Fairfax Dems Condemn “in the strongest possible terms” the “Outrageous” Decision by a Right-Wing Judge to Disqualify Dem-Endorsed School Board Candidate “in the middle of an election”

This is a really crazy situation; as the Fairfax County Democratic Committee says, “the decision by Judge Richard E. Gardiner and ELECT to disqualify the Democratic-endorsed school board candidate Marcia St. John-Cunning from the ballot in Franconia district…not only ignores the votes of more than 3,000 citizens who have already voted in the Franconia district, the confusion caused by this decision is harmful to our democracy and the sanctity of the electoral process.” By the way, for some more information this judge, check out Judge Cites 1849 Slavery Law in Ruling Embryos Can Be Considered Property (“One bioethics professor called the use of an antiquated law by a Circuit Court judge in Fairfax, Va., ‘reprehensible and offensive'”) and here (“From 1979 to 1994, Gardiner worked for the National Rifle Association as an assistant general counsel, director of state and local affairs and legislative counsel”).

In sum: What. The. F***???

Statement on the Disqualification of Marcia St. John-Cunning From 2023 Elections

FAIRFAX COUNTY – The Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) condemns in the strongest terms the decision by Judge Richard E. Gardiner and ELECT to disqualify the Democratic-endorsed school board candidate Marcia St. John-Cunning from the ballot in Franconia district. This decision not only ignores the votes of more than 3,000 citizens who have already voted in the Franconia district, the confusion caused by this decision is harmful to our democracy and the sanctity of the electoral process.

In the meantime, FCDC remains committed to winning all 50 elections in Fairfax County this November. In Franconia district, our committee will be launching an aggressive write-in campaign supporting Marcia St. John-Cunning as she continues to earn the popular vote. The decision on Wednesday night comes after a previous legal challenge to Marcia St. John-Cunning’s candidacy was unsuccessful.

Following the decision on Wednesday night, FCDC Chair Bryan Graham made the following statement “This decision to disenfranchise voters in the middle of an election is outrageous. The case brought by the Eighth Congressional District Republican Committee to undermine our democratic process is disgusting, and the confusion caused by the decision will be catastrophic. The Republican party of today is one that knows their policies on defunding public education, banning books, and bullying children means they can not win fair elections in Fairfax County.

“The Fairfax County Democratic Committee will not allow Republicans to steal the school board election in Franconia. We will fight for Marcia St. John-Cunning and I am confident she will be the next FCPS School Board member from Franconia district.”

At 5 p.m. today, October 26th, 2023, FCDC will be hosting a press conference outside of the Franconia Government Center with Marcia St. John-Cunning and voters who have been disenfranchised by the unprecedented and partisan decision made yesterday. For more information on the press conference, please contact FCDC Executive Director Dominic Thompson.

To support the Fairfax County Democratic Committee’s legal and campaign efforts for Marcia St. John-Cunning, please contribute at fairfaxdems.org/marcia. Furthermore, please find more information about our Democratic nominees and endorsees at fairfaxdems.org/candidates.