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WELCOME TO REDBUG-MINI
This resource was developed by a team of socialist artists, web developers, researchers, and political organizers through the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America. Our goal is to provide Northern Virginia voters and residents a guide to understanding who's running for local office in VA. REDBUG is a project 100% supported by volunteers and is intended as a resource for VA voters - this is not intended to advocate for specific candidates.

This isthe MINI version of Metro DC DSA's REDBUG.
How should I use this guide?
How should I use this guide?
You can bring this guide into the voting booth with you to help guide your choices for school board. Because NOVA school board candidates do not run with their party affiliation, this guide can be useful for remembering whoto vote for if party matters to you.
Candidates designated as "Progressive backed" most have majority support from progressive membership organizations. "Labor backed" must have the endorsement of at least 2 labor unions (we do not count Police Union as labor organizations). The socialists have no officially endorsed any candidates in Northern Virginia in 2023.
How can I contest information that's displayed here?
Please contact washingtonsocialist@mdcdsa.org if you would like to question or contest any information that is supplied here.
VOTING INFORMATION
The DC Board of Elections website has an FAQ that should answer most questions you have about voting in the District.
VA Board of Elections FAQVote center locatorRegistration status
Fairfax Board of Education (At-Large)
9 candidates. Fairfax residents can vote for THREE candidates.
PRESS FOR INFO
Democrat
Kyle McDaniel
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Democrat
Ryan McElveen
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Democrat
Ilryong Moon
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Independent
Ahmed Hussein
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Republican
Maureen Brody
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Republican
Cassandra Aucoin
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Republican
Saundra Davis
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Independent
Linda Ann Pellegrino
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Independent
Peter Gabor
Progressive backed
Labor backed
One of 3 Dem-endorsed at-large candidates. Broadly backed by current/former Democratic electeds, progressive organizations, and unions. Supportive statements on free school lunch, teacher pay increases, and LGBTQ+ protections.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> FC Federation of Teacher
> Fairfax Educators Assoc.
> AFT Virginia
> CASA in Action
> FCPS Pride
> Moms Demand Action

One of 3 Dem-endorsed at-large candidates. Broadly backed by progressive organizations and unions. Previously was on school board from 2012 to 2019. Supportive statements on LGBTQ+ protections and increasing teacher pay.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> FC Federation of Teachers
> Fairfax Educators Assoc
> AFT Virginia
> CASA in Action
> FCPS Pride
> Everytown for Gun Safety

One of 3 Dem-endorsed at-large candidates. Broadly backed by current and former Democratic electeds and unions. Previously on school board from 1996-1999 and 2004-2019. Supportive statements on increasing teacher pay.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> FC Federation of Teachers
> AFT Virginia
> Fairfax Educators Assoc

Independent candidate, likely Republican-leaning. Campaign focuses on infrastructure, test scores, and special education programming. Has avoided statements on LGBTQ+ rights or SROs in schools. No official endorsements except one past Republican vice-chair.
Endorsements
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> No significant endorsements

One of 3 Republican-endorsed candidates, endorsed by Fairfax GOP. Campaign materials use same language that GOP uses to support anti-trans policies ("parental engagement"), anti-union policies, and boosting charter and private schools.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> No significant endorsements

One of 3 Republican-endorsed candidates, endorsed by Fairfax GOP. Agrees with Gov. Youngkin's anti-trans VDoE model and increasing "parental engagement." Campaign is otherwise generic, focusing on raising test scores and "accountability."
Endorsements
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LESS

> No significant endorsements

‍

One of 3 Republican-endorsed candidates, endorsed by Fairfax GOP. Campaign materials focus on adding a "moderate viewpoint" to FCPS and "removing politics."
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> No significant endorsements

Republican-leaning independent candidate. No official campaign materials, but past history shows donations to conservative and Republican organizations.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> No significant endorsements

Vanity run candidate. No official campaign materials and $0 raised in campaign.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> No significant endorsements

Fairfax Board of Education (Braddock)
2 candidates. Braddock residents can vote in this election.
PRESS FOR INFO
Democrat
Rachna Heizer
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Republican
Priscilla DeStefano
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Dem-endorsed candidate, incumbent. Has supported LGBTQ+ student protections, platform notes "fighting censorship and teaching accurate history" and LGBTQ+ protections, and living wages and balanced workloads for teachers.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> Fairfax Educators Association
> AFT Virginia
> Fairfax NAACP
> FCPS Pride

Republican-endorsed candidate. Supports Governor's anti-trans school policies and forceful outing of students (as "parental rights"), backs conspiracy theories about "removing porn in schools", and supports increased SRO presence in schools.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS
Fairfax Board of Education (Dranesville)
2 candidates. Dranesville residents can vote in this election.
PRESS FOR INFO
Democrat
Robyn Lady
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Republican
Paul Bartkowski
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Supportive statements on increasing teacher pay, recruiting more teachers and bus drivers.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> AFT Virginia
> Fairfax NAACP
> FCPS Pride
> Everytown for Gun Safety

[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Supports anti-trans policies and forced outing (as "parental rights") and backs conspiracy theories about "age-inappropriate sexual concepts" in schools. Represented pro bono plaintiffs trying to fight FCPS mask mandate in 2022.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS
[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Fairfax Board of Education (Franconia)
2 candidates. Franconia residents can vote in this election.
PRESS FOR INFO
Democrat
Marcia St. John-Cunning
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Republican
Kevin Pinkney
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Campaign commits to "ensur[ing] collective bargaining rights and competitive salaries", free student meals, and LGBTQ+ protections.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> Fairfax Educators Assoc
> FC Federation of Teachers
> AFT Virginia
> FCPS Pride
> Everytown for Gun Safety

Campaign focuses on disciplining "student misbehavior" as means of improving safety and retaining teachers and "parents' imput" on course materials and spending.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS
Fairfax Board of Education (Hunter Mill)
2 candidates. Hunter Mill residents can vote in this election.
PRESS FOR INFO
Democrat
Melanie Meren
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Republican
Harry Randall Jackson
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Incumbent. Has supported LGBTQ+ student protections, platform notes "the most effective education will be inclusive, respectful, and antiracist".
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> Fairfax Educators Assoc
> FC Federation of Teachers
> AFT Virginia
> FCPS Pride
> Everytown for Gun Safety

Candidate has support from a right-wing hate group. Backs anti-trans conspiracy theories equating LGBTQ+ materials with pornography. Campaign focuses on security and fighting student violence. Has three prior arrests for domestic assault, and withdrew from a prior race for laughing at an autistic student during a FCPS board meeting.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS
Fairfax Board of Education (Mason)
2 candidates. Mason residents can vote in this election.
PRESS FOR INFO
Democrat
Ricardy Anderson
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Republican
Kristin Froemling Ball
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Incumbent. Has supported LGBTQ+ student protections, platform supports increasing teacher pay and recruiting more teachers.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> AFT Virginia
> FCPS Pride
> Fairfax NAACP

Candidate has run a generic Republican campaign focusing on education and student safety.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> No significant endorsements

Fairfax Board of Education (Mt Vernon)
2 candidates. Mr Vernon residents can vote in this election.
PRESS FOR INFO
Democrat
Mateo Dunne
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Republican
Stori Zimmerman
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Incumbent. Has supported LGBTQ+ student protections, platform supports increasing teacher pay and recruiting more teachers.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> AFT Virginia
> FCPS Pride
> Fairfax NAACP

[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Candidate has run a generic Republican campaign focusing on education and student safety.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> No significant endorsements

[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Fairfax Board of Education (Providence)
2 candidates. Providence residents can vote in this election.
PRESS FOR INFO
Democrat
Karl Frisch
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Republican
Anthony Arthur Sabio
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Incumbent. Has supported LGBTQ+ student protections, platform supports increasing teacher pay and recruiting more teachers.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> AFT Virginia
> FCPS Pride
> Fairfax NAACP

Candidate has run a generic Republican campaign focusing on education and student safety.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> No significant endorsements

Fairfax Board of Education (Springfield)
3 candidates. Springfield residents can vote in this election.
PRESS FOR INFO
Democrat
Sandra Buck Anderson
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Republican
Debra Anne Tisler
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Independent
Peter Bixby-Eberhardt
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Generic campaign with focus on increasing funding, improving education, and special education support.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> Fairfax Educators Assoc
> Virginia AFT
> FCPS Pride
> Fairfax NAACP

[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Campaign has focused on "parents' right to know" (a reference to opposing LGBTQ+ student protections). Otherwise standard Republican campaign messaging.
Endorsements
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LESS

> No significant endorsements

[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Likely vanity run candidate. No official campaign materials available.
Endorsements
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LESS

> No significant endorsements

[ CAMPAIGN
]
[ SOCIAL
]
Fairfax Board of Education (Sully)
2 candidates. Sully residents can vote in this election.
PRESS FOR INFO
Democrat
Seema Dixit
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Republican
Cynthia Lang Walsh
Progressive backed
Labor backed
Running a standard Democratic campaign with focus on equity, teacher support, and student support.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> AFT Virginia
> FCPS Pride
> Fairfax NAACP

Republican campaign focusing on "academics over politics" and opposing mask mandates.
Endorsements
MORE
LESS

> No significant endorsements