Underdog Deshundra Jefferson has won the Democratic primary and will be the official Democratic candidate for Chair-at-Large of the Prince William Board of Supervisors.
She will now replace current Chair Ann Wheeler as the party's nominee. Wheeler was elected in 2019 and is still serving her first term in office.
Jefferson is a single mother, communications professional, and former journalist and has worked in national politics.
CURRENT VOTE COUNT
Anti-data center activists (at least outside the industrially zoned areas)- mainly Bristow and Gainesville-area also flocked to Jefferson. She won by a huge margin at the Chris Yung precinct where the Devlin Technology Data Center has been proposed.
Hundreds of environmental and historic groups also opposed the Prince William Digital near the Manassas National Battlefield.
Both being Democrats, the candidates agreed on several issues, such as being pro-union and supporting public schools. They obviously shared more liberal views on social-political issues.
But Jefferson emphasized Wheeler's stance on data centers, noting that Wheeler took developer campaign contributions, and owns significant stock in the same companies developing in the county. Jefferson opposed the meal tax, which she said hurt small businesses and families.
Wheeler celebrates her victories for the county such as higher pay for teachers and police and increased county funding. She touted that she increasing the tax rate on data centers (although that was a Republican-proposed agenda item, she was slow to agree to.)
And while Wheeler had more name recognition not all of it was positive. There was even an extended effort to recall her from office.
Wheeler's recall stemmed from perceived conflicts of interest over her stock portfolio. There were further allegations by residents that she and her board did not follow proper protocol when approving certain data center developments.
According to the turnout, more residents participated in the Democratic primary. This could bode well for Jefferson as she now faces Brentsville Supervisor Jeanine Lawson in the November election.
Lawson was expected to easily win against her opponent Kenn Knarr, a Pageland Lane resident who had previously donated heavily to Ann Wheeler's campaign and that of other Democratic lawmakers.
Like Jefferson, Lawson opposes the Prince William Digital Gateway and data centers too close to homes, although she previously approved them before public sentiment towards them soured.
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