News

ARLnow

Things weren’t official until the Electoral Board convened Thursday evening (Nov. 14) to certify it, but Arlington’s vote count for the 2024 election is now complete.

“At this point it’s really just double-checking everything,” county elections director Gretchen Reinemeyer said at the start of a post-election Electoral Board meeting held Wednesday (Nov. 13).

JD Spain, Sr., was elected to succeed fellow Democrat Libby Garvey for County Board, while Zuraya Tapia-Hadley and Kathleen Clark rolled up big victories in the School Board race.

By winning 58% of the vote, Spain was elected without Arlington needing to implement the ranked-choice voting procedure.

November 16, 2024

ARLnow

November 13, 2024

The Washington Post

In Arlington, the Democratic-endorsed candidates — Zuraya Tapia-Hadley and Kathleen Clark — won two open seats on the school board in a four-way race, while Julius D. “J.D.” Spain Sr. (D) declared victory over three others in a ranked-choice contest for the sole empty seat on the county board.

November 6, 2024

ARLnow

Democrats in Arlington County Board and School Board races emerged victorious last night by wide margins.

Democratic nominee JD Spain, Sr. claimed 58% of the vote in the race for County Board, according to unofficial election results. This happened in the first round of tabulation, avoiding the need for further tallying under ranked-choice voting.

The local wins by wide margins contrast with a red shift nationally, which will propel former President Donald Trump back to the White House.

November 6, 2024

Press Release

JD wins open seat with 58% of the vote, becomes the first veteran to serve in recent memory

November 6, 2024

ARLnow

In the big local Arlington race for County Board, JD Spain, Sr. will win the seat being vacated by three-term Democrat Libby Garvey.

With early votes now in and breaking 60% for the Democratic nominee, Spain has 58% of the vote to 16% for Republican Juan Carlos Fierro and 12% for independent Audrey Clement. Madison Granger, who is associated with the Forward Party, has 13% of the vote.

November 5, 2024

ARLnow

With your support and input, I will use my 30+ years of leadership experience and relationships to help make these priorities a reality. Having served as an appointed Arlington Civil Service Commissioner, an appointed community representative on two large-scale County-led working groups, a two-term president of the NAACP Arlington Branch, a George Mason President’s Innovation and Inclusive Excellence Councilmember, a Dream Project Board member, and a volunteer for numerous community organizations, I’ve learned a great deal about the challenges and opportunities for our wonderful county.

November 1, 2024

Patch

Democrat Julius D. "JD" Spain Sr. has raised more donations than his three opponents combined, according to campaign finance reports.

October 21, 2024

Patch

Democrat Julius D. "JD" Spain Sr. raised more in campaign contributions than all his three of his opponents in the Arlington County Board race combined, according to the latest state campaign financial filings. The four candidates are running in the Nov. 5 general election.

September 25, 2024

Patch

While most of the attention this political season has been on the presidential race, Arlington residents will also be casting ballots on Nov. 5 for candidates running in the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives (8th District), county board and school board races. 

Julius D. "JD" Spain Sr. , a retired U.S. Marine and senior business consultant," is on the Nov. 5 ballot in the race to fill the vacant seat on the Arlington County Board. 

September 3, 2024

My Horry News

Julius D. “J.D.” Spain Sr. rose to the highest pay grade that an enlisted soldier can reach in a 26-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps — E9, Master Gunnery Sergeant. He served his nation in combat, as a diplomatic representative at NATO, and as a senior enlisted adviser in the corps’ Office of Legislative Affairs at the Pentagon.

And, now retired, he’s poised to win a seat on the governing board of Arlington County on the doorstep of Washington D.C.

August 19, 2024

The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi

Last week, Arlington residents used ranked-choice voting to select their Democratic nominee for the Arlington County Board. JD Spain Sr., former NAACP Arlington Branch president, is the big winner. He now faces Republican candidate Juan Carlos Fierro and perennial independent candidate Audrey Clement for the seat. Spain joined the show to talk about his victory, the most pressing issues in Arlington, and November’s general election.

June 28, 2024

GazetteLeader

It took four rounds to get there, but civic activist and former local NAACP president J.D. Spain Sr. emerged on top in the Arlington County Board Democratic primary.

And he immediately pivoted to general-election mode, aiming first to win support from those who had backed the four other contenders in the Democratic race.

June 24, 2024

GazetteLeader

They remain unofficial until certified on Monday evening, but Arlington election officials today released final vote totals in the five-way County Board Democratic primary, run using ranked-choice voting.

June 22, 2024

The Washington Post

The ranked-choice contest for the open seat was marked by the five candidates’ different views on this Northern Virginia locality’s embrace of urban growth.

June 21, 2024

WAMU

Arlington Democrats chose Julius “JD” Spain Sr. as their nominee to run for a single open County Board seat this fall, according to unofficial results released Friday afternoon. Chair Libby Garvey, who has served on the five-member body since 2012, is stepping down.

June 21, 2024

GazetteLeader

Confirmation won't occur until Saturday, but J.D. Spain Sr. emerged Friday as the almost guaranteed winner in the Arlington County Board Democratic primary.

June 21, 2024

Press Release

Adds to the growing list of #1 endorsements for Arlington County Board as Spain leads on small-dollar donations in campaign home stretch.

June 13, 2024

Greater Greater Washington

Spain would lend greater weight to community engagement that meets people where they’re at, like door-knocking, instead of more traditional public hearings, in which well-off, white residents who own homes are typically over-represented.

May 8, 2024

GazetteLeader

We believe Spain is the only candidate for County Board who can truly represent all voices in Arlington.

April 24, 2024

ARLnow

JD brings years of experience and advocacy for underrepresented communities and pledges to work to make Arlington the best place for educators to live and work.

April 13, 2024

GazetteLeader

“Working together is the key to solving our community challenges,” Spain said at the event, where he promised efforts at “unifying our community” while “taking decisive actions” on key issues.

March 7, 2024

VoteVets

If elected, JD would be the first military Veteran in recent history to serve on the Arlington County Board.

March 1, 2024