LoudounNow LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE
[ Vol. 3, No. 50 ]
[ loudounnow.com ]
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now
State Sen. Jennifer T. Wexton has been making the final push in her campaign to be the first Democrat to represent the 10th Congressional District in three decades often accompanied by other big-name Democrats like Senator Tim Kaine—who is pursuing his own reelection—and Governor Ralph Northam, who joined her Tuesday night for during a rally in CountrySide.
Mars experience lands in Loudoun
[ November 1, 2018 ]
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Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10) has made frequent stops in Loudoun during the final the final weeks of her re-election campaign often in support of community fundraising efforts, including the Advancing Education reception held last week at Selma. Comstock is seeking a third two-year term. Republicans have held the 10th District seat since Frank Wolf’s first victory in 1980.
Trumpism, Town Turnover, and the ‘Blue Wave’ on Tuesday's Ballot
A
BY RENSS GREENE
mid the most fraught and turbulent political climate in a generation, Loudouners will take to the polls Tuesday to pick their representatives in Congress and municipal leaders in Leesburg, Middleburg, Hillsboro. Division and gridlock at the federal level have dominated national headlines and shaped the conversation around the Congressional midterm election. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock fight to hold on to their seats against the backdrop of a potential blue wave that could see Democrats claim the majority in the House of Representatives and possibly even flip the Senate—giving them a check on President Donald J. Trump during the final two years of his term. The candidates in those two races have approached this election very differently.
Comstock has sought to distance herself from Trump, although voting to support many of his initiatives with the notable exception of opposing the repeal of the Affordable Healthcare Act and threats of shutting down the government. Her challenger, State Senator Jennifer T. Wexton, has made tying Comstock to Trump a major theme of her campaign. By contrast, Prince William County Chairman and Senate hopeful Corey Stewart has embraced his association with the president, launching a full-throated America-first campaign targeting illegal immigration and describing himself as “Trump before Trump.” Kaine, meanwhile, has lent much of his campaign’s time and attention to helping other Democrats, like Wexton, boost their campaigns against Republican members of Congress. A third choice on the ballot is Libertarian Matt Waters, an Alexandria resident who has targeted irresponsible federal spending in his campaign. At the local lever, three of Loudoun’s
towns have much different questions on their mind. Leesburg will face its third Town Council election in a year, counting two special elections to fill vacant seats. This time, five candidates are vying for three council seats. In the mayor’s race, first-term incumbent Kelly Burk faces a challenge from two council members, Ron Campbell and Tom Dunn. Middleburg will hold a special election to fill the Town Council seat that became vacant when Bridge Littleton was elected mayor in May. And in Hillsboro’s all-write-in ballot, Mayor Roger Vance has asked voters to re-elect the current town council to keep their expertise onboard as the small town moves ahead with its long-awaited traffic and pedestrian safety project. And the Loudoun County government will ask residents for permission to issue $251 million in bonds to help pay for roads and schools, while the state government asks whether localities should be allowed
to give tax breaks for flooding victims and military spouses. For more detailed information on the candidates and issues, see our Election Guide, starting on Page 17. Polls open Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Find out more, including your polling place, at elections.virginia.gov or loudoun. gov/vote. rgreene@loudounnow.com
VOTE
LOUDOUN Election Guide 2018 Page 17
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