Those participating in the springtime Arlington County Democratic Committee School Board caucus will be required to pledge their support to the Democratic ticket in November.
The statement, which is largely symbolic as there is little real mechanism to enforce it, long has been part of local Democrats’ caucus process. As part of a revamp of rules more than a year ago, the local party attempted to remove signing the statement as a requirement for participating in its nominating caucuses, but the Democratic Party of Virginia insisted it remain in place.
The pledge reads:
“I certify that I (i) am a resident of and registered to vote in Arlington County, Va.; (ii) am a Democrat; (iii) believe in the principles of the Democratic Party; and (iv) do not intend to support, endorse or assist any candidate who is opposed to a Democratic nominee or endorsee in the general election.”
State law considers School Board elections to be nonpartisan; as a result, political parties cannot use state-run primary elections to choose candidates. But parties can, and do, use various means to “endorse” candidates leading up to the general election.
In Arlington, all candidates winning election to the School Board over the past quarter-century first received the Democratic endorsement, with the exception of Republican-leaning independent Dave Foster, who served two terms from 2000-07.
Two of the five School Board seats will be on the ballot in November 2024. All School Board seats are at-large positions.
