By Cody Mello-Klein and Olivia Anderson | cmelloklein@alextimes.com oanderson@alextimes.com

The result of Tuesday’s Democratic mayoral primary looked similar to 2018, as Incumbent Mayor Justin Wilson defeated former Mayor Allison Silberberg in a rematch, though by a considerably wider margin than three years ago.

Wilson won the 2021 Democratic mayoral nomination with 13,005 of the total 22,734 votes, or 57.21% as of press time. Silberberg received 9,729 votes, or 42.79%. Ultimately, 23.03% of the city’s 98,728 total registered voters cast votes in the primary.

Wilson will go on to face Republic mayoral nominee Annetta Catchings in the Nov. 2 general election.

“I’m pleased with the turnout; I’m pleased with the total,” Wilson said in an interview outside Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray. “… We’re certainly excited; we’ve got work to do over the next three years. November is still ahead of us, so we’ll work to turn out the vote and make sure we have a good victory.”

Wilson secured the victory in 25 of the city’s 30 precincts, not including the absentee precinct, while Silberberg won five: City Hall, Lyles Crouch School, George Mason School, Chinquapin Park Recreation Center and Temple Beth El Synagogue.

Wilson also won 56.58%, or 3,456 votes, of the absentee ballots, which accounted for 6,108 of the total votes in the election.

Silberberg was already trailing Wilson by around 2,000 votes after most of the precincts had reported and needed a favorable split in the absentee ballots to have a chance at victory on Tuesday night. When the absentee ballot results were released around 9 p.m., Wilson’s victory was secured. At about 9:15 p.m., Silberberg called Wilson and conceded the race.

“We fought a very good fight, we had tremendous turnout and we raised a lot of issues that were important to people all across our city,” Silberberg said to her supporters at Los Tios in Del Ray. “I’m very proud of the race that we ran because I believe in the high road, but also because we were transparent and truthful.”

Tuesday night was the culmination of an intense battle between Wilson and Silberberg, who served together on City Council for three years prior to her election as mayor in 2015, and often have not seen eye to eye.

Wilson, who works as a senior manager for Amtrak, was first elected to City Council in 2007, lost re-election 2009 and was then elected in 2012 and 2015, when he served as vice mayor during Silberberg’s mayoral term. Silberberg, who was elected as vice mayor in 2012, served as mayor from 2015 to 2018.

Wilson and Silberberg then faced off in a tight primary race in 2018, with Wilson ultimately defeating Silberberg by 1,259 votes. In 2018, 21,625 total votes were cast. Wilson received 11,442 votes, 52.91%, while Silberberg received 10,183 votes, 47.09%.

For many residents, this Democratic mayoral race was both divisive and decisive. Although Wilson and Silberberg agree on many key issues in the city, among voters the two candidates came to represent very different visions for the city.

Wilson’s supporters praised the incumbent’s last three years as mayor, particularly his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, his responsiveness and his focus on the future of the city.

“He did a great job around COVID. He’s one of the most transparent politicians, very easy to reach, and ultimately, the people that live here want to know how to reach elected officials and know what the problems are that can’t always be solved, and that obviously prevailed,” resident and Wilson supporter Bradley Beychok said.

The ambiance at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray was both exuberant and bustling, with about 75 people crowded in tight quarters to celebrate Wilson’s victory.

At 9:30 p.m., the crowd simmered down long enough to hear Wilson deliver his victory speech, wherein he thanked his family, friends and supporters. Wilson dedicated the win to his late mother-in-law, Diane Crawford-Batt, who passed away on May 31.

The throng of supporters consisted of many well-known community members such as former mayor Bill Euille, School Board Vice Chair Veronica Nolan and, later in the night, the entire slate of Democratic City Council nominees.

“As someone who’s been on the School Board the last six years, he always votes pro kids, he always stands up for kids, he’s always working to make sure the young people in the city have the resources they need, so that’s why I’m here tonight: to support someone who really walks the walk and talks the talk,” Nolan said.

Many residents have also been critical of Wilson’s term as mayor, citing what they call a dismissive attitude toward the concerns of civic associations and residents, a lack of transparency and his support for the Seminary Road Diet.

“I’m not looking to look like Arlington or Crystal City. I’ve lived here because it had a quaint town sense. I’m not looking to bulldoze that,” Silberberg supporter Dave Lucchesi said. “… I’m not looking to develop our city into something else. I’m looking to maintain what we have and maintain it well.”

As the night wore on and more precincts swung in Wilson’s direction, Silberberg’s supporters expressed disappointment in the results and the direction the city has taken under Wilson.

“We were so hopeful for change,” Silberberg supporter Cathleen Kust said on Tuesday. “It seems like our country has been in a spasm of despair the last year. … We wanted balance.”

Despite the outcome of the election, Silberberg encouraged her supporters to remain involved in the community.

“I would encourage everyone to continue to speak out, join boards and commissions, be active in your civic associations. If you don’t have one, form one. Speak out,” Silberberg said in an interview. “This is a democracy, a representative democracy. We need all voices to be heard.”

Silberberg said she would support the local Democratic nominee in the November general election and that she would also continue to be involved in the community and issues that matter to her, such as flooding, the Seminary Road Diet and government transparency.

In his victory speech, Wilson expressed a desire to see Alexandria politics become more “civil” after the intensity of the primary.

“We can have a battle of ideas – heated battles about ideas, about the issues that face our community – and not attack each other. So, to the extent that I’m part of that, which I’ll take my responsibility, we all have to do better,” Wilson said. “… We can create a stronger civic discourse, a discourse that includes everyone, deals with the difficult issues of our city, but, ultimately, come together as Alexandrians.”

All three incumbent members of City Council also had big victories on Tuesday night, alongside three newcomers. The six council candidates who received the most votes and will appear in the general election are: incumbent John Chapman, at 13,284 votes or 12.07%; Alyia Gaskins, at 13,167 votes or 11.96%; incumbent Amy Jackson, with 12,144 votes or 11.03%; incumbent Canek Aguirre, with 10,954 votes or 9.95%; Sarah Bagley, with 9,810 votes or 8.91%; and Kirk McPike, with 7,958 votes or 7.23%.

The six Democratic candidates will face off against Republican council candidate Darryl Nirenberg and independent candidate Florence King in the November general election.

“Alexandria nominated a great six and I’m excited to work with them,” Wilson said in an interview.

The Democratic primary also included races for Virginia’s governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and House of Delegates.

Alexandria largely voted in line with the state as a whole in most of the state-level races. Former Governor Terry McAuliffe won the Virginia Democratic nomination for governor, receiving 62.17% of the total vote. Jennifer Carroll Foy received the second most votes, coming in at 19.78% of the total vote statewide. The majority of the city also supported McAuliffe: The former governor received 59.78% of the city’s overall vote, while Carroll Foy received 20.27%.

Delegate Mark Levine, Alexandria’s representative in the Virginia House of Delegates, was running for both lieutenant governor and his delegate seat but, ultimately, lost both races. Levine received the most support locally as lieutenant governor, topping the list of candidates with 29.9% of the vote. However, statewide, Hala Ayala, a cybersecurity specialist and Virginia House of Delegates representative for the 51st District, secured the Democratic nomination with 37.49% of the vote. Statewide, Levine received 11.2% of the vote.

Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker defeated Levine to win the nomination for the House of Delegates 45th District, which represents Alexandria. Bennett-Parker received 9,310 votes, or 59.25%, while Levine received 6,402 votes, or 40.75% of the total vote.

Incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring defeated Jerrauld Jones 56.59% to 43.41% statewide, to secure the Democratic nomination. Locally, Herring also found overwhelming support, securing 68.68% of the vote to Jones’ 31.32%.

The Democratic candidates for state office will face off against the Republican ticket – Glenn Youngkin for governor, Winsome Sears for lieutenant governor and Jason Miyares for attorney general – in the November general election.