Rachna Sizemore Heizer, candidate for the Braddock District seat on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, campaigns outside a poll on Dec. 9.
Braddock District voters elected Burke resident Rachna Sizemore Heizer to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Dec. 9. The special election filled the seat U.S. Rep. James Walkinshaw vacated.
Sizemore Heizer, a Braddock District school board member, lawyer, professor and advocate, secured 66.99% of the vote, 10,611 votes. She defeated Republican Kenneth P. "Ken" Balbuena, who received 29.91% of the vote, 4,738 votes, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections. Independent candidate Carey Chet Campbell received 2.85%, 451 votes.
Walkinshaw's September election to the U.S. House prompted the special election. Walkinshaw replaced the late U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly. Sizemore Heizer will serve the remainder of Walkinshaw’s term, which ends in 2027.
In his campaign, Balbuena focused on reducing the commercial vacancy rate to lower the burden on residential taxpayers and promoting fiscal responsibility.
Sizemore Heizer focused her campaign on affordability, quality of life and a smart economy. Hours before polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday, she campaigned outside polling places, encouraging voters to cast ballots to protect their values.
“Affordability is my top priority in building a strong local economy so that we’re not reliant on the federal government, taking pressure off taxpayers and maintaining our excellent schools and our safe communities,” Sizemore Heizer said. “So please come out and vote. Let's protect our values. Let's move forward together.”
During her campaign, Sizemore Heizer reaffirmed her focus on worker support, posting on X: "On the Board of Supervisors, I will be ready to fight for fair wages, safer workplaces, and stronger support for every Braddock family."
Sizemore Heizer’s election creates a vacancy for the Braddock District member on the Fairfax County School Board. A special election will be scheduled to fill that seat.
The Fairfax County Electoral Board must certify the Dec. 9 official results. After certification, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has tentatively scheduled the inauguration ceremony for the new Braddock District Supervisor on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. Sizemore Heizer will be sworn in and begin her term in office that day. The Jan. 13 meeting is the board's first primary legislative session of the new year.