IN AN OFF-YEAR ELECTION, when most of the country is enjoying a break from politics before the next presidential election, the June 11 Democratic primary in Northern Virginia was one of the most important elections for the region in decades.

Retirements have left five of the 10 seats on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors open to challengers, including the race for Chairman in one of the largest counties in the country.

Virginia is also one of only four states with legislative races in 2019 and is the only state where control of the legislature is at stake. Republicans hold a thin majority in both the House of Delegates and the State Senate.

The Northern Virginia Realtors® Political Action Committee (NV/RPAC) rarely gets involved in primary elections. This year, however, with the number of open seats, combined with an increasingly blue-leaning population and few Republican candidates on the ballot, the NV/RPAC Trustees chose to interview candidates for the primary.

Of the state and local candidates NV/RPAC supported, the Realtor® Party candidates were victorious in 90 percent of the contests. The winners of the primary election will move on to the November general election, and each is expected to easily win with districts that heavily favor the Democratic party.

There were no Republican primaries in the immediate Northern Virginia region. NV/RPAC has endorsed incumbent Republican Delegate Tim Hugo (Fairfax) and has assisted the Virginia Realtors® association in some Republican races in the outlying areas. NV/RPAC endorsed Prince William Supervisor Marty Nohe in his primary race for Chairman of the Board but Nohe was defeated by a primary challenger.