By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Garrett McGuire won the Democratic firehouse primary Sunday in Virginia’s House District 17, becoming the party’s nominee for a Jan. 20 special election.
Results released by the Fairfax County Democratic Committee show McGuire received 801 votes, or 34%, out of 2,356 votes cast. He finished ahead of Joy McManus, who received 747 votes, followed by Carla Bustillos with 537 votes and Russell Brooks with 271 votes.
The firehouse primary was held after Del. Mark Sickles announced he would resign from the House of Delegates to serve as secretary of finance in Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration. The vacancy triggered a special election to fill the seat, which represents parts of Fairfax County.
In a statement posted to social media, McGuire said he was “honored and grateful to be the Democratic nominee for House District 17.”
“Thank you to everyone who voted, volunteered, and believed in this campaign,” McGuire said. “I’m ready to get to work for Fairfax County and build on a strong legacy of service.”
Four candidates participated in the firehouse primary, which was organized by local Democrats ahead of the January election.
McGuire has served in nonprofit and local government leadership roles in Fairfax County, including as chair of the board of United Community and as a former chair of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board.
Sickles endorsed McGuire during the firehouse primary. In a statement shared by the campaign, Sickles described McGuire as “a trusted voice in the district.”
Republicans are scheduled to select their nominee through a party canvass set for Dec. 29 at the Fairfax County Republican Committee headquarters in Fairfax, according to an official party call.