Digging through the data: 10 findings from the June 20 Democratic Primary Election results

Update (June 24) - According to the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, Rozia "J.R." Henson, Jr. has officially won the Democratic nomination for House District 19.

While the 2023 Democratic Primary Election results haven’t been certified yet, the unofficial results have been posted by Fairfax County and the Commonwealth of Virginia. On the MoVe took a look at some of the preliminary data and other election information from around the Mount Vernon District and is sharing 10 related findings.

Note: Numbers are based on unofficial primary election results as of press time. We apologize in advance for any unintended errors and will update as needed.

1. While overall voter turnout in Fairfax County was 12.12%, the average turnout in Mount Vernon District was just under 10%.
2. Voter turnout was highest in the 608 Kirkside precinct where 18.45% of voters participated in the primary.
3. Voter turnout was lowest in the 636 Laurel Hill #2 precinct where 3.36% of voters exercised their right to vote.
4. In the primary race for Mount Vernon District Supervisor, incumbent Supervisor Dan Storck garnered more votes than his challenger Maritza Zermeño in all but one of the 30 precincts in the Mount Vernon District. In the 627 Woodlawn #2 precinct, Zermeño received 79 votes to Storck’s 78 votes.
5. A Democratic precinct captain from the Mount Vernon District reported that many Republicans showed up at the polls on June 20. Back in May, the Fairfax GOP passed a resolution to permit Republicans to vote in the Democratic primary, which was open to all registered voters, in an effort to defeat incumbent Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano.
6. In the contest to become the Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates in the 19th District — which includes Lorton, Mason Neck, Fort Belvoir and part of Prince William County — Rozia “J.R.” Henson, Jr., was ahead by just 57 votes over opponent Makya Little as of press time. Candidate Natalie Shorter was in third place. In a June 21 press release, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee said the race was still too close to call.
7. While Henson appeared to be the top vote-getter in Prince William County as of press time, Little had tentatively picked up the most votes in Southeast Fairfax County, securing just over 38% of the vote to Henson’s 34.8%.
8. Campaign finance reports from the Virginia Public Access Project show that Little significantly outspent her challengers during the primary campaign; Shorter received a total of $65,000 from Dominion Energy; and Henson received donations from elected officials from the Mount Vernon area.
9. The winner of the primary in the House of Delegates District 19 will run uncontested in the general election in November 2023.
10. Storck will run for a third term in November against Independent candidate Christopher Morgan and, according to the Fairfax GOP, against Republican candidate Richard Hayden. Hayden previously sought the House of Delegates seat in District 44 during the 2019 and 2021 general elections but lost to incumbent Delegate Paul Krizek.