FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Brittany Dunn-Pirio, a former federal prosecutor challenging incumbent Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano in the June 2027 Democratic primary, announced Monday that she has received endorsements from several prominent Democratic elected officials, including four state delegates, a state senator and Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid.
Monday's announcement also included endorsements from Fairfax County School Board Chair Robyn Lady (Dranesville), former Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova and Fairfax City Council member Billy Bates.
Dunn-Pirio, a Fairfax County native who previously prosecuted domestic violence and child sexual abuse cases, criticized Descano's handling of cases involving vulnerable victims. In response, Nathan Kiker, speaking on behalf of Descano's campaign, defended the incumbent's record on public safety and victim protection.
"Protecting survivors and ensuring victims are treated with dignity and respect is at the heart of everything Steve Descano and the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office do every single day," Kiker said in a statement to Patch.
Kiker credited Descano's approach to prosecution and violent crime prevention for Fairfax County's public safety record, saying crime is at historic lows. Patch has not independently verified those statistical claims.
"There will be plenty of time for politics, but right now Steve is focused on doing the job voters have twice elected him to do—and when the time comes, we are confident that voters, activists, and elected leaders will be firmly with us," Kiker said.
Dunn-Pirio's campaign announcement focused heavily on domestic violence prosecutions and support for crime victims.
"Fairfax deserves a functional, competent prosecutor's office, and right now the people paying the price the most are women and children who count on that office to protect them," Dunn-Pirio said.
Asked by Patch to provide examples supporting her criticism, Dunn-Pirio pointed to two previously reported domestic violence cases and described her own experience representing victims seeking protective orders.
"I represent victims of domestic violence helping them obtain protective orders. My client's husband was charged criminally for abusing his wife. The office never spoke to my client and she did not receive a subpoena. They dropped the charge against her abuser. Sadly, this is a common occurrence in Fairfax County," Dunn-Pirio told Patch.
Patch has not independently verified the circumstances of the case Dunn-Pirio described or whether it reflects a broader pattern within the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.
Dunn-Pirio also cited a Nov. 3 report by FFXnow concerning a Virginia Court of Appeals decision upholding the conviction of Collins Yaw Agyei, who shot his former girlfriend outside her Mount Vernon apartment building in February 2023.
The case involved a prosecutor's failure to disclose corrected medical testimony to the defense. A trial judge excluded the testimony and reduced an aggravated malicious wounding charge to malicious wounding. The appellate court subsequently upheld the conviction.
In December 2024, Descano announced that a jury had convicted Agyei of malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and recommended a combined 23-year prison sentence.
"This devastating assault has permanently changed the trajectory of the victim's life," Descano said in the December 2024 announcement, expressing hope that the outcome would provide some comfort to the victim and her family.
The prosecutor involved in the case, Joshua Reid Grossman, subsequently faced professional discipline. According to the Virginia State Bar, a three-judge panel suspended Grossman's law license for six months for violating rules governing candor toward the tribunal and prosecutors' responsibilities. The Supreme Court of Virginia stayed the suspension Sept. 18 pending an appeal.
Dunn-Pirio also referenced an April 2025 investigation by WJLA/7News involving a plea agreement in which prosecutors dropped a felony strangulation charge against Wilmer Osmany Ramos Giron.
The agreement resulted in convictions for assault and battery and brandishing, jail time, a two-year protective order and requirements for mental health and substance abuse evaluations and participation in a batterers' intervention program.
At the time, Descano's office said the agreement was based primarily on the victim's wishes. According to the office, she wanted Ramos Giron to face accountability and jail time but hoped to avoid a felony conviction on his record.
However, the woman subsequently told 7News that she had wanted Ramos Giron to serve a longer jail sentence and disputed the office's characterization of her wishes.
In its statement to 7News, Descano's office said domestic violence prosecutions depend heavily on victims' participation and cooperation, and prosecutors seek outcomes that prioritize victims' safety while respecting their wishes.
In his response to Patch about Dunn-Pirio's campaign announcement, Kiker defended the office's broader approach.
"We have dedicated teams doing vital, complex work to support victims and keep our neighborhoods safe, and we are proud to stand on that record," Kiker said.
Among the elected officials endorsing Dunn-Pirio are state Sen. Russet Perry (D) who represents the 31st District, and four Democratic members of the Virginia House of Delegates who represent portions of Fairfax County:
Perry, a former prosecutor who said she mentored Dunn-Pirio, emphasized the candidate's experience handling domestic violence cases.
"Domestic violence cases are some of the hardest cases to prosecute," Perry said. "Victims are often afraid to come forward, but successful prosecution of those cases can be the difference between life and death."
Perry said Dunn-Pirio would restore a dedicated domestic violence unit headed by an experienced prosecutor and establish specialized domestic violence court dockets.
Simon, who said Dunn-Pirio managed his first campaign for the House of Delegates, emphasized her ability to implement criminal justice reforms while maintaining public safety.
"I've spent years fighting to make Virginia's criminal justice system fairer, and we've made tremendous progress," Simon said. "Passing reforms in Richmond is only half the battle."
McGuire, whose district includes communities along Richmond Highway, said victims in that part of Fairfax County need greater support from prosecutors.
"Victims along the Richmond Highway corridor have been abandoned and left on their own to navigate the complex legal system," McGuire said. "I know Brittany will always keep victims as her priority."
The campaign's announcement did not provide specific cases or data supporting McGuire's broader criticism.
Kincaid, who has served nearly four decades with the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, cited Dunn-Pirio's experience prosecuting domestic violence and child sexual abuse cases.
"When someone comes forward, they need to know their case will be taken seriously," Kincaid said. "As a prosecutor, Brittany handled domestic violence and child sex abuse cases, and she made sure victims were heard."
Lady, chair of the Fairfax County School Board, also emphasized Dunn-Pirio's experience prosecuting cases involving children.
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"I know firsthand how hard it is for a child to confide in an adult, and how important it is to have a Commonwealth's Attorney's Office that is capable of handling these tough cases," Lady said.
Other local officials endorsing Dunn-Pirio include Loudoun County Supervisor Kristen Umstattd, Herndon Vice Mayor-elect Sabrina Bruce and Herndon Town Council member-elect Meron Yohannes.
Bates, a member of the Fairfax City Council, noted that the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office serves both Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax.
"The Commonwealth's Attorney serves the City as well as the county, and Brittany is the right person to bring collaboration, diligence, fairness, and most importantly, a focus on keeping us safe," Bates said.
The campaign also announced support from several former public officials and community leaders, including Sharon Bulova, who previously chaired the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
"She is a career prosecutor, not a politician," Bulova said. "She has handled criminal cases at every level of Virginia's courts, including the Supreme Court of Virginia, and in federal court."
Greg Rosen, a former Justice Department prosecutor who helped oversee prosecutions arising from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, also endorsed Dunn-Pirio.
Rosen said Dunn-Pirio's experience handling child abuse cases and federal public corruption investigations demonstrated the judgment needed to lead the office.
Other endorsements announced Monday included retired U.S. Space Force Col. Bree Fram and Jay Reddy, an attorney and former officer of the Fairfax County and Dranesville District Democratic committees.
Dunn-Pirio grew up in Vienna and attended Fairfax County Public Schools before graduating from the University of Notre Dame and Washington and Lee University School of Law.
According to her campaign biography, she began her legal career clerking for a Fairfax Circuit Court judge before working as a Virginia assistant attorney general, an assistant commonwealth's attorney and an assistant U.S. attorney.
Her prosecutorial experience includes domestic violence, child sexual abuse, fraud and public corruption cases.
The campaign said Dunn-Pirio currently provides pro bono legal representation to domestic violence victims seeking protective orders in Fairfax County.
Descano, the incumbent commonwealth's attorney, oversees an office responsible for prosecuting criminal cases in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax.
Dunn-Pirio's campaign has emphasized restoring specialized prosecution units, improving support for crime victims and ensuring that criminal cases are handled fairly and effectively.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 2027.
Additional information about Dunn-Pirio's campaign is available at BrittanyForFairfax.com.
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