Only one of the three incumbents representing Arlington in the House of Delegates and running for re-election has garnered the endorsement of the political-action committee of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
NOVABIZPAC (the Northern Virginia Business Political Action Committee) endorsed Del. Rip Sullivan (D-48th) in his re-election bid, but did not issue a recommendation in the races for 47th District (occupied by Democrat Patrick Hope) and 49th District (Alfonso Lopez).
Sullivan’s quest for re-election is being challenged by Republican Edward Monroe, while Hope faces Republican Laura Hall. Lopez is engaged in a three-way race against Republican Timothy Kilcullen and independent Terry Modglin.
All the districts are solidly Democratic, and the incumbents who did not get the endorsements got off lighter than three of their Democratic colleagues across the state. The political-action committee endorsed Republican challengers against Dels. Marcus Simon, Dan Helmer and Wendy Gooditis while otherwise supporting incumbents (of both parties) in instances where an endorsement was issued.
Trustees of the committee declined any endorsement in the 45th district race between Democrat Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and Republican J.D. Maddox.
The seat, which includes a few precincts in Arlington, currently is occupied by Democrat Mark Levine, who was defeated by Bennett-Parker in the June Democratic primary.
Members of NOVABIZPAC, which is chaired by Scott McGeary of Washington Gas, met over the course of five weeks to interview candidates and determine how well their policy positions align with the Northern Virginia Chamber’s.