Prince William County real estate agent and U.S. Navy veteran Vendall Robinson has been named the Republican nominee for the January 13, 2026, special election to fill the open seat in Virginia’s 23rd District House of Delegates.
Republican leaders in the 23rd District, encompassing portions of Prince William and Stafford counties, said discussions among party officials and potential candidates had reached a consensus on Robinson, citing her professional background and prior experience as a candidate. With a short window between the vacancy and the special election, party leaders said it was critical to move quickly to unify behind a nominee.
Robinson previously ran for Prince William County Supervisor in the Potomac District in 2023, losing to Democrat Andrea O. Bailey in the general election.
According to state election results, Bailey won the race with 65.2% of the vote (10,322 votes), compared with Robinson’s 34.3% (5,424 votes).
During her 2023 campaign, Robinson criticized what she described as “irresponsible” data center development in Prince William County and called for policies to encourage affordable housing, including reducing real estate taxes. She also emphasized addressing what she described as a growing mental health crisis and expanding support for families.
Robinson holds a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Handong Global University in South Korea. Her campaign materials have described her as the first African American woman to graduate from a law school in South Korea.
Originally from Philadelphia, Robinson has lived in Prince William County for more than a decade. She is a mother of four, is married, and has worked as a realtor and associate broker, educator, legal professional, and a disabled U.S. Navy veteran, according to prior candidate profiles.
In announcing her nomination, local Republican Party materials highlighted themes of constituent-focused transparency, responsible land development, affordable housing, and community safety.
Democrats Nominate Franklin Following Caucus
On the Democratic side, Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Angela Franklin secured the party’s nomination for the 23rd District seat following an unassembled caucus held Dec. 16, 2025, organized by Democratic committees in Prince William and Stafford counties.
According to results released by the Prince William County Democratic Committee and the Stafford Democratic Committee, Franklin received 225 votes out of 334 ballots cast, or 67%, defeating Muhammed “Sef” Casim, who received 109 votes.
Voting took place at the Dumfries Community Center in Prince William County and the Porter Branch Library in Stafford County. The caucus was held after the state scheduled a special election to fill the House District 23 vacancy.
“PWCDC and SDC are excited to get behind our nominee Margaret Angela Franklin and get to work,” the committees said in a joint statement. “We fully intend to ensure that Margaret is successful in January, and are excited to do our part to maintain our 64-seat Democratic majority in the House.”
Committee leaders also thanked volunteers who organized the caucus on a compressed timeline.
“I want to thank our 30-plus volunteers for their time and effort to make this caucus happen,” the statement said. “We had five days from the date the special election was set to run an open, fair, and accessible caucus, and I think we have accomplished that.”
Franklin has represented the Woodbridge District on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors since 2020. She has served in leadership roles, including vice chair of the board, and has chaired regional transportation bodies. Before holding local office, Franklin worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer.
Casim, a Dumfries resident and small business owner, ran on a platform focused on affordability, responsible development, and data center accountability. While he has not previously held elected office, Casim emphasized his community involvement and local roots in both Prince William and Stafford counties during the campaign.
The special election is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2026.
