Election 2025

Fredericksburg

Gerlach Says Fredericksburg Candidates Have Not Taken Money from Data Center Developers

By Uriah Kiser
Gerlach [Photo: https://www.facebook.com/JonGerlachFXBG]

In an October 6 opinion column published in The FXBG Advance, Gerlach said no city council candidate “has received donations from any data center company,” calling the suggestion “a deliberate attempt to confuse and deceive voters.” His remarks come amid heightened tensions in the city’s election season, with several candidates facing accusations of taking “data center money” following the appearance of anonymous campaign signs last month.

As Potomac Local News reported on September 19, state campaign finance records confirm that Matt Rowe (Ward 1), Joy Crump (Ward 2), and Susanna Finn (Ward 3) each received donations from Charlie Payne, a Richmond-based attorney with the law firm Hirschler who represents developers involved in the Celebrate Virginia South project, and data center development projects in surrounding jurisdictions. Payne is not a developer himself, and the contributions came from him personally — not from a data center company or political action committee.

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Fredericksburg

‘Let in the Light’: Sears in Falmouth Calls Out Democrats After Jay Jones Text Scandal

By Uriah Kiser
Winsome Sears speaks in Falmouth on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, during a stop on her “Faith and Freedom” bus tour. The Republican gubernatorial candidate called on Virginians to reject political violence and “let in the light.”

FALMOUTH, Va. – Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Sears delivered a fiery speech Saturday evening outside her campaign bus in Falmouth, near Fredericksburg, condemning what she described as a “culture of hate and violence” taking root within Democratic politics.

The event came just days after National Review first reported 2022 text messages sent by Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general. In the messages, Jones joked about violence against then–House Speaker Todd Gilbert, writing, “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” and later referencing Gilbert’s children, saying, “Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy,” according to The Washington Post. The Associated Press and Politico later confirmed the authenticity of the exchange, which Jones has since acknowledged and apologized for.

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Fredericksburg

Cole and Steinway Face Off in Fredericksburg Debate—Here’s Where They Split on the Issues

By Uriah Kiser
Cole/Steinway

 

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – On Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, voters filled Dodd Auditorium at the University of Mary Washington to hear Delegate Joshua Cole (D) and Republican challenger Sean Steinway debate issues shaping the 65th House District race.

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Prince William

10-acre rule divides Gainesville candidates in Prince William land-use debate

By Uriah Kiser

Prince William County’s long-running fight over the Rural Crescent has become a defining issue in the Gainesville supervisor race, where candidates George Stewart and Patrick Harders are offering starkly different visions for the county’s future.

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Prince William

Stewart walks back Bi-County Parkway comments after backlash

By Uriah Kiser
Stewart

GAINESVILLE, Va. – Less than a day after saying he was open to revisiting a connector tied to the Bi-County Parkway, Gainesville District Supervisor candidate George Stewart is clarifying his position.

In a press release on Friday, Stewart said he would oppose any parkway project that lacks community support. “After the article was published, I heard from residents and elected officials alike who oppose the Bi-County Parkway project… because they’re concerned that it would become a truck route from Dulles Airport to I-95,” Stewart wrote. He noted the route would pass near neighborhoods and four schools, concerns that gave the earlier plan the nickname “Outer Beltway.”

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Prince William

Stewart Says He’s Open to Reviving Bi-County Parkway Connector Idea

By Potomac Local News
Stewart

Early voting is underway in the Gainesville District special election, and Democratic candidate George Stewart says he is open to revisiting a connector between Pageland Lane and Route 234 — a project long tied to the controversial Bi-County Parkway.

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Newslinks

Stafford voters sue to kick House candidate off ballot over residency dispute

By Uriah Kiser

Virginia Mercury: Three Stafford County voters are asking a judge to remove Democratic House of Delegates nominee Stacey Carroll from the ballot, arguing she doesn’t actually live in the district where she registered to vote and is running for office.

The petition, filed in Stafford County Circuit Court, contends Carroll lives at a longtime home in House District 23 while claiming a different address in neighboring House District 64 to qualify for the race.

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Stafford

Stafford’s House of Delegates Candidates: Balancing State Oversight and Local Authority

By Kelly Sienkowski

This fall, Stafford voters will head to the polls to elect their representatives in the Virginia House of Delegates. All 100 seats are on the ballot, including Stafford’s 23rd, 64th, and 65th districts. Potomac Local News continues to shine the Spotlight on our local elections, inviting all of the candidates from Districts 23, 64, and 65 to a virtual interview with the same five questions; their answers have been condensed into a series of articles.

The videos are available here.  This is the final article in our five-part series. 

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Podcast

Data centers, Buc-ee’s, and Stafford’s future: Bart Randall talks campaign issues

By Uriah Kiser

Stafford County is at a crossroads. From the debate over data centers to a controversial Buc-ee’s proposal, residents are raising tough questions about growth, taxes, and transparency.

In this episode of the Potomac Local News Podcast, host Uriah Kiser sits down with Bart Randall, a 25-year Navy veteran, 19-year Stafford resident, and candidate for the Garrisonville District Supervisor seat, vying to unseat incumbent Pamela Yeung.

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Stafford

Stafford’s House of Delegates Candidates: Local Revenue and Veterans’ Tax Exemptions

By Kelly Sienkowski

*Correction: The wrong question was listed when this article was published. The correct question has been updated below.

This fall, Stafford voters will head to the polls to elect their representatives in the Virginia House of Delegates. All 100 seats are on the ballot, including Stafford’s 23rd, 64th, and 65th districts. Potomac Local News continues to shine the Spotlight on our local elections, inviting all of the candidates from Districts 23, 64, and 65 to a virtual interview with the same five questions; their answers have been condensed into a series of articles.

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