Race to Succeed Whipple Heated, Expensive

The race for the Democratic nod to succeed retiring state Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple has caused the likes of which hasn’t been seen in this area for quite a while.

The primary race, which will be decided Tuesday, pits longtime Arlington County Board Member against attorney , a relative newcomer to politics. The winner will face Republican Caren Merrick in November.

Campaign spending in this race has . And that money has served to amplify the attacks between the candidates.

Whipple’s early endorsement of Favola, whether by coincidence or design, kept the field narrow.

On one hand, it served as the catalyst for thousands of dollars from state Senate Democratic leadership to pour into Favola’s campaign. On the other, it allowed Areizaga-Soto to cast himself as the rebel willing to challenge the establishment.

Favola’s experience has afforded her a response to virtually everything Areizaga-Soto has thrown at her. Everything he says he wants to do, she says she's already been working on. On new ideas, like implementing a one-cent gas tax to fund transportation infrastructure and transit improvements, the two generally agree.

But the barbs sank to a new low in the days leading up to the election.

Favola sometimes points out that Areizaga-Soto is from Puerto Rico. She was talking about the relatively small Hispanic base in this district with progressive blogger Lowell Feld, who runs BlueVirginia and is a vocal supporter of Areizaga-Soto, who in turn highlighted that as “odd.”

Soon enough, five state delegates condemned Favola for her remarks.

“It is the same thinking that drove attacks on John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama... To suggest that someone like Jaime Areizaga-Soto is unelectable in Northern Virginia because he is Hispanic is not just wrong, it runs counter to our experience in the House of Delegates, the broader nation, and common sense,” stated Del. Scott Surovell, D-Mount Vernon.

Favola has said repeatedly that her comments were taken out of context. And the voracity with which she’s been attacked over this may call into question the sincerity of those who say they were offended. Favola supporters call it a complete mischaracterization.

“Her dedication to social services, to human rights, that’s part of her core existence. This campaign has been much more about dissecting one side’s comments, when that is not what I know that person to be. When I support a candidate, I want to make sure they have roots here, and make sure they understand the people they’re representing. And that they have good solid values,” said Sharon Davis, a Favola supporter and former Arlington County Democratic Committee chairwoman.

“I’m drawn to someone who is very concerned about the safety net in human services. You can be a relatively well-off middle-class person, but something could happen in your family that could devastate you. And sometimes, only government can step in and help you. And she appreciates that.”

Favola has received nearly $50,000 from Whipple, the outgoing Senate Democratic Caucus chairwoman, as well as $17,000 from Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw; $10,000 from Sen. Janet Howell, who led redistricting efforts; and $5,000 from retiring Sen. Patsy Ticer.

Areizaga-Soto has put $230,000 of his own money into his campaign coffers.

His supporters say party leaders should save their money to fund candidates in November, when Democrats hope to hold on to their tenuous 22-18 majority in the state Senate.

“Republicans tend to participate in higher percentages than Democrats in these lower-turnout years. So, there is a chance Caren Merrick can win. And she is also a very well-financed candidate,” said Peter Rousselot, a former Arlington County Democratic Committee chairman and Areizaga-Soto supporter.

“Republican leadership in the state already has a 2-to-1 (financial) advantage over Democrats, and they can decide where to spend it. That fact is another reason why people are so angry at the money that’s been funneled to Barbara Favola in the Democratic primary. When you’re already faced with a 2-to-1 advantage, the idea that you’re spending money here, for a primary… has got people really angry.”

Both Democrats have spent the lion’s share of their respective war chests.

Merrick, a McLean Republican, has about $126,000 cash on hand, about three times that of whoever wins the Democratic contest.

A Republican takeover of the Senate would leave plenty of blame to be passed around. And the 31st District isn’t necessarily out of play, thanks to redistricting. Under the old lines, 34.7 percent of voters supported Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell. The way it’s drawn now, McDonnell supporters account for 44.4 percent.

“They will choose their opponent and we will be prepared with message and resources to go into the general election and win the battle of ideas and battle of principles here in the 31st,” said Charles R. Hokanson Jr., vice chairman of the Arlington County Republican Committee.

"It's an aggressive Democratic primary. We're all following it in the press. The candidates have to do what they've got to do."

There’s about 145,000 voters in the 31st Senate District – most of them, 57 percent, are in Arlington County, followed by Fairfax (32 percent) and Loudoun (11 percent) counties.

Writer Jacqueline Klimas contributed to this report.