon of the Boating Party” has captured attention at recent events. Wait, isn’t that state delegate candidate Dan Helmer (dist. 40) in white? And there’s some other familiar…
“Gun Reform Now” demand protesters at NRA vigil
An estimated 300 protesters showed up Tuesday evening, Aug. 5, to protest gun violence — and especially last weekend’s devastating attacks in El Paso and Dayton — at the headquarters of the NRA in Fairfax. There was a candle lighting…