To the editor:

    
In the 2010 midterm elections, much was made about the Republican resurgence in the House. In Virginia, this popular trend involved Republicans taking three House seats and nearly a fourth in the 11th Congressional District. Yet by and large Northern Virginia, especially the 8th District where Alexandria is located, was untouched by the winds of change. Jim Moran handily won reelection (as he always does) and Gerry Connolly still represents the people of Fairfax. 
    
This lacking success for Republicans in Northern Virginia, even in good political years, only seems to continue at the local level. As the Commonwealth gears for legislative elections this fall, the 30th Senate District is up for grabs following long serving State Senator Patsy Ticers retirement. While Democrats line up three candidates with varying levels of government experience, Republicans have no one. 
    
Michael Maibach, a successful businessman who once served on a County Board in Illinois before moving to Alexandria, openly considered running. However, Maibach has reportedly said he will not run. This means that right now, as all three Democratic candidates accrue funds, endorsements, and volunteers, Republicans do not even have a person confirmed. This is not without precedent, for Ticer won many of her reelections unopposed. 
    
What this situation does is beg a question: which came first? Has Northern Virginia always been solidly liberal Democrat, leaving Republicans unable to field candidates, much less win elections? Or was it Republicans finding themselves unable to field candidates, much less ones who could win elections, that led to Northern Virginias solid blue leaning? If Republicans can find an answer, then maybe they can find a solution so that they can enjoy the nationwide trends that their peers elsewhere in Virginia have enjoyed. 
    
Otherwise, we are stuck with a glorified one-party rule, something that has yet to benefit any society in any country in the last 100-plus years. Look no further than the D.C. City Council, whose ideological conformity has not only inhibited the pursuit of new solutions for old problems, but now according to the Washington Post it may in fact lead to deadlock. For even with this uniformity, infighting is abounding to the point of stagnating what little progress their government can create. Small wonder they still lack home rule. And if we Northern Virginians are not careful, a similar fate will befall us.